To the American: Here we are so far from home. We left Long Beach on the 15th for San Diego, a beautiful day and interesting scenery. Leaving Long Beach at 9:00 a.m., and motoring to San Diego, where we arrived at 4:00 p.m., traveling 132 miles. We passed through many towns, Seal Beach, Santa Ana, Tustin, Irvin [sic; Irvine], San Juan Capistrande [sic; San Juan Capistrano]

Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Cardiff, Del Mar, La Jolla. By this list you will see that Southern California has a lot of cities, and you will not wonder that I think that the day will come when all this part will be cities, and they are all growing.

San Diego has grown wonderfully since I was here four years ago. The city now has 150,000 population. It has a very even climate and many natural resources, and a harbor that is not surpassed on the coast. There is 23 miles of harbor protected by Point Loma, 600 feet in height. The park has 1,400 acres in it, but it is not all completed as yet. Still one could spend a couple of weeks going to all the places and looking over with any degree of care.

Yesterday, my cousin, Wm. [William] Reininger, and I visited the zoo. This is where one may find animals, snakes, birds and insects of every kind. In the snake room we saw one of the largest snakes in the world, although he had not attained his full growth. It is the Regal Python, 23 feet in length, but only about 9 inches in diameter. It has been here two years and so far has not eaten anything voluntarily, requiring the efforts of eight to twelve men to feed it. They take a two inch rubber hose about three feet long and force it down his neck. Next a sausage machine is attached and about 35 to 38 pounds of horse meat or goat meat is given him at one feeding. He is feed every 60 days, and sheds his skin every two months. When we saw him he was in the stage of shedding. As we live in a country where there are no snakes, I will give you the names as I made note of them: Copperhead, Water Moccasin, Hog Nosed, Black Texas Rattlesnake, Pilot, Black Emery Pilot, Gray Rat, Chicken Fox, Pacific Rattlesnake, Timber Rattlesnake, Diamond Back Rattlesnake, Red Rattlesnake, Corn Red Rattlesnake, Horned Rattlesnake, Long Nosed Black Tailed Rattlesnake, Western Ringed, Packnard, King, Indigo, Blue Racer, California Garter, California King, Blue, Dessert Gopher, Pine. I have the names of these few of the snakes for our home people who do not have serpents. I would like to give shape and size and history of some kinds of but it would require too much space. I shall write more of this wonderful park called Balboa Park.

We are in our usual health and enjoying this sunny clime [sic]. I am going down to Mexico to see all I can as we travel.

Uncle Tommy