Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-02-27
FROM SUNNY CALIFORNIA
Mayor Coffman Writes Entertaingly
of His Trip to the Southern Cline
and What He Has Seen of 1t

Pasadena, Calf. Feb. 20. 1914
Editor of The Enterprise:
You have always treated me so nicely
ever since | came to Rocky Ford. and
gave me such nice write-up on my
leaving, that am sending this letter to
you. because SO many of my friends ask
ed me to write them, that thought this
letter would be of interest to great
many, | know many of the people of
Rocky Ford have been out here. and
many Of them have seen more of this
country than have. so if you like. throw
this in the waste basket or print it, and ]
will take no offense either way.
; | write what have seen and heard, |
would not vouoh for the truth of what
have heard, nor all that have seen,
know that there are more people in
Rocky Ford who have never seen Cali
fornia than there are that have seen it. SO
here goes.
, We expected to leave Rocky Ford FOR
California on Thursday. Jan. 90. but
could not get reservation for berths. SO
had to wait till Friday, the 25rd. when
we started. II we had started on Thurs
day. we would have been four hours late
out of La Junta, and would have been de-
layed by wreck near Flagstaff. Ariz..
and if we had been superstitious and
waited. as some Of our friends wanted US
to, till Saturday, we would have been
marooned at San Bernardino for two or
three days, on account of the flood. As
it was we started on time at La Junta
and arrived on time at Pasadena, 1t
showed on US from the time we left
Ration mountains until about the time we
crossed the Colorado river into Califor-
mia, Just before we reached Needles, and
then rained all the rest of the way, and
was still raining when we reached Pasa-
dena on Sunday morning and rained
nearly all day Sunday and Sunday night
it Just poured down. Four inches OF ram
fell Sunday night flooding this entire
country, stopping all train service for
two or three days. and rained most all
day Monday. We stopped at a hotel for
couple Of days, and then we secured
rooms at private house, and are living
at home at 24l NJ Euclid avenue. We
have had delightful sunshiny weather
ever since.
Southern California is all town and
orange groves along the railroads and
electric car lines, which run in all direc-
tions. There is town every two or
three miles from San Bernardino to Los
Angeles. and from there to Long Beach.
distance of eighty miles. it is built up
almost solid. and is continual chain OF
towns. one commencing where the other
leaves off.
Our first trip OF course was to Long
Beach, Jan. 2eth, to Kansas Day, where
we found several thousand loyal Kan
sans picnieking and having good time.
There was a card for each county in
Kansas to register and most of the coun-
ties were represented. When we arrived
were in the lead in registration were
Sedgewick, Shawnee and my old county.
Neosho, and there was a spirited rivalry
between these three counties to see
which would snow the largest registra-
ton. Our old county Neosho won out
with z9. Shawnee II. Sedgewick 6z.
met many of my old friends, some OF
whom had known for forty years, and
Of course we had pleasant visit.
Our next trip was to Los Angeles and
run down. to Compton, half way to
Long Beach. where my niece lives on a
ranch, where we had a feast like we
used to get out at Royals. Balls. Wood
sides and other places in and around
Rocky Ford.
Our next trip was to the Imperial Val
ley. where we saw many familiar faces
that we used to see at Rocky Ford; Mr..
Bostwick looks like a new man. They
have four nice towns that we visited
Brawley, Imperial. El Centro and CAL
exico; this last named town is on the line
Of old Mexico and is port Of entry
across the line, which is an irrlgating
ditch about like the Rocky Ford ditch
At Mexicali, on the Mexican side, where
we crossed over into Mexico. company
of Huerta's army was drawn up in line
and commenced yelling 'Huerta. .Huerta.'
but when they found out it was only the
: mayor of Rocky Ford they went on witt
/ their drilling and turned me and my es-
cort, Lee Seibert, over to the tender
mereies of the gamblers. saloon keeper:
and dance hall managers. Owing to the
skillful maneuvers Of my escort | esoap-
ed back across the line into Uncle Sam:
, domain. Calexioo is fine bustlng town
of about $500; El Centro-the queen o
the valleys one OF the cleanest. busiest