PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S VISIT TO SAN FRANCISCO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7722, 4 June 1903, Page 2

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S VISIT TO SAN FRANCISCO.

ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION BY THE PEOPLE. [Per Press Association.] (Per R.M.S. Sonoma, at Auckland.) SAN FRANCISCO, 'May 15. All California has been en fete .during the last ten days because of the visit of the President of the United States. President Roosevelt arrived in Southern California on May 5, and was greeted at Red-' lands by the Governor of Pardee, and was magnificently entertained among the orange groves and roses of the land 1 of sunshine. A careful itinerary was laid! out for the distinguished visitor, which enabled him to make the most of his time, and it is felt he has had an opportunity of seeing many of the beauties of California. At the same time, he has delivered a great number of speeches, eaten early and late of the fat of the land, and won the hearts of old arid vounar. President Roosevelt's enemies say that his visit is merely a campaign tour, but it cannot be denied that the strenuous statesman has enjoyed the wonders of Nature in a land new to him, or that he has rejoiced mightily ih the friendly and enthusiastic reception accorded him. He is a man, every inch of him, as even the disgruntled admit. He glories in Nature, and gave evidence of his appreciation of it wlien he visited the grove of [riant redwood trees of Santo Cruz. Many persons have found it worth while to pin or tack their visiting cares to the' superb old trees towering so grandly above the trivialities of men. The President, speaking under the trees, expressed his disgust at this, andi presently he expressed a wish to take a walk about the grove alone. He was absent some litle* 1 time, -and whfn he returned to his companions he found they had acted upon his suggestion, and removed tho defacing cards from tho forest giants. Another evidence of Roosevelt's love of Nature was established when, after hearing that Yosemite Valley -was being decorated for his reception, he wired to the proper authorities that he did not wish the reservation to be decorated, as he desired to s>ee it as Nature made it. The British battleship Grafton came from Esquimaulb to assist in paying honour to the visiting President, and Admiral Eickfordwas treated as a distinguished guert at the banquet, given to President Roosevelt by the citizens, and otherwise honoured. When the President crossed the bay to Oakland on Thursday, when he returned from Hare Island the "same afternoon, and when he finally crossed the bay at midnight, when taking his departure from San Francisco, the Grafton joined the vessels of the United Slates Navy in the harbour in firing salutes to the President. During the evening, while the President was in the city, the Grafton and other naval vessels were superbly illuminated, making a beautiful feature of the celebrations. San Francisco was, of course, brilliantly illuminated and handsomely decorated. The festival was unmarked by any unpleasant incident, and tha kindly words of President Roosevelt rewarded those who had made efforts to make' his stay pleasant and safe. The Police Department and the Civil Service men were particularly alert, and President Roosevelt, wlien taking his leave, gave warm thanks td the chief and the men under him for their attention. The President stated that he would see that the Presido at San Francisco would have improvements, costing at least a million dollars. He said this important military post had been overlooked, and it was riot as well equipped as some interior stations which receive very few soldiers.