An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day, Part 66

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1038

USA > California > Los Angeles County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 66
USA > California > San Diego County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 66
USA > California > Orange County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 66
USA > California > San Bernardino County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 66

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The " northers " are hot, parchiing winds from the desert, which, although not violent, are de- pressive and destructive to vegetable and animal life, evaporating the moisture, and leaving everything parched and scorched. These also are of infrequent occurrence.

Snows fall on the Sierra Nevada thronghout the winter, but in the valley only at rare inter- vals.

In 1882 there was very heavy snowfall, but this storm gave rise to much gayety in the way of sleighing and snowballing, and was regarded as a pleasant occurrence, rather than a drawback.

The greatest drawback of this section, its most destructive and disagreeable feature, is the north winds, that sweep down through the Sac- ramento and San Joaquin valleys. Devoid of moisture, they absorb all that is in the soil, and,

Rainfall (total for seasons), at San Bernardino, California, 1870 to 1890, inclusive.

SEASONS.

70-1

71-2

72.3

73-4

74-5

75-6

76-7

77-8

78-9 79 80

80-1

81-2

82.3

83-4

84-5

85-6

86-7

87-8

88-9 89-90

July. ...

.00

.CO

.00

.07

.11

.00

.{ 0

.00

.19

.00

.CO

.11

.00

.17

August .. .

.00

.04

.18

1.06

.00

.co

.02

.00

.04

.00

.63

September

.02

.13

.04

.02

.06

.00

.1 0

.00

.02

.01

.00

.53

.00

.09

.00

.11 2.30

November

3.11

.88

1,17

.74

1.88

7.50

.40

.50

.05

3.40

.67

.27

.15

.09

4 36

.11

2.29

4.12

2.23

December

.89

3.91

4.40

5.73

2.20

.02

.00

3.95

4.70

6,50

8.80

.50

.45

2.63

3.75

1.20

.61 .39

6.44

3.60

1.50

2.52

March.

.19

.37

.51

1 08

.22

3.41

.83

2.57

.50

1.45

1.66

3.50

2.82

9.95

1.89

2.36

1.90

.58

2.05

May.

.11

.06

.21

.05

.03

.66

.24

.04

.01

.00

3.17

1.69

.32

.42

.52

1.13

June

.07

.00

.03

.00

.07

.03

.00

.59

.19

.16

.22

.03

.00

13.94 8.98 15.10 23.81 13.65 19.90

9.52 20.83 11.54 20.36 13.50 11.54 9.17 37-51 10.81 21.83 14.50 17.76 20.97 24.23

* Twelve inches of snow, Jannary 12th.

Waterspouts and cloudbursts sometimes do much damage hereabouts. The floods of 1862 destroyed the lumber mills and timber in the Mill creek and Santa Ana cañons; in April, 1867, a cloudburst over the Cajon pass poured torrents for about half an hour, and the raging waters rushed down the narrow cañion, carrying

when they occur after a rain, they entirely de- stroy its effects. Fortunately, these winds do not occur with great frequency.

RAILROADS.

San Bernardino County enjoys the distinction of possessing the main lines of two transconti-

6.91

.00

6.50

5.51

7.20

6.55

3.50

3,33

3.59

1.56

1.40

*11

1,60

1 63

2.79

6.34

4.01

.93

5 44

February .

2.21

2.20

1.25

8.76

.15

1.92

4.03

6.68

1.00

1.33

.36

2.65

1.10 12.20

.11

2,52

4.18

4.41

3.41

6.55

April.

.24

.84

.48

.07

.44

.26

1.71

1.20

5.00

.46

2.91

2 95

5.68

.00

.39

.00

1.17

.05

October ..

.09

.60

.00

.01

1.82

.00

.86

.14

.94

.14

.80

.10

.85

June

99.0°

46.5º

71.0°

July.

104.0°

51.0°

77.0°

August.

102.0°

54.5°

79.3º

September.

98.5°

49.5º

71.0°

October ...

86.5°

38.0°

60.2º

November ..

86.0°

27.0°

54.6°

.53

December.

86.50

31.0°

54.7º

.04

extremes

and totals ..

104.5°

26.0°

62.8º

8.60

297

Jannary ...

77.0℃

26.00

52.0°

3.27

February ...

78.0°

30.0°

56 3°

1.38

March ..

78.5º

31.00

53.1º

1.95

April

81.0°

49.0°

57.7º

1.43

May .

100.0°

40.0°

66.8°

Rainfall in inches.

Days.

Cloudy

Clear 'Daye.

