USA > California > California gold book : first nugget, its discovery and discoverers, and some of the results proceeding therefrom > Part 18
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The bulk of the settlers at San Bernardino obeyed their orders, and then occurred the memorable event known to this day in the history of San Bernardino as the Mormon exodus. It was necessary for the faithful to dispose of their property in the quickest manner possible; and, as the number of sellers far exceeded those able or willing to buy, the most ruinous sacrifices were made. Houses, farms, orchards and vineyards
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were sold for less than the traditional song, and in more than one instance they abandoned their all with- out receiving any recompense, and set out on the long and weary desert journey of nearly a thousand miles. Some few of the Mormons, with the memory of that fearful journey still fresh in their minds, and well content with their surroundings, paid no heed to the directions of their spiritual leader and concluded that they could worship God after the dictates of their own consciences fully as well in the San Bernardino valley as in Salt Lake, and so remained. They had never practiced polygamy, or at all events not in their pres- ent abiding place, and had little difficulty in affiliating and even intermarrying with the Gentiles, who now poured in from all quarters.
In 1859-60 gold was discovered in the stream head- ing in the mountain valley to the north of San Bernar- dino, and there was a repetition of the wild scenes of the early mining camps in California. Holcomb and Bear valley were the centers of great activity, and a crowd gathered there to whom law was a myth and their passions the controlling element. When the war broke out, the majority in this section were rebel sym- pathizers, and the minority holding minor sentiments were compelled to be on their guard. The sympathizers with the South had a regular organization in Holcomb valley, and several expeditions were sent out to join forces with the Confederacy. One of these was led by a preacher who was killed before he reached his desti- nation. A small but determined organization of Union men was formed in the town of San Bernardino, and for some time the community was disturbed by the threats of the rebel sympathizers that they would cap-
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ture and sack the place. The presence of some soldiers, and the determined attitude of the Union men, at the head of whom were George Lord, John Brown, Sr., William Heap and others, cowed the secession sympathizers, however, and no violence was attempted. With the close of hostilities, at the surrender, all feelings of bitterness engendered by the war died out, and all joined in the work of improving the splendid country in which they lived. The com- pletion of the Southern Pacific railroad aided materially in the change, while the construction of vast irrigation enterprises, and the inauguration of many colony settlements completed the good work and wrought an entire revolution in the social structure.
In 1871 the settlement at Riverside was commenced, and from the humblest and most discouraging begin- nings, has grown to a wealthy and prosperous community whose reputation is world-wide. In quick succession followed the Etiwanda, Ontario, Lugonia, Redlands and other similar settlements, while a per- fect network of irrigating canals and railroads now covers the entire valley, and the horticultural products of San Bernardino county are now among the choicest in the State. In the higher development of irrigation and horticulture, San Bernardino leads the State, and she is the example held up for imitation by every locality which desires progress and prosperity.
A large share of this county is included within the limits of the Mojave and Colorado deserts, and here rich mines of gold, silver, copper and other minerals have been found, which have brought large wealth to their discoverers and owners.
New and extensive irrigation enterprises have been
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organized, and in time no water will be permitted to go to waste. It is believed that when all is utilized, supplemented by what can be obtained from artesian wells, there will be no lands in the county which can- not be devoted to fruits and vines. The Southern Pacific and Santa Fe railroads have been the most pronounced benefactors to every section of this great county, preceding settlers to many points where there was fertile soil and a prospect that the vacant acres would be wanted for homes by immigrants.
During the year last past Ontario's car of progress attained a gratifying speed, bringing its 2,000 passen- gers to the point of general prosperity. In horticulture Ontario's advance has been most pronounced, 1,015 acres having been added to her fruit area in 1892, making the place second to Riverside in this point. Though but nine years old, Ontario's orange shipments will this season exceed 150 car loads. Several resi- dences, costing from $5,000 to $12,000 each, have recently been completed. Among the industrial enterprises inaugurated in 1892 was a fruit canning and drying plant costing $25,000. The plant was successfully operated last season, canning 900 tons of deciduous fruit. Ontario is now expending $400,000 in making her water rights the best in the State.
