Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1911-06-07
SOUTH CALIFORNIA
AND NORTH MEXICO
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structor. At the foot of Point Iona
were encamped the 9Th and 30th U. S.
Infantry, and the 4th U. S. Cavalry
under Command Of Brig. Gen'l L.
II, Bliss. To the southeast beyond
the bay on rising ground, like an am
pltheatre, was spread before NE the
city of San Diego. Towards the south
National City could be seen.
The back ground east was formed
by great mountain ranges. The near
est was San Miguel Range, with Mt
San Miguel as the highest point.
Next to that the Ell Cajon Range and
beyond that the 5000 feet high range
Cuqamaca. 1t was an inspiring sight
which will long be remem bered The
Y. S. government has constructed a
splendid road up to Point Iona at an
expense Of over $40 900; it is surfaced
with disintregated granite, Of which
great deposits can be found in Cali
forna.
Tia Juana, Mexico. is the Mecca of
the tourists It lies about twelve
miles south of San Diego; they all
GO there. Don't pronounce it unless
you consult a Spanish dictionary or
Mrs Anna Baumgartner. 1t always
pleased me to hear her pronounce
San Josa. 1t reminded me of first
two words Of the song the Star
Spangled Banner. IF you want to
know what Tia JGana means ask
John Carthew, be had it down pat.
OF course | had 70 go to old Mexico.
| started with bunch of tenderfeet.
We took train. 1t was neither d
/ broad gauge or narrow gauge One
car and locomotive, the LOGON olive
racing the passenger car. The seats in
the car were not wide enough for two.
My seat mate was an elderly lady
whose girth exceeded mine. It took
some effort to get to the bottom of the
seat. During The entire trip had to
hold my arms out straight and my
hands fiat together. in an attitude
that some preachers assume when they
announce Let us pray. f" We crawled
through National City and along
stretch of salt marshes. Passed the
great salt work from which eight
hundred tons of salt are shipped
monthly and finally arrived at tie
International Boundary line Of
Mexico and the U. S. where we found
part Of a company Of our Infantry
encamped..
Here we found one of the many
boundary monuments erected on the
line, a granite column about eight
feet high, I will not stop to desert be.
This monument was marked No. $50,
they are five miles apart. I was told
No. is at Ell Paso Texas the last one
about ten miles west on the shore Of
the Pacific. There we mounted an
extended hay rack wagon and crossed
the Tia Juana river. The tires of
our conveyance did not get moist. as
this river like many of the rivers in
California were like Lancaster village
in 1872. dry on the surface but
mighty wet underneath. Or as it is
frequently said in the west the bottom
of the river was on top.
Tia Juana does great business for
two hours three or four curio shops
do the business. There are few
eating homes where hot tomales and
other hot Mexican dishes are served,
and few saloons where equally
hot beverages are dispensed for the
curious curio seeking tourist. You
can also buy the Mexican cigars cheap
which found out to my disgust. I
nave heard Harry Brown tell en-
thusIasticly about the cheap hut
deliciously fragrant Mexican cigars
took his advice and bought a box
at bargain of ST. 90 good U S. coin;
also bought some other truck
worth 80 cents, no, not worth ninety
cents, but paid ninety cents for it.
AS soon as we left, the shops closed
up not to be opened until the next
batch of fool tourists came along to
leave their good plunks for trash.
Well we re. crossed at the top of the
bottom IF Tia Juana river and found
the U. S.@Custom Home officers ready
with receipt and pencils to take an
inventory of our purchases. A young
lady and I were the last to be
Intercepted. What have you got2"
said our U. s. dignitary to the young
| lady. She produced a small handful
of precious stones which she had
bought ct a bargain. The officer
looked at the stones and then at her.
limitations" he growled. Thirty
cents She blushed. She did not
have the three dimes. so I gave her
six nickles.
We'll then my turn came. What