Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-13
PRFSIDFNT WFlIRlFD THROUGH MANY MILES OF
ORANGE GROVES AMID CHEERS OF POPULACE
VISIT PAID TO NEIGHB0RING
CITRUS CENTERS
SCHOOL CHILDREN APPLAUD THE
NATIONS CHIEF EXECUTIVE
San Bernardino, Cotton, Redlands and
Riverside All Vistsd-Tablet
to Fra Sierra Is
Unveiled
Especial to The Herald

lNhNNAN-f
~ WERSIDE. Oct. 12.-President
X Taft saw sixty-five miles of or
IL ange trees today. It all hap
pened in less than four hours. lie
made a flying auto trip from san
Rernardino TO Redlands, up Smiley
Heights, through Cotton, half the
length of Riverside county, up Mt.
Rubidoux, down Magnolia avenue TO
the Sherman institute and back TO the
Glenwood inn. where he was honored
with a banquet
night.
Today's trip was a hard one. 1t is
not an easy matter to ride siXty-hVe
miles in an auto, although the roads
Travelled are of the very finest. But
that Taft smile never came off, even
though the dust came into little can
yons every time he moved his face.
He got a glimpse of what makes the
greatness of Southern California. He
saw roads built up steep mountains
he saw valleys and plains, once bare
wastes. now filled with blossoms. And,
Judging from the many pleasure ex-
pressions he gave during his trip, he
must have been surprised.
At San Bernardino
San Bernardino was reached by the
presidents special at 230 o'clock. Not
a minute was lost there. Five min
utes later thirty autos bearing the
presidential party, members OF the
Los Angeles chamber of commerce and
prominent citizens OF San Bernardlno'
Redlands and Riverside were being
whisked away. All San Bernardtno
was at the depot to welcome the pres
ident as he stepped off the train, a
company of national guardsmen pre-
sented arms and he acknowledged the
courtesy by a military salute.
The Los Angeles boosters. $50 strong,
slipped up just as the president en-
tered his auto and gave their cry of
1--WE are for Taft! We are Tor 1a1l!
Taft, Taft, Taft"
1t was at almost break-neCk pace
that the party journeyed to Redlands::
Along the line hundreds gathered and
the trip was made to the music of con-
tinuous cheers.
Greeted by Children
AS the procession sped down Cotton
avenue a beautiful sight greeted the
president. There a great stand had
been erected and upon it were nearly
1000 school children, every one waving
a tiny flag. 1t was like one huge ma
tional emblem and it called forth the
praise of President Taft and every
member of his party He spoke brief
ly to the children, thanking them and
the citizens for their reception.
The trip up Smiley Heights, which
followed aerather hasty tour of por-
tion of Redlands, was one of the
bright spots of the trip. Far up above
the city, President Taft looked down
upon valley of uneXcelled richness.
and when a short halt was made he
exclaimed, Isn't it worth going round
the world to see?"
Again at Cotton the party was given
a rousing reception Only brief stop
was made there. When the party en-
tered Riverside county they did so
through a beautiful welcome arch of
flowers. Riverside itself was out en-
masse for the occasion. Seventh street.
down which the procession went to
get to the Glenwood inn, was an ave-
nue. of people, children along the curb
ing and their elders standing back so
that the little folks could get good
view.
Crowd Was Unselfish
one of the remarkable features of
the trip was the unselfishness shown
by adults toward children. President
Taft said it embodied the real Calitor-
MIA spirit, "Help others and you help
yourself"
The city was gaily decorated. In the
center of the street, hanging from
the trolley Wires, were hung palm
wreaths, and at either side palm
branches Flags were everywhere and
flowers were used in abundance.
When Glenwood Inn was reached a
stop of one minute or so was made,
and then the party was off up Mt.
Robidoux highway. Again beautiful
sight was seen. AS far as the eye
could reach in all directions were
beautiful fruit-laden trees The Riv-
erside chamber of commerce, which
planned President Taft's entertain
ment, had arranged a special feature
the unvelling of a bronze tablet to the
memory of Fra Junipero Sierra, the
first Franciscan monk to enter Cali
fornia. The tablet is placed on rock
at the very summit of Mt Robidoux
When the president arrived there he
was given a string and as he gently
pulled it an American flag fell aside
revealing the tablet.
From Mt. Robidoux the party went