The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-14

summer of 1869, accompanied by a
group of Franciscan missionaries I'M
der leadership of Fra Juniipero Sierra,
who gets credit for introducing Chris
tanity into the territory which is now
the United States Pacific coast
Sierra and his followers built the
Mission San Diego de Acala. first of
a chain Of twenty-one that later dot
ted the route to San Francisco. each a
days foot journey apart along Ell
now marked by mission bell signs and
its dust well contained under concrete
pavement
Father Sierra was a stickler, and set
an example that is followed at the
Harbor of the Sun even unto this day.
He had an awful time in making a
living. and finally was saved by out
side help. but he stuck, even as they
do today-and his people prOspered,
even as now. An irrigation system
constructed by the missionaries, with
the help OF Indians they had convert
ed to Christianity and work, was the
beginning of a comprehensive series
or impounding systems that now fur
nish water supply. Grape cuttings and
olive plants they brought have grown
into great industries. All along the
line thanks are due Fra Junipero and
are expressed in prose and poetry,
cross erected on the site of his first
lnlss.ol4 from the tile of its floor and
L.
California building at the Panama
California international exposition.
The Exposition.
All, yes, the San Diego exposition.
Perhaps you have heard of that. Any
way. it is quite true that a number of
persons have visited it and it still is
making money after a run of nearly
up December 81. And it will finish
going stronger than ever. all despite
malicious reports that 1t is a nzzer.
But the exposition has it's own pub
licity department and I should stop to
worry about it. I might mention.
however. that among those who really
did see it are Messrs. Roosevelt, Bryan.
Lane, McAdCo, the Maharajah of
Kapurthala, Carnegie. Capper and
Charles Hughes. Ard, having seen it,
decessor in coinage of lovely phrases
which would more fully express the
utmost In beauty and marvel. Indeed.
it Is a gem, a jewel, a priceless pearl
and all the while the most beautiful
spot on earth It was Mr. Hughes
however, Mr.. Wilson having been un-
able to come because of some previous
engagement at the White House. who
declared that the unity of purpose and
spirit displayed by the people of San
Diego in building this exposition is
such as he desires thruout the Ameri-
can nation in the critical epoch" just
ahead. when the nation must gain a
proper place in a war-changed world
and throw off the maladies of Demo-
cratic administration.
I already have called attention to
the liberal bond issues and tax 1evies
of California. The exposition is one
instance in San Diego while a water
supply. highways, harbor improve
ments which entailed requirement of
control of the harbor. a concrete
stadium of $4,000 capacity are some
others. all in a few years. 1t has been
an audacious program, the more so
when it is known that the legal bond
ing capacity of the city was exhau listed
in the process without causing cold
feet. What did they do about 1t =?
Simply increased the assessed valua-
ton some $25,00O,00o and went right
on bonding
San Diego Grows.
This business, on the coast, is
called progress and not suicide. 1t
has given San Diego a population of
100, 900 in place of $4,000 and prom
ises splendid monetary returns on the
investment, having gotten the town a
place on the recognized maps. 1t is
admittedly some comfort that poster
ity will pay largely for the benefits.
Especial recognition of this place on
the map, the southwesternmost in the
United States, is now being made by
the government and its appropriative
body. The good harbor found by Ca
brillo is regarded the strategical To-
cation for permanent naval, marine
and aviation bases and appropriations
already have been made to develop
the present usages to such perma-
nency. The Pacific fleet is pretty much
at home in the Harbor of the Sun
these days and most of the army avn