The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-19

Santa Fee Is the only direct, overland
line, reaching the city at present. 1t
runs to San Francisco, and connects
with the main route from the east at
Los Angeles. IN expectation of its flu
ture, vast business in southern Cali
fornia. the company has now in pro-
cess of erection, much the finest de-
pot on the Pacific coat, at the cost
OF near a half million dollars. AS for
ocean traffic from the Atlantic side
of the country, the Panama canal COW
ers that field, while daily passenger
service is given, on first class passen-
ger steamers, at reasonable rates to
Los Angeles. San Francisco and other
northern coast cities. The present
rates to Los Angeles and San Fran
cisco, including berths and meals are
$3.50 and - which the steamer COM
panies promise to lower considerably
the coming year.
For the Comfort of the Visitor.
An important feature to be noted
is that every effort by those in charge
is being made to see that the tourist
and visitor are not to be "gOuged by
exorbitant rates, in sleeping apart
ments and n ais. The Hotel asso-
Citations of both cities have held meet
ings and agreed upon an equitable and
liberal schedule of rates. That there
will be a great temptation to put up
rates next year is not to be denied but
visitors looking forward to coming to
the coast encouragement that they
are not going to be robbed.
The date OF the opening OF the San
Diego Expo" will be midnight of De-
cember 31S., of this year. when Pres
ident Wilson has promised to press
an electric button n Washington that
will start things" and tourists are
assured Tat there will not be a dry
or uninteresting : during the 365
to follow. And while we are on this
subject of program, it is stated that
President Wilson has promised to Wis
it our fair three days, following his
official Panama canal opening in
March.
The presidents headquarters will be
a. BARD the great battleship New
York." while as his guests will come
Secretary of the Navy Daniels. brave
old Commodore George Dewey and
Commander Clarke. Trailing the
New York" in close order will come
a tremendous fleet Of forty-three for
eign and American battleships. And
the harbor of San Diego is broad
enough and deep enough to care for
them without crowding.
Because the date set for the "open-
ing is January LIST, please don't say.
"Whew. none OF that for me-
Following are a few climatic facts:
San Diego has the shortest thermom-
eter in the world, in use; the average
summer temperature is 6S, the aver
age winter temperature 60; roses, car
nations, and every flower imaginable
bloom and fill the land with fra
GRANGE, equally the same in January
and February as in May and June;
orange and lemon trees then are in
bloom, with green and ripe fruit on
the same trees; the average wind We
locity during the winter months is 40
miles per hour; there are no thunder
storms nor cyclones, few foggy days
and a rainfall Of about ten inches per
year: people go bathing in comfort
every day in the year.
The water system supplying the city
of San Diego Is taken from the hills.
The Moreno reservoir. sixty miles up
in the mountains. and holding 15,OOO,-
100000 gallons ia the beginning.
Gradually this water is taken to the
Chollas Heights reservoir. where it is
filtered: 1t is then delivered to a near
err the city reservoir. where it. is Civ
en- it's final aereated treatment. 1t
gives the citizens perfectly pure drink
ing water and the city the greatest
storage system west of the Rocky
mountains.
Attractive Location and Exhibits.
Now few lines as to the location
and the buildings: The site COM
prises $50 acres of land in Balboa
park, which consists of 1,40O acres Of
rolling ground, broken by deep can
yons. which are crossed by artistic
bridges and crowned and lined with
tropical plants and shrubs and flow
ers of every description. In exploiting
the possibilities of the Pacific coast
it has taken twelve main buildings, in
addition to the various state and