The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-11-03
NORTH MANkATO NOTES.
Letter From A. L. Crane.

n. II. crane Ill lelleT 10 "A. All
derson states that Mrs. Crane and
himself are enjoying good health
and are delighted with California.
His description of their trip follows:
San Diego, California, October 26,
1911.-To the Free Press. North
Mankato Department: I promised to
write to many of my friends in
MankatO through the columns of
The Mankato Free Press. Inclination
to write when there is SO much to
be seen has prevented me from
writing before. Leaving Mankato
| September II at 1 p. m. we were
enabled to reach Denver, Colo, the
next day at $3.50 p. m. Nothing of
unusual interest greeted the eye
between Omaha and Denver as the
state of Nebraska through which
the train is speeding westward has
a very dry and desolate appearance.
The same can be said of that part
of Colorado lying east of Denver.
After reaching Denver the scenery
commences to change rapidly as we
are now in an irrigated section.
Trees that we know not the name of
grow in profusion. Denver is beau
tiful city and the little saw
in few hours convinced me that
it was not a back number. Leav-
ing Denver we continued our
journey going south on the Denver
and Rio Grande railway This is
where the real pleasure of our west
ward trip begins as we can see the
mountains looming in the distance.
also are going through very fertile
valley. After reaching Pueblo we are
proceeding in northwesterly direc-
ton, through the valley of the Aiken.
saw, where, mountains tower far
above the train. In places the valley
is wide and at others it narrows to
| less than one hundred feet. The
beauty of this scene and the magnif-
icent grandeur of the great chasm
cut in the rocky edge by the river
lying at the bottom is considered
one OF the finest works of nature.
Although the train proceeded slowly
we think it too fast as we view
scene after scene.
We reached Salt Lake City and en-
| Joyed an auto ride around the city.
Its wide streets, it's public build
lngs and palatial residences excite
our admiration. Time flies and
trains won't wait, so we leave an
other beautiful city. Our next stop
is at Ontario right in the orange
belt. We saw many of the finest
ranches to be found i'm that section
when out riding with Mr.. futile, a
former resident Of MankatO. Go on
to Los Angeles and find we are i'm
one of the great cities of the west.
The streets being narrow and a
tremendous amount of traffic, one
can scarcely get across the streets
without being run down. We took
an auto trip to Pasadena and saw
the private park of Adolphus Busch.
This is one of the beauty spots of
the earth. Nature has done much.
but a landscape gardener has con,
tributed a great deal in planning
the sunken gardens, winding paths,
sparkling fountains, rustic bridges
and beautiful drives to be found in
this park. Our next stop was at
Whittier where my brother Fred is
| located. Now We are in an orange
and lemon country and we saw
; some fine ranches of both. English
walnuts are grown to considerable
extent and were being harvested at
the time of our visit. Saw nothing
! of particular interest at Santa Anna.
Visiting Long Beach. but think it
would be rather bleak and cold, but
it is one Of the fast growing cities
and will be on the map to stay.
Well, we have reached our desti-
nation, San Diego. and I believe it
to be all that my imagination had
pictured it. Ran right across Mrs.
Charles Koke on the street Found
! they have a fine home and you
could not drive them from San
Diego with club. Have seen Mr..
Christensen, Gus Monson, Mic
Sanger, Mr.. Wagner, Ray Judd, DR..
| Webster, G.. N. Andrews, Mr. Brooks
and wife, ID. ID. Smith and wife, and
others. Had a delightful ride with
DR.. and Mrs. Smith in their Over
land auto, going out by way of the
cemetery which is well cared for,
and passing through Lemon Grove.
LaMesa, and came back to the city
and had our dinner at a cafeteria
and again going for ride to Point
! Lama which is the peninsula that
protects the bay. There is a fine
driveway on the point and the view
of ocean and bay is one of delight
| Here one can see the city lying
on the sloping hillsides and the bay
calm and peaceful, while on the
other hand is the ocean, the pillows
come sweeping into the rocks be-
low. Well, it is scene never to
be forgotten. A naval station is
located at this point and Fort
Rosecrans guards the entrance TO
the harbors and number of war
vessels have been anchored outside
of the harbor in the last few days
The city has a population of fifty
thousand and there is no doubt but