The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-05-30
Homeward Bound.
A Sojourner on the Pacific Coast Returns to
Dear Old Maine.

NAL: AFTER passing many very peasant
and enjoyable months in San Francisco
/ took the steamer for Los Angeles. 1t
was a trip of about 500 miles on the
broad Pacific. and enjoyedit very much.
There was some grand scenery up and
down the coast. We passed out through
the beautiful Golden Gate, past the Coast
Range of mountains, Santa Cruz and the
bay of Monterey until far out of sight of
land We landed at San Pedro, 20 miles
from Los Angeles, which has had very
rapid growth in the past few years and
is a fine looking city with many attrac-
lions. The chief business is in catering
to the eastern tourists. There is not
much manufacturing or other business
here and they acknowledge that if it was
not for the tourists that come here and
spend their money the city could not
flourish, 1t is said to be the best adver-
tised city in the world. There are 5000
real estate dealers here, and if they find
any one is from the east and think he has
little money they are after him hot and
heavy and it is hard to resist their per-
suasive voices. 1t is a fine place for
person with plenty of money, but l do
not see any inducements here for poor
man. You must make due allowance for
the glowing accounts of the real estate
man. Land and every thing else is very
high here, and think poor man would
do better in the east than to come out
here on uncertainties. The farming and
market gardening is nearly all done by
Chinese, Japanese or Portuguese and
common Yankee cannot compete with
them.
went to Long Beach, about twenty
miles from here, to visit some friends.
Long Beach is very attractive city of
about 20, 900 people, and is said to have
grown faster in the past ten years than
any other town in the United States
nearly 700 per cent. 1t has one of the
finest beaches in the country and some
magnificent hotels, and is a great resort
for tourists. 1t has a pier nearly half a
mile long and pike extending a long
distance on the water front with attrac-
lions and amusements of all kinds for
the entertainment of the tourists. Long
Beach is dry town, which is rare
thing in California. People say a town
cannot thrive without license, but this
city is standing example to the con-
trary, as it has had larger growth and
is a much finer looking city than its
neighbors that have a saloon on every
corner. Thousands come out here to
Southern California for the climate, or
their health, and are willing to work for
almost nothing for the sake of staying,
but one cannot live on climate alone.
Invent on an excursion on the famous
kite-shaped track on the Santa Fe rail-
road. 16O miles through Pasadena, San
Bernardino, Redlands, Riverside, Corona
and other towns No scene twice seen.
1t certainly is a beautiful trip through
some Of the finest scenery in Southern
California There are miles and miles of
orange and lemon groves right by the
side of the track. The trees were laden
with their golden fruit and blossoms at
the same time which fairly filled the air
with their fragrance. The train goes
one way and returns another. We STOP
ped two hours at Redlands and three at
Riverside, taking automobile rides
around to see the various attractions.
Riverside is charming place, the home
OF mllllonaires, and arrival of Pasadena as
the home of wealth, beauty and flowers.
We saw acres of flowers in their manv
beautiful colors, and passed through
many miles of peach, olive and walnut
trees and grape vines. In passing
through the beautiful tropical valleys we
could see the mountain tops only 10 miles
away, all cold and white with snow. 1t
certainly was great contrast between
the snow-clad hills and the howerv val.
leys few miles apart | went on the
balloon trip 100 miles through ten cities,
eight beaches, twenty eight miles along
side the Pacific ocean where the breakers
came fcaming and tumbling in within
few feet of the track for miles. 1t was
a grand sight. We stopped awhile at the
National Soldiers Home, also at San
Monica, Redondo, Ocean Park and
Venice, which they claim is equal to
! old Venice. 1t has canals and gondolas
sHnd attractions and amusements of all
kinds to catch money. There was large
crowd of excursionists and we had Jolly
good time.
There are great many excursions and
beautiful trips to be made from Los An
geles, and there are flowers alongside the
ira cks to make it look beautiful and adj
Hertise its many attractions. But if you
go out few miles into the sand and
4 esert it is net so beautiful The people
here are very apt to exaggerate and
paint in glowing eolors tie bright SIDE
and leave cut the many disadvantages.
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