Averages,

1.91

4.64 10.85

January ..

427

HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

nental railroads-the Southern Pacific, and the Atlantic & Pacific, more popularly known as the Santa Fé. The Southern Pacific was the pio- neer road, completing its bed through these parts in 1876. This road crosses the extreme south- west corner of the county, running east and west. It affords shipping facilities to numerous pros- perous towns and settlements, the centers of wide areas of rich fruit and agricultural lands. It has some forty-eight miles of track operating within the confines of the county, which, to- gether with 206 miles of roadbed leased to the Atlantic & Pacific, has an assessed value in round numbers of $3,000,000. During the busiest part of the year, the Southern Pacific receives sufficient freight, the product of the county, at Colton, to place that town third on the coast in importance as to east-bound ship- ments.

The line which the Southern Pacific in 1879 leased to the Atlantic & Pacific intersects the county almost centrally, extending east and west. It traverses a portion of the country not at- tractive to the eye, but immensely rich in min- eral deposits, which have already added vastly to the wealth of the country, although their development is scarcely begun as yet. Tlie Atlantic & Pacific has rolling stock and im- provements whose assessed value is nearly $73,- 000. This road has a connecting line of the Sonthern California railway system making junction at Barstow.

The first direct rail communication between San Bernardino and the Eastern States was ef- fected in 1887.

In 1883 the Southern California Railway was built between San Bernardino and San Diego, and in 1885 it was extended to Barstow. At first this line suffered severely, indeed, was rendered almost inactive, by heavy wash-outs, but eventually it rallied from the disastrons results of these mnisfortures.

Five different rontes of the Santa Fé system now run daily trains into San Bernandino.

The overland route, which runs north and east via Barstow and The Needles to join the

main line of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé at Albuquerque, brings enormous numbers of immigrants and excursionists hither yearly. The excursions are an especial feature of this line, offering every inducement of comfort and convenince to the visitor.

The California Central is a branch road, run- ning between San Bernardino and Los Angeles. This line was built in 1887. It traverses with its leased lines some sixty miles of the county's choicest territory, running westward along the foothills of the San Bernardino and Sierra Ma- dre ranges, to Los Angeles and Ballona liarbor. It is placed at such an elevation that it over- looks all the way southward the broad charming valley of this beautiful section. Along this route have sprung up the little towns of Rialto, North Cucamonga, and North Ontario, besides a number of other small towns which are situ- ated in Los Angeles County. A spur of this line, known as the Valley road, extends to Red- lands and Mentone. The assessed valne of this road, with rolling stock and improvements, is $357,000.

The California Southern finds a northerly course from the San Diego County line through this county to its junction with the Atlantic & Pacific at Barstow. It lacks one-fourth of a mile of having 100 miles of main track. In round numbers, a valuation of $522,000 is placed upon its rights and property. This road, with the California Central, is operated by tlie California Southern Railway Company.

The machine shops, etc., of the Sante Fé line at San Bernardino were erected at a cost of $50,000, with stock and machinery, and the company pays out to its employés here the sum of $40,000, all of which goes into circulation in this section.

It is expected that this county will have shortly another transcontinental railroad, as the Union Pacific is pushing the Utah Southern in this direction with great activity. Its objective point is believed to be Barstow, whence it will run its trains over the Santa Fé lines to all points in Southern California; and then, it is

428

HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

believed, it will unite with the Atlantic & Pa- cific road, and build up the coast from Mohave to San Francisco. This road will open up a country rich in lumber, coal, and valuable mines.

The Southern California motor road was built from San Bernardino to Colton, a distance of three and one-half miles, in November, 1886, and in the last year the company extended it eight and a half miles to Riverside, making twelve miles now in operation. This company has now four and one-half miles of street-car road in San Bernardino, the plant costing a to- tal of $152,000, and they contemplate putting about $35,000 in additional extensions. This line runs twelve trains each way daily.

The San Bernardino, Arrowhead & Water- man Narrow-Gange Company completed its road to Harlem Hot Springs, a distance of four miles, in June last, and also a mile of street railway in the city, to be operated in connection with the narrow- gauge road. They contem- plate extending the road thronghont the valley and up Waterman cañon to the suminit, to tap ·the timber belt, and ultimately to continue the extension to the Bear valley resort. At present they have on hand material for two miles more of road, and their total investment thus far is about $75,000, all subscribed by residents of San Bernardino. At present travel by this line is suspended.