One of the youngest and most vigorous settlements in the county, and which is making remarkable ad- vance, is Chino. It is the seat of the beet sugar indus- try in southern California, which is proving of the highest industrial valne to the community and the county in general. During the past year about 3,600 acres of virgin soil have been brought under a high state of cultivation for the first time. The sugar out-
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put from the Chino Valley Beet Sugar factory was 7,903,541 pounds. During the coming season the factory will be enlarged and 5,000 acres planted to beets. There were also 147 acres of orchard trees planted, largely olives and prunes, making the present fruit acreage 611. A number of buildings have been completed during the year, including a $10,000 opera house and fine residences. The population of Chino is now about 1,500.
Other points in the county are advancing rapidly. At Banning, Beaumont, South Riverside, Highland, Etiwanda, Cucamonga, Rialto, and all other favorable fruit districts, the area being reclaimed and planted to fruits of all kinds, citrus and deciduous, according to adaptability, is very large. In the Yucalpe valley twenty-five acres were planted to cherries, and as many more to apples, these fruits developing finely in that region. Needles, on the desert, is booming from her mineral interests, a large number of prospects having been developed successfully in that vicinity. A new smelter is in process of construction there, which will have a tendency to further encourage mining interests. At other desert points new mines are being opened up, all creating commercial enterprise and increased pros- perity. At no time since the boom has San Bernardino county evinced such decided prosperity as at the pres- ent.
RANGE COUNTY was created from the south- easterly portion of Los Angeles county in March, 1889, with Santa Ana as the county seat. It was practically an orange orchard when established, and
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very appropriately assumed the name of the golden fruit. It contains about 500,000 acres, almost all of which is under cultivation.
With the exception of the settlements at Anaheim and San Juan the history of Orange county dates from the latter part of the sixties. In 1868 W. H. Spargeon, who laid out and established Santa Ana, settled at what is now the corner of West and Fourth streets, where he erected a building and started a country store. His first important competitor was L. Gild- macher, one of the best established and most prosper- ous of Santa Ana's merchants.
Ten years later marks the advent of the Southern Pacific Railroad. During this interval the surround- ing country was converted from a sheep pasture to orange groves, fruit orchards and vineyards. At the close of another decade the Southern California Railroad, a branch of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, had completed its line through the heart of the county, connecting Santa Ana with San Diego, San Bernardino and Los Angeles.
The residents of Orange are principally immigrants from the Eastern States and Canada. Its educational and religious advantages compare favorably with those of any portion of the State. Its citizens are enter- prising and prosperous. By the completion of the Newport Railroad Santa Ana has extended her import- ance as the commercial center of the county. The most marked progress by the county was made during the past year in the increase of her acreage planted to trees and vineyards, and devoted to agriculture. The artesian belt lying west of Santa Ana and Anaheim, much of which at this time last year was a vast pasture field, is
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subdivided into eighty acre ranches, upon each of which a comfortable cottage and necessary farm buildings have been erected, and corn and grain-fields are sub- stituted for pasturing herds and jackrabbits.
Upon the peat lands south of Westminister an East- ern syndicate has planted acres of cellery and other vegetables which during January and February, 1893, they have been shipping to Eastern cities by the car load. In the vicinity of Garden Grove many acres of cabbage have been planted in the moist lands, and walnut groves grace the uplands. At Anaheim a corporation has been formed for the erection of a sugar beet factory, and sufficient acreage for the culture of beets has been secured to guarantee the successful establishment of the enterprise. At Santa Ana a committee is at work securing acreage, and making arrangements for the erection of a similar enterprise adjacent to the city.
