320 HISTORY OF PASADENA. 



they came to California. On this day Dr. J. P. Widney of L,os Angeles 

 gave an able and philosophical address on the workings of climate as a 

 factor in human history, or as he styled it, ' ' The Climatic Belts of Civiliza- 

 tion." 



There were over twenty varieties of oranges on exhibition, seventeen 

 of which were mentioned by name in a report for the Valley Union made by 

 Byron O. Clark. And Bayard T. Smith exhibited an orange just picked 

 from the tree where it had remained since 1881 — four years. 



On March 17th the Fair committee made the following report to the 

 I/ibrary trustees : Receipts from the Fair, $489. Receipts from the play, 

 $207. Total, $696. Expenses, $165. Balance turned into Library treas- 

 ury, $531. [See page 204.] 



S. G. V. RAILROAD DAY. 



Next comes the opening day of the San Gabriel Valley Railroad (now 

 the Santa Fe), on September 11, 1885, which was at that time considered 

 the greatest event that had yet transpired in Pasadena's history, and every- 

 body turned out with zeal and enthusiasm to celebrate the grand occasion. 

 [See chapter 22.] 



NATIONAL G. A. R. DAY. 



August 17, 1886, witnessed the visit to Pasadena of the National G. A. R. 

 Encampment, which met that year in San Francisco. This visitation was 

 one of Pasadena's great historic days, and I quote some particulars in re- 

 gard to it from a report in the Pasadena Union of August 20 : 



"August 17 was ' Pasadena Day ' in the program of G. A. R. festivities, 

 and right royally did queen Pasadena prepare for the occasion. She 

 sprinkled her streets far and wide, and laid the dust so thoroughly that none 

 enjoyed it more than the inhabitants themselves, who were so well pleased 

 with it that they wished it could be done all the time. The city was 

 decorated. The Exchange block, Wetherby & Harris' store, Cruickshank 

 & Co.'s store, Ward Bros.' block, Mills block, the Union office, 5/ar office, 

 Wooster's building, the Grand Hotel, and the Eos Angeles House, were 

 notable instances ; while to a lesser degree the good work was very generally 

 carried out. 



" Over the entrance to the stores in Exchange block, where the banquet 

 was spread, was a huge sign, "^ cordial welcome to the Grand Army of the 

 Republic and visitors," painted in fine style by Stewart; while over the 

 entrance was a portrait of Grant, by the same artist, with the motto : "The 

 Nation's Hero — He is not dead." The banquet halls themselves were 

 handsomely ornamented with festoons of the national colors, photographs 

 by Frost of notable views in the vicinity ; and, best of all, some beautiful 

 banana plants. 



" The eatables were there in profusion — melons, fruits, meats, bread- 

 stuffs, jellies and sweet-meats, provided with lavish hand, and ready to be 

 served on four long tables seating seventy-five persons each, or 300 at a sitting, 

 and .served by the fair hands of Pasadena's ladies, who rallied with a will to 

 do honor to the country's defenders. The guests came in force, twelve car- 