The San Bernardino & Redlands motor rail- road was projected by Oscar Newburg, who, in connection with W. J. Curtis and W. D. Cran- dall, organized the San Bernardino & Redlands Railroad Company, and obtained the franchise from the board of supervisors in the summer of 1887. The capital stock of the company was fixed at $200,000, divided into 200 shares of $1,000 each. Work was commenced on the line in December of that year, and the first passen- ger train was run over the road June 5, 1888. The line extends from the crossing of Third and E streets, in San Bernardino, to the center of the business portion of Redlands, and is a little more than ten miles in length.

The road and its equipments cost a little more than $100,000, and the roadbed is one of the finest in the country. The property is en- tirely free from debt. The train makes five round trips daily, and connects with the trains on the Southern California motor railroad for Colton and Riverside and the Southern Pacific transcontinental line at the former place via that road It leads through a rich section of the country ana a growing community, including old San Bernardino, and while it is already a good paying property its future prospect gives sure promise of its becoming one of the most profitable investments to its stockholders of all pieces of property in Southern California. The board of directors is composed of Oscar New- burg, Lewis Jacobs, W. J. Curtis, Daniel Rath- bun and George E. Otis. The officers are Oscar Newburg, President; W. J. Curtis, Vice President: T. J. Wilson, Secretary and Super- intenden'.

()SOAR NEWBURG, president of the above railroad company, and president of the city council of San Bernardino, is a native of Prus- sia, where he was born forty years ago. He came to America and settled in San Bernardino in 1863, and has been actively connected with the business interests ever since. Starting as a clerk in a store he soon became proprietor in a grain and shipping business. Later he en- gaged in general merchandising, from which he has now retired. He was elected to the city council in 1887 for a term of four years, and was chosen president in May, 1889, in which capacity he is still serving.

The Chino Valley Narrow-Gauge railway, owned by Richard Gird, Esq., of the Chino Rancho, was built between Ontario and Chino, a distance of five and a half miles, and put in operation in June, 1888. Since then it has been extended four and a half miles to Harrington, and it will be continued to tide-water at Newport. It is a forty-two-inch-gange road, and it has cost, thus far, about $75,000. It makes three trips daily between Ontario and Chino.

The San Bernardino & Colton electric rail-

429

HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY ..

way, three miles long, was built by F. D. French, and put in operation in June last. The cost was $12,000.

The Riverside & Arlington electric railway, nine miles long, was built in 1888, at a cost of about $45,000.

The Euclid aveune electric railway at Onta- rio, eight and a half miles long, was completed and opened to travel in December, 1888. The cost was about $65,000.

These three lines are all at present operated by horse-power, but arrangements are in progress for the use of electricity in their operation.

Thus it will be seen that there are in the county thirty-two and a half miles of motor and narrow-gange railroads, constructed during 1889-'89, at a cost of some $300,000; and twenty-seven iniles of electric railways, built also at a cost of $122,000.

Standard-gauge railroad building has been less active during the year immediately past than during the preceding one; but the indica- tions point to renewed activity during the coming year. During the past season the Po- mona & South Riverside road was graded, and the San Bernardino Valley road was opened for traffic, being ten miles long, with tive daily passenger trains each way.

There are now 528 miles of standard-gauge railroad in operation in this county.

THE LUMBER INDUSTRY.

The timber belt of the Sierra Nevada, in this county, extending from Swarthont cañon in Cajon pass on the west to Mount Grayback on the east, a stretch of some thirty miles, averages three miles in width. A few Morinons, in 1851, built the first road from San Bernardino valley to the summit of the Sierra Madre, this thor- onghfare serving for the lumber traffic for some twenty years. In the earlier years, there were, probably. not over seventy-five families to supply with lumber. In 1859, a second road was built, in 1874 another, and in the '80s still another. All but one of these roads were toll- roads, on account of the costliness, but the

charter lapses on two of them at about the present time, so that they become county roads. All the valuable timber has long since disap- peared from the vicinity of the "old road," about the summit. D. T. Huston, David See- ley and his brother, and J. M. James were the pioneer lumbermen of San Bernardino, but they have all retired from the business years since.