In Santa Ana the most important improvement of the past year was the completion of water-works cost- ing $60,000 by which pure artesian water is forced through ten miles of cast-iron mains to sixty-eight fire plugs distributed throughout the city and to most of the residences within the city limits. Anaheim, the second town in size in the county, was founded in 1857 by a German colony, and is the oldest colony settlement in the county. Westminister, Fairview, Newport, El Toro, El Modena, Yerba and San Juan are important towns and settlements, ranking in size in the order in which they are named. The latter is one of the oldest towns in the State, and is the site of the San Juan Capistrano mission, established in 1776. The most important seaside resorts are Newport Land-
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ing, Laguna, Arch Beach, San Juan-by-the-sea and Anaheim Landing.
AN DIEGO COUNTY was the first one set apart in the original subdivision of the State. That was in accordance with the exact fitness of things. In very many material particulars the great Architect of the Universe had stamped it first among the places to be inhabited and improved by man, and it will retain that precedence until time is no more. Then it is true that this portion of the North American coast was visited by explorers many years before the name of San Diego was given to any portion of it. But those visits were productive of no results from a historical standpoint, and it was not until the cowled pioneers reached the shores of that great bay to which had been given the name of St. James, or San Diego, that the history of California actually was commenced. It was in 1603 that Admiral Sebastian Vizcaino, of the Spanish royal squadron, discovered and named this excellent and commodious harbor and gave the news of its existence to his royal master. It is evident, however, that little importance was attached to the discovery, for it was not until 165 years later, or in 1768, that the King of Spain issued a decree ordering the exploration and settlement of the territory adjacent to the bay of San Diego. This momentous undertaking was intrusted to Jose Galvez, the Royal Commissioner of New Spain, and in order that success might be assured two expeditions were sent out, one by land, and the other by sea. This latter consisted of three vessels, the San Carlos, Principe and San Jose, while the land expedi-
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tion was divided into two portions, one commanded by Fernando Moncada and the other by Governor Portola.
The vessels arrived first in the harbor of San Diego, one of them entering the bay on the 11th of April, and the other on the 1st of May, 1769, while the third was never heard of after leaving the port of departure. The first of the land parties reached the bay shore on May 14th, and the other on the 1st of July. The water forces had made no attempt at establishing a land settlement, but on the 16th of July, the land having been formally taken possession of in the name of the king of Spain, Father Junipero Serra began the foundation of a mission called after the bay, San Diego, thus commencing the first civilized settlement ever founded in Upper California. The point selected for the mission was on a hill overlooking the river in what is now known as Old Town, where was located an Indian village called Cosoy. A number of buildings were erected, but the newcomers, for some reason, found the natives hard to deal with, and in less than a, month there was a pitched battle with them, in which four soldiers were wounded and a boy was killed. It is evident that the natives were of a decidedly differ- ent temperament from their descendants of to-day, for they kept up their annoyances to such a degree that five years later it was decided to remove the establish- ment to a point some five miles distant. A place was selected at the head of what is now known as Mission valley, and a site was chosen that commanded the surrounding territory, and promised to afford good vantage ground for defense against the hostiles.
It was in August, 1774, that the removal was made, and during the ensuing year several substantial build-
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ings were commenced and much ground was prepared for planting. But in this new location no better success was met in dealing with the natives than in the old one. True, many were persuaded to assist in the work of building and preparing the land for cultivation, but it is evident there must have been a smoldering dis- content at work all of the time, which took a year or more in coming to a head, but finally broke out with fearful violence. On the 5th of November, 1775, a large number of unconverted Indians, in company with a great portion of the neophytes, surprised the mission at night and made a desperate attack upon it. They set fire to the buildings, murdered their occu- pants, including the padre in charge of the place, and tortured to death the converts who refused to join them. Only five of the people in the mission escaped with their lives, and as over one thousand Indians were engaged in the attack, it seems remarkable that a single one should have survived the massacre. The military arm of the church stepped in at this juncture and the Indians received a punishment, the good effects of which were permanent. The following year the ruined buildings were replaced, and from that time on there was no further trouble of any moment, and the San Diego mission followed the usual fortune of those establishments, reaching a high stage of pros- perity, only to be ruined by the decree of seculariza- tion enforced by the Mexican government.
