Imperial Valley press., 1913-10-18
SAN DIEGO OLDEST
CITY ON THE COAST

San Diego Sun: The first city on
the Pacific coast, north of the Pana-
ma canal, San Diego's history is older
than that of any other place on the
Pacific coast of the United States
and Canada. 1t was here that Juan
Rodriguez Cabrillo landed in 1912 al
most exactly 50 years after Columbus
landed in the West Indies. 1t was
here that Fray Junipero Sierra found
ed the first permanent white settle
ment, vestiges of which remain in
ruined missions and adobe warden
walls, irrigation reservoirs and con-
duits Of masonry. 1t is the Plymouth
of the Pacific coast, and much of its
first architecture is standing, mute
evidence Of the dreams of its found
ers.
! San Diego is city of 10000 peonle.
1t preserves more than any other city
in the United States the flavor of an
cient days. It's wonderful climate, its
surshiny days and gentle breezes, the
warm waters of it's bay and ocean
combine to make it one of the most
interesting places in North America.
! Withal it is not city asleep though
it pays much attention to the romance
and history Of its environs. The city
is a thriving hustling entrepot for a
great country. It's commerce by sea
is large and as it is only IA miles
from the Mexican border, it has
large trade with that country.
Three years ago it began to build
the Panama California exposition to
celebrate the opening of the Pan
anna canal. This exposition is now
almost half completed. Buildings rise
in every direction on the grounds and
all are of the Spanish Colonial type of
architecture, the old missions live
again in these buildings. Every eff
fort is being made to make these
buildings historically correct. Each
one is a copy Of some famous struc
ture in Spain, Central America or
Mexico. Some of the buildings are
almost exact copies Of cathedrals and
haciendas noted for their singular
beauty and for their ornamentation.
These buildings are set in tropical
landscape such as has never been
seen at any exposition. Trees, vines
end flowers grow the year round in
San Diego, and millions. literally mil
sible to obtain are being set out in
the grounds ard around the buildings
Of the exposition. The site is on a
high level plateau in the center Of
the city in Balboa park from which
view Of mountain and sea may be
obtained any dav in the year. The
purple peaks Of Old Mexico frame the
landscape on one side and the blue
sea bounds it on the other. A pro-
tecting arm is thrown out in the great
promontory of Point Iona, noun
tain that projects into the sea twelve
miles, forming the crescent of what
Californians love to call "The Silver
Gate" making a perfect landlocked
bay large enough to hold the navles CT
the world at anchor.
Travellers who visit San Diego new
er forget it. More than any other
city in California it wins by its SIM
plicity of charm and it's natural
beauty Of situation and its climate.
Tt is the only city in the world where
the isothermal lines cross, which
means that the thermometer varies
less than at any other place in the
world winter and summer. This makes
II possible to hold the exposition open
the entire year of 1918. which is the
intention Of the San Diego exposi-
tion managers.
In Exposition park now, which is
open to the public, is a great nursery
and propagating station, the build
inps themselves under construction
and the Puente Espagnol, a concrete
bridge Of seven arches 900 feet lone
and 1876 feet high, is one Of the most
beautiful structures in the world. a
trip to the coast is not complete with
out a tour Of California and some
days, even weeks in San Diego-'placcF
of romance and history-the only
city on the coast that has not peer
commercializcd out Of all sembianc'
Il IN infnrnafinr r1lacn "a uiait.