The Seeleys built the third mill, in the fall of 1853 David Seeley still owns some 1,600 acres of fine pine land. In the San Jacinto mountains, and Bear and Holcomb valleys, there are large pine forests. The entire pine territory of the county is estimated to contain at least 800,000 acres. When the demand is brisk, the clip amounts to 5,000,000 feet an- qually. The lumber trees average two to nine feet in diameter. Most of the mills are situated about the Devil cañon gap, distant twelve or fourteen miles from San Bernardino. There are now six saw. mills operating in the range. Their capacity of yield during the working months is 5,000,000 to 6,000,000 feet. The winter snows are too heavy to admit of work at that season, so the mills shut down from October to May. Most of the lumber produced is consumed an- nually in the San Bernardino valley. It is esti- mated that some 3,500,000 feet of home lumber is thus consumed. A large portion is sent down in shucks or crates of sidings and headers for fruit and raisin boxes, and in cuts for raisin- drying trays, ready for shipment to the packing- houses, where they are set up. This home product is practically driving the Truckee material from this market. The importation of northern redwood and Oregon lumber has seriously injured the home industry, but it is rallying again, and offers large promise for the future. The home yield, at average prices, represents a yearly revenue of some $100,000. San Bernardino consumes less imported lumber than Riverside and Colton.

The " Old Road " is not bad till within about a mile of the summit, whence ordinary brakes proved unavailing. Thus the teamsters used to attach to the rear of the wagons heavy pine

430

HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

trees, to prevent their too rapid descent. These trees accumulated at the foot of the mountains, at a spot to which their presence gave the name of " the drag yard." A toll house was built at this point.

The Mill creek and Santa Ana cañions form- erly supplied first-class pine timber, but the flood of 1862 destroyed the two mills in those districts, and swept away much of the timber.

MINES.

In 1853 or 1854 one Leonardo Serrano, a native Californian, applied to the Board of Land Commissioners, then in session in California, claiming a Mexican grant of five leagues of land, including that tract known as the Rancho de Temescal. After a careful investigation, his claim was rejected, and the land, like other Government land, lay open to settlement until 1859. Then tin was discovered near Serrano's- home, he having died in the meantime. On the announcement of this valuable discovery, Abel Stearns, of Los Angeles, purchased from Serrano's widow her interest in the property. Litigation was now necessary to secure a good title to the land. Stearns appealed from the decision of the Land Commissioners to the United States District Court, from which, after much delay, he obtained a decree entitling him to five leagues of land. I'ending this decision, other miners had " located " the land according to the mining laws, and these parties now ap- pealed to the Supreme Court at Washington. That august body, in 1857, reversed the finding of the lower court, thus making the mines and the giant claimed public lands.

Next, Pioche & Co. bonght the San Jacinto grant, and tried to " float " it over the tin mines. In short, the litigation over this property has never been quieted, and these mines, famed and important as they are, have brought in no reve- nue to the county. The only practical result from them took the form of a box made of the tin from them, which was presented to ex- Secretary William H. Seward, all the news-

papers of the United States chronicling this as a remarkable item.

In 1880 a company began to exploit these tin mines, placing a large force of workmen there; but these would-be developers also were driven out by the ceaseless litigation.

In these mines, the only locality in the United States where tin has been found in pay- ing quantities, ore is found containing 60 per cent of tin. Yet, owing to the framing of our laws they are lying idle, yielding up naught of a potential richi inconie from them. In a recent issue of the American Artisan appears the fol- lowing: The Temescal Tin District, limited, has been registered in London, with a capital of £350,000 in 348,000 ordinary shares of £1 and 200 founders' shares of £10 each, to acquire for any interest therein, and to explore, work and turn to account in tin, gold, silver, copper or other mines, mining and other rights, and other land and property in California and elsewhere, and in particular to acquire the mineral and the mining and the water rights of the San Jacinto estate, situate in San Bernardino County, South- ern California, and for that purpose to carry into effect a contract purporting to be made be- tween the San Jacinto Tin Company of Califor- nia and the Temescal Tin District, limited.

In the Holcomb valley, some thirty miles from San Bernardino, are found gold and silver in considerable quantities, and also valuable lead mines.

In Lytle creek cañon, thirteen miles north- west of San Bernardino, gold in considerable quantities has been mined for some years past, and later workings, with improved facilities, give promise of good results. American miners are working twenty or thirty placers here at present.

The Bear valley mines, four miles east of Holcomb valley, have gold-quartz free-milling ores in large quantities.

At the Alvard mine, 100 miles northeast of San Bernardino, gold is found in a quarry of hard quartz agate.

Calico mining district, forming the northern

431

HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

boundary of Silver valley, is the richest silver camp now in operation in the county. The approximate estimate of silver bullion shipped during the first two years of work here was $2,500,000. There are 170 stamps here all told, of which 125 run day and night. The processes here include much chloriding. The silver bullion extracted amounts to from $75,- 000 to $100,000 per month. Since 1881 over $14,000,000 have been taken from this camp; and the best mining experts pronounce it to be still in its infancy.