After the mission was removed to the interior, the old buildings on the river bank were occupied by soldiers, and the presidio was established there. Down to 1825, with few exceptions, the entire civilized population of the place lived within the presidio inclosure, or so
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close at hand that they were within the protection of its guns. The Indians were disposed to commit depre- dations whenever opportunity offered, and were only deterred by the strong arm of the military.
In 1835 the pueblo of San Diego was organized under the Mexican laws, but it was not until ten years later, or 1845, that the assignment of the lands to the municipality was made. A year later California passed under the control of the American government and the pueblo organization was still maintained, the title of eleven square leagues, or 32,000 acres of land being subsequently confirmed to the city by the United States courts.
When the war with Mexico came San Diego figured prominently in those historical times. The presidio had been abandoned in 1837, but the people erected earthworks and prepared to defend the place against the Americans in 1846. However, Commodore Stockton had no difficulty in entering the harbor and capturing the fort without the loss of a single man.
On December 2, 1846, General Kearney with his small force of troops reached Warner's pass, and at once took the trail for San Diego. Four days Jater they reached San Pasqual, where they were encoun- tered by the Mexican forces under General Pico. Although largely outnumbered, the Americans, by making an unexpected attack before daylight on their enemies, succeeded after a hard fight in putting them to flight. Later in the day there was another skirmish which resulted as did the first, in the defeat of the Mexicans. Lieutenant Beale and Kit Carson managed to work their way through the country, which was alive with the enemy, and took word to Commodore
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Stockton at San Diego: That officer dispatched a force of marines and sailors to reinforce Kearney, who made the rest of the journey to the bay in safety. At this time the town consisted of only a few adobe houses situated at the foot of a hill on a sand flat reaching from the head of San Diego bay nearly to False bay. . There was no wharf, although a large amount of business was done in the shipment of hides and tallow in exchange for supplies of all kinds. San Diego was in fact the trading point for a vast extent of territory to the east, north and south.
The people who came here with the American occupation soon saw that if the town was to amount to anything a new and more accessible location must be chosen. Hence in March, 1850, a grant was made some distance to the southward of the old settlement for the establishment of what was to be known as New San Diego, and which is a portion of the present city.
In the boundaries as originally fixed by the legisla- ture a considerable part of what is now in San Bernardino county was assigned to San Diego county. The first election was held on the 1st of April, 1850. There were only two precincts, and a total of 157 votes were cast, while the aggregate population as shown by the United States census of that year was 798, that of the city itself being 650.
When the Americans came in they found much of the best land of the county already granted to the Spanish pioneers. There were no less than thirty-six such grants, as follows: Agua Hedionda, Buena Vista, Cuca, Cuyamaca, El Cajon, Guajome, Guejito, Jamacha, Janal, Jamul, La Penasquitas, Montserrate, Mission
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San Diego, National Rancho, Otay, Pauba, Pauma, Peninsula of San Diego, Rincon del Diablo, San Vi- cente, Santa Ysabel, Santa Rosa, Santa Maria, Santa Dieguito, San Jose del Valle, San Bernardino, San Marcos, San Jacinto, Nuevo, Santa Margarit y Los Flores, San Hacinto Viejo, Valley de San Felipe, Val- ley de San Jose and Temecule. The aggregate area of these grants is 784,783 acres, while the area of the whole county is 9,580,000 acres, of which a considera- ble proportion consists of the arid wastes of the Colo- rado desert, and which are likely to remain arid wastes but a short time. It has long been known that only water was needed to make these unsightly plains blooming and very lovely. The grounds about the Southern Pacific depots, where water was applied, produced wonderfully. About the close of 1892, one of the artesian wells being bored by the railroad authorities near Salton lake began to flow from an eight-inch pipe, and enough pure cool water to irri- gate many acres of the desert. Should other artesian wells do as well the whole desert may be reclaimed, producing abundantly all the fruits of the tropics. This promises to be feasible, and if so San Diego will be not only one of the three largest. but much the richest county in America.
