THE WONDERLAND OF CALIFORNIA 



73 



tree memory more accurate than 



man's 



We are told, for instance, that a pro- 

 longed drouth afflicted Israel during the 

 reign of the wicked King Ahab ; and, 

 proving at once the truth of the Biblical 

 record and the universality of the 

 weather, the drouth is found strongly 

 marked by an attenuated ring in the 

 larger trees. 



It has been said that the Sequoia is 

 dying out ; but expert testimony proves 

 that it is not only producing bountifully 

 over large areas, but also that the young 

 growths win out in the struggle for exist- 

 ence with the pine and fir around them. 

 Over them, too, it possesses an inesti- 

 mable advantage — it is indestructible by 

 fire or insect plagues and, apparently, 

 has no diseases. Barring accident, it is 

 immortal, and as California has awak- 

 ened at last to her duty in the preserva- 

 tion of these noble trees, it would seem 

 that they are destined to remain forever 

 towering monuments in her list of glories. 



Northward of Yosemite, among the 

 glaciers and snow-clad peaks of the Sier- 

 ras, the railroad lines enter California 

 through mountain portals. By one you 

 come to Tahoe, the lake of lakes, a huge 

 iridescent mirror of 30 miles diameter, 

 set in a frame of deep forests and snow- 

 topped mountains. Another runs down 

 the Feather River Canyon, that wonder- 

 ful street of the mountains that leads by 

 tumbling waters, lacy, silver cascades, to 

 the warm plains beneath. 



From both, views are obtained — views 

 on views, constantly changing, increas- 

 ingly beautiful, that have no superiors in 

 the mountain scenery of the world. Or 

 you may drop down through the northern 

 portals of the Siskiyou Range past Mount 

 Shasta's great white cone and pass 

 through deep woods to the Sacramento 

 River and follow its stream to its con- 

 fluence with San Francisco Bay. 



MAKING THE PEOPLE'S PLAYGROUNDS 

 AVAIEAEEE 



The Secretary of the Interior, Frank- 

 lin K. Lane, is carrying to completion the 

 new policy inaugurated in establishing 

 permanent camps within the national 

 parks, which will afford a high degree of 



practical comfort and utility to all who 

 come, and at such a minimum cost that 

 thousands can now take advantage of the 

 opportunity offered to spend healthful 

 vacations in this wonderland of nature, 

 which heretofore has been prohibitive to 

 many because of the expense. It is pro- 

 posed to equip all of the large national 

 parks in this way with model camps, so 

 that individuals or parties can live under 

 canvas close to nature, yet safeguarded 

 and assisted in every way by government 

 supervision. 



Drop from the cars at any place and 

 you will find yourself in fisherman's or 

 hunter's country. Rainbow trout swarm 

 in the mountain and hill streams. Striped 

 bass that run to 30 pounds — no better 

 fighting fish in any waters — abound in 

 the river deltas. Black bass, of both 

 small- and large-mouthed varieties, are 

 fished for in San Francisco Bay. 



Salmon are best at Monterey, and for 

 tuna — which run up to 300 pounds — you 

 go to Catalina Island. Steelheads afford 

 splendid sport in the river deltas during 

 January. Catfish, perch, carp, and sal- 

 mon trout are found in all streams. 



It is also a hunter's paradise. No- 

 where will you find better duck shooting 

 than in the Suisun marshes or the great 

 tule swamps around San Francisco Bay. 

 Grouse, quail, and wood pheasants are 

 found everywhere, even in the suburbs 

 of some towns. Bears, the mountain- 

 lion, lynx, and coyote are easily found, 

 and the country, as before said, is full of 

 deer. So, be your sport what it may, 

 California, somewhere in her environs, 

 will give it full play. 



A BEAUTIFUL WELCOME ON EVERY SIDE 



North, south, east — entered by any of 

 these portals, California is equally fair. 

 There remains the west, and if I be given 

 my choice, let me come in from the sea. 

 The eastern visitor who journeys to the 

 Exposition by water through the canal 

 or by any of the scenic routes will choose 

 wisely and well. If by water, during 

 lazy, somnolent days he will have watched 

 the shore, with its palm-fringed beaches, 

 lace of breaking surf, slip by as in a 

 dream ; and when California heaves in 

 sight, seen through a silver haze, the 



