Article October 4, 1900 Issue

The Wonder State of the West

A Growing Commerce that Reaches Most of the World.

The Saturday Evening Post

California has recently celebrated the semi-centennial of her admission into the Sisterhood of States. The country was discovered by Cabrillo, a Portuguese navigator in the Spanish service, in 1542. Sir Francis Drake arrived later and called it New Albion. Two hundred years afterward the Franciscan fathers planted a mission at San Diego and for over seventy years Spanish power was supreme. In the forties of this century this power had its downfall, and in 1847 the Mexican forces were driven out of the country. A year later gold was discovered, and then began the great rush. In October, 1849, a constitution was framed by a convention and the same year ratified by the people. The state was admitted to the Union on September 9, 1850.

The celebration of this event was on the generous scale which is characteristic of the California people. A fund of $50,000 was raised and there were great times all through the state, but mainly in San Francisco, where the Native Sons held splendid functions. Some of them arrived in special trains with their families and friends, and the "Native Sons' Special" from Los Angeles was loaded with flowers, fruits, wines, and hospitality, all of which added to the brilliancy and gayety of the week. To the great ball which was held last Tuesday more than twelve thousand persons were invited, and there were souvenir programmes which will be treasured for generations to come. Judge R. C. Rust, the Grand President of the Order of the Native Sons, was the conspicuous figure of the day. The celebration continued from Friday until the early hours of Wednesday morning. In addition to this, there were sports on land and sea—fleets of expensive yachts, contests for rich prizes, and gorgeous floats, one of which, representing the Mother Chapter of the Native Sons, was drawn by six white horses. For weeks to come this event will be commented upon in the press of the Pacific Coast, and gradually the greatness of it will be appreciated by the Eastern newspapers.

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