The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1917-03-08
Msl.. j. Nj. Chastain Sr. Writes an In
teresting California Letter.
Los Angeles, California, February

Los Angeles, California, February
20, 1917.
Editor Reporter-Will you allow
me little space in your valuable pa
per to tell our friends in Iowa that
we are. having the time of our life
over. the great mountains in Cali
Der iA the SEVENTH eve ieis. We were two
months in Los Angeles, making
many trips over the city and out to
Venice. Luna, Linwood, San Diego,
LaCanada,' Altedena. Alhambra, Long
Beach and Pasadena. To me the
ocean is most wonderful with its
tides and ever changing surfs, the
tieships are wonder to those who
view them for the first time. We
had a view of the Oregon, Yale and
Harvard, two submarines, besides
twelve large ships of which the
President was the prettiest. 1t is
white gilt and of natural wood, be-
ing 408 feet long:
Dead Mans Island and Reserva-
ton point will be needed if war
places in any event later on. The
breakwater is composed of rocks
weighing eight tons on the ocean
side and six tons on the harbor side.
The light house at the end is the
best equipped on the coast. The
search. light in heavy fog can be
oil pipe on these rocks carry the oil
America loaded $4,000 barrels at one
time. Many people in Iowa remem-
Der J. G. Porter and family. His
son. Raft, is spending the winter in
California with his brothers and Sis
Cers. We have had many good times
together. Allie, now Mrs: Venera-
ida, Ben and Allies daughter and
two sons. Later Prof. Roy Porter
and family and brother, Raft. gave
us cafeteria luncheon and a sixty
mile drive in his Buick car. 1t was
drive of wonderful scenic
beauty, towns and mountains, and
not the least to us his fathers
treat to u.s. On February 7 we went
TO Pasadena for a ten days trip in
and around this beautiful city. We
were nicely situated near the Mar
land and among friends from Des
Moines who did much toward max
ing us enjoy ourselves in sightseeing.
\ friend planned a picnic trip to
Rubio Canyon, a climb Of over four
hundred steps incline with board
all kinds. 1t was a great climb and
the many falls and fine grotto were
beautiful. We only wondered how
nature could put the ferns in among
such arches and have them succeed
SO we'll. Mt. Lowe incline tract of
5000 feet starts at the mouth CT
Rubio Canyon: The direct ascent is
per cent. The trolly car takes one
farther up and the mules finish with
you (if not a good rider.) Mt. Will
son is reached by auto and foot, and
has the observatory on the top and
a Troop T down on the side which
can be seen a long way from Pasa-
dena. These drives and buildings
make a pretty sight. About noon one
day as we looked the sun was shin
and on us, while down in Pasadena
the clouds of white covered the foot
hills between like a heavy veil of
white and silver. 1t was wonderful,
as If the children of Israel were pass
ing between.
We took ride out to the almond,
apricot and orange, groves in Alta
bloom and are beautiful to see. We
walked to the poppy field and gather
ed nice bouquet Of California pop
pies on our way back to the car line
4 man stopped his Ford car and
asked us to ride. We accepted and
he brought us to our rooms. He was
a DR.. Ford, of Pasadena. and it was
while here A friend planned trip
out near Lamanda Park to an orange
ranch of 240 acres. A part was III
grape vines. a small nursery of lem
on and orange trees two years old,
which they had been offered 35 cents
a tree for the whole lot. They are
holding out for SO cents and will
get it. About 40 acres are in
lemons, their first year to bear. The
of lettuce between each row of trees
was a great sight to an 1OWan in
February. A few acres of strawber-
ries were just beginning to bear ripe
berries. An eight acre orange grove
of Naval and Valencia, and one hun
dred acres of lemons from which 49,
300 worth were picked last year.
They had just, finished one picking
which were just full of lemons. We
could not believe any had been taken
off the trees. They had 1900 smudge
pots in the orchard and had to use
them more this year than in the last
eight years. They have it SO nicely
arranged that call bell in the care
takers bedroom rings at a certain
stage of GOODNESS in the air, so he
can light all or as many as are need
ed according to the ring.
This was a great trip to us and
the lady said for us to pick all the
fruit we wanted so we had oranges
and lemons and the flowers of both
It was great to pull them from the
trees out in the warm sunshine in
full view Of the great mountains and
white capped old Badly. This is on
ly a little Of the many things but
paper and pencil is poor material to
express it all. Will close and pre-
mare to meet our Iowa people on next
Thursday. February %. The Des
Moines Chastains are to meet and
have our luncheon together. Five of
us are now in California. With kind
regards to all.
Respectfully,