For many years after the capture of San Diego by Commodore Stockton, a force of troops was kept at that place, and at different times officers were in com- mand who were destined to achieve subsequent fame, among them being General Heintzelman, Colonel Magruder, Captain Winder and others. The first Pacific railroad survey was made under the escort of a company of troops from San Diego, and among
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other discoveries made by the party was the point where the waters of the Mojave river disappear on the desert.
It was not until 1851-52 that the turbulent Indians of San Diego received their final quietus. While the tribes that had come into most intimate relationship with the whites were disposed to be friendly, there were others in the interior and on the borders of the desert who lost no opportunity for showing their hos- tility, not stopping short of murder in so doing. In the latter part of 1851 an attack was made upon the little village of Agua Caliente and several Americans were killed, while a number of buildings were burned. It was learned that a white man named Bill Marshall, who was married to a squaw, had instigated the Indians to this outbreak and had been concerned as well in other affairs in which Americans had been robbed or murdered. They were captured and taken to San Diego for trial. A court-martial was organized. The proceedings were summary, as the proof was clear, and they were quickly found guilty and sen- tenced to be hanged on the following day. A few days after this four Indians, two of whom were village chiefs, were arrested and tried for complicity in the Agua Caliente affair. They also were convicted and sentenced to death, but the indignity of the gallows was exchanged for the more honorable death by shoot. ing. The four were accordingly executed on Christmas morning, 1851, being shot by a detail of twenty sol- diers while kneeling at the heads of their graves.
Antonio Garra, the leading chief of the interior, tribes, a well-educated man and possessed of great influence, was also accused of taking a prominent part
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in the Agua Caliente affair. He, too, was found guilty and was executed by being shot on January 11, 1852. His last words, as he stood by the side of his grave, were "Gentlemen, I ask your pardon for all my offenses and expect yours in return." Then he knelt and met his death like the brave man that he was. The execution of Garra completely cowed the Indians, and from that time to this, with the exception of some minor depredations, there has been no trouble with them.
The era of exceeding prosperity did not dawn for San Diego until the advent of the Santa Fe railroad. Several surveys had been previously made, and some of the most prominent railroad men in the United States were identified with some of the propositions for reaching San Diego bay with lines extending by con- nections to the Atlantic States, and notably Tom Scott of the Pennsylvania Company. By the efforts of San Diego citizens, supplemented with subsidies of lands of great value, the Santa Fe Company was induced to extend its branch, known as the Southern California Company, through San Diego city, establishing its terminus six miles beyond, at National city, at the head of San Diego bay. Then prosperity began, not alone for the bay region, but for all the country along its line to Los Angeles. The same experience was had which has attended the enterprising expenditures by the Southern Pacific Company on its numerous branches from Los Angeles county to Del Norte.
An additional impetus was given to the progressive tide setting in for every part of California by a cutting of rates from the Atlantic States to the Pacific coast. Many thousands of Eastern people took advantage of
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the low fares and came, saw, and were conquered, and the era of booms was inaugurated. It was this that caused such a generous expenditure for timber to be used as stakes to mark off twenty-foot lots on the hills for miles surrounding the city of San Diego. Thou- sands of dollars were made by real estate men very frequently in a day, and none were wise enough to know that it was an experience that could not last. The reaction came, and not a few were wrecked ; but, .ike all storms, it left the air filled with healthy ozone, and the gloomy forebodings of the winter of 1887-8 have not been realized. Those who abandoned the place in disgust at that time would not recognize city or country now. Every prediction of the boomers has been more than fulfilled, and none of the efforts expended for improvements have been wasted. Of course the railroad projects anticipated had to be sus- pended for a time ; but the Cuyamaca line, short as it is, has accomplished wonders for the country adjoining the whole line to its temporary terminus at Lakeside, and the National City and Otay road has fostered the orchard interest until the smoke of its engines shadows the brilliant green of orange, lemon and olive trees along its entire route.
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