To the north of Calico there are the following districts: Avawatts, Granite, Wells, Panamint, Ihex, Saratoga, Salt Springs, Goode Springs, Tecopa, Resting Springs and Potosi, all contain- ing gold, silver, copper and lead. To the west are situated the Grapevine, Black's Ranch, North Camp, Oro Grande, Galena and Crema districts, which contain gold, silver, asbestos, iron, and large quantities of marble.

To the south are the Dry Lake, Holcomb, Bear Valley, Black Hawk, Morongo, and Old Woman Springs districts. containing gold, silver, iron, copper and galena.

After Calico comes Victor, with: ten stamp- mills already running, and another in prospect.

The Ord Mining District is situated seventy- five miles northeast of San Bernardino, within ten miles of the established course of the thirty- fifth parallel railway. Ord mountain has an altitude of about 2,500 feet above the adjacent country, and 7,500 feet above the sea level. It covers an area of twenty-five square miles. This entire mountain is "laced " with gold- bearing veins from two feet to 200 feet in width.

The Ord district contains, besides its gold, some very rich copper ledges.

The Lava bed district, at the southeastern end of Silver valley, is very rich in chlorides, silver and lead predominating.

About thirty miles east of the Ord district, is the Dry Lake district, with a promising gold- mining camp.

Still eastward some forty miles farther is the Trojan district.

In the Mojave district is a large number of mines under Los Angeles control-the Soledad, Sanchez, Champion, Noble, Empire, Chieftain, etc. In the same district Pasadena companies are working.

The Oro Grande mires on the Mohave river, are abont fifty miles from San Bernardino There are six principal mines, from which has been taken an immense quantity of ore.

There are other districts south and west which have been purchased or bonded by capi- talists; and north and east lie rich sections whose development will follow upon the build . ing of the Utah Southern Railway. Each of these inining districts covers a space of about thirty miles square.

The Amargosa and Death valley borax de- posits, controlled by San Francisco capitalists, are claimed by able authorities to be the largest in the world. There is a large deposit of borate of lime seven miles from Daggett, east of Calico

Sixty miles east and north of Silver valley are found two of the largest mountains of salt in the United States, on the line of the Atlantic & Pacific railway and one on the proposed line of the Utah Southern Railroad. There are also salt works at Salton, east of Indio, owned by the Southern Pacific Railway, which has run a branch road there.

Two mines at Black Hawk recently sold for $350,000. There is here an enormous body of ore, probably 200,000 tons in sight, of low grade but easy to work. A 10-stamp mill is building, with more in prospect if the result is satisfac- tory.

At Gold valley a large English company is expending much money in tunneling, etc. Hydraulicking was begun this spring in the placers here.

A 10-stamp mill is soon to be built at Oro Grande, which camp is considered to have as- snred a great future.

At Twenty-nine Palms a 5-stamp mill is running, with fifteen stamps soon to be added.

Near Daggett Station, which is the base of supplies for Calico, Death valley, and the

432

HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

surrounding country, are found immense de- posits of specular iron, pronounced by experts the best in the United States. From Daggett to the Colorado river, north of the mountains, is that territory known as " the desert," rich in gold, silver, copper, lead and antimony. In fact it may be said that almost every known variety of mineral is found in this district. Lime- stone is superabundant. Near the Colorado river are deposits. many miles long, of iron. Garnets are found in some districts. Borax is found in great quantities. Asbestos, gypsumn, and niter beds are here. Salt is found, also, at Armagosa. Marble, granite and limestone are in abundance, to be mentioned by districts here- after. From Victor, forty miles from San Ber- nardino, on the California Sonthern, is shipped white marble, the finest for building purposes. Some 1,500 men are employed in the quarries at this point. Granite forms a great industry on the Mohave, where 150 men are constantly quarrying this stone for shipment to Los An- geles and San Francisco.

Negotiations are pending for large quarries of working marble in Holcomb valley.

At Mentone, in Mill creek cañon, eighteen miles from San Bernardino, is quarried a fine brown sandstone, extensively used in building the new hall of records at the county seat, and of which large orders are sent to San Francisco.

Within fourteen miles of San Bernardino there are other large deposits of black, white and variegated marble, which have been exam- ined by Eastern capitalists, who will probably purchase and work them.

But by far the most important development of this industry in the county, is the quarry plant and works on Stover mountain, where the California Marble Company on March 1, 1887, established itself for the exploiting of this ele- ment, employing about forty five workmen, and using the latest improved machinery to the value of many thousands of dollars. There are three quarries, yielding different kinds of mar- ble, one of which is used principally for the

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Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1038

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1038