Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-04-26
Blossom Day
is Successful;
5000 Visitors

While pretty blooms. rained from
the heavens when scattered over the
city from giant seaplane. and the
sun smiled happily down on the Can
ital city and beckoned forth latent
buds in the fruit districts on all sides
of the city, thousands Of persons
bowed at the shrine of Queen Bios
som here Sunday. Successful far be-
yond the expectations of leaders of
the movement in the Commercial club.
Blossom day--first occasion of its
kind ever held in Salem and Marion
county-marlo5 the Inauguration of
a celebration here that, if followed out
in successive years will transform the
beautiful Willamette valleys in the
eyes of the world. into paradise that
will vie with the bloom covered hills
of Arcade.
AHA Success
Not a single feature entered into
the day to mar the success of the oc-
casion. Responding as only thorough
public spirited citizens can hundreds
of Salemites were on hand with their
cars ready to do the bidding Of the
city's guests.
The delay of the Southern Pacific
train from the north, that bore sever
al hundred visitors. caused some con-
fusion among auto drivers, who de-
parted without guests when the train
failed to come at the right time. The
visitors were picked up by drivers
later, however, and 1t was believed
today that no one who came to the
city to see the blossoms went away
disappointed.
Citizens Respond Nobly
Many citizens, anxious to do their
part and further the popularity of the
city and county as perhaps no other
means could have made more than
their quota of trips, some making as
high as eight tours with passengers
through the orchard areas.
| Although blooms were not out as
fully as they might have been had
weather conditions earlier in the week
| permitted, those trees rnat were
cloaked in their sheens of pink, white
and gray shall linger as pleasant
picture in the memories of those who
saw. Trees on higher sections were not
so fully in bloom as those in the low
lands, but the route laid advantage
ously through the lower sections, Gre
ating a pretty driveway as may be
had at this time of the year in any
other port of the coast country.
/ In spite of the fact that there were
more than 10000 machines moving
through the city and at the outskirts
not one accident or collision wa.
brought to the attention of police.
Seaplane Is Feature
At noon the seaplane, bearing Will
Carver, reporter of the Capital Jour-
nal, and P. e. Fullerton, secretary
treasurer of the Webfoot Aircraft
company of Salem, scared over the
city dropping halo of flowers and
blossoms. This was followed by mum
erous other flights over the blossom
ing wales and hills around the city.
Signs placed along Blossom way
marked the route and the actual tour
of the cars through the county south
of Salem was made without confusion
or delay. After returning from the
trip many of the visitors visited state
institutions.
| More than 5000 persons from all
parts of the state, making more than
500 automobile loads of persons, aside
from the 100 or more automobiles
that were furnished by local citizens,
thronged to Salem during the day to
make the tour through Phezland and
the wales of blooming orchard. The
coming of the trains did not repre-
sent the majority of visitors for more
persons came to the city in automo-
biles from Portland Eugene. Hood
River, Vancouver, Wash, and towns
surrounding Salem than came in on
trains and were taken through the
orchard districts by local motorists
! State House Visited
Fifteen hundred persons visited at
the state house during the day, and
/ Sis curious sightseers climbed to the
top of the building and gazed over
the city and surrounding country
from the capitol dome.