USA > California > Riverside County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume I > Part 12
USA > California > San Bernardino County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume I > Part 12
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79
One day the highway from San Bernardino, through Waterman Canyon, back and forth on the switchback, along the crest, sometimes reaching an altitude of over 8,000 feet, passing by lakes, resorts, streams, through forests of pines, down another switchback into Santa Ana and Mill Creek Canyon-a second Grand Canyon-through beautiful Red- lands and to the starting point .- 101 miles of mountain roadway, free of toll, a gift to the people.
With the completed highway, commenced a new epoch for San Ber- nardino Valley, the impetus to business became apparent, new channels of trade were opened, and old ones enlarged.
The secrets of the mystery of those untrodden heights were revealed, the panoramic picture of the valley-as seen from the heights brought to the dwellers of the lower land a vision of still greater accomplishment- the new epoch was well started. Much discussion was had as to the advisability of allowing the "auto" on the new highway. Resolutions were passed in numerous assemblies and sent to the supervisors, asking
64
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
them to forbid autoists the use of the road ; personal interviews were held with the members of this august body of lawmakers, some for, some against. Life friendships counted as naught, in the heated controversy.
Finally autos were allowed on the road, certain hours, on certain days of the week, that was gradually increased to the abandonment of the "horse" on the road altogether. Progress demanded its toll. For years and years man in the valley had been dreaming of possibilities lying buried in the mountains, now these dreams were to come true, for with good mountain roads, the auto in its various degrees of usefulness became the greatest factor for progress.
The late Kirk Philipps was the pioneer in auto traffic, closely followed by Max and Perry Green and the Shay brothers; now any one who drives an auto in the valley goes also into the mountain. There came a day when this climax of engineering skill-this 101 miles of highway, must receive a name. In June, 1914, the supervisors made a call for a name and 300 answers were received.
UP IN THE CLOUDS ALONG "IOI MILE DRIVE"
After much consideration on the part of the board, they decided upon : "San Bernardino Mountain Crest Highway." It was a long and cumber- some name, and was always being abbreviated.
Dr. John N. Baylis, whose beautiful resort, "Pinecrest," in the moun- tains, is famous throughout the state-and one of those dreamers- thought to try out the name "Rim of the World" on the public and see how it would take, and to this end secured ready and hearty co-operation of Mr. Max Green, manager of a stage line to the mountains.
Both of these men used the name on all possible occasions, first, jokingly, then more boldly. finally the oddity of the name, meeting with favor by the public, was accepted and adopted, and received official recognition.
RIM OF THE WORLD MONUMENT DEDICATION1 The crest of San Ber- nardino Mountains on the north of the valley, is topped by a great high- way, winding in, about and over the rugged peaks; all along the entire length of this splendid road is evidence of engineering skill and builders' triumphs, and bears silent but eloquent testimony of victories won by man over nature-one of the links in the great chain of progress made by him in the last few decades.
1 By Reetta V. Hadden.
65
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
When the roadway was finished and in its completed state, ready for use, a number of enthusiasts decided in favor of erecting a suitable monu- ment to commemorate the event, and selected a wide open ledge on the southern slope of Strawberry Peak, at an altitude of 6,150 feet, where the panoramic view is of exceptional splendor and magnitude and chose a little level space, whereon was built a simple rock pile, with a bronze tablet embedded in cement, on one side bearing a message to the traveler as he passes by. In bold letters may be read: "This is the Rim of the World, a roadway, 101 miles in length along the crest of the San Ber- nardino Mountains, revealing nature's secrets in the heart of the hills."
It was on July 18, 1915, that this group of men left the hospitable home of Dr. Baylis, at Pinecrest, and wended its way to the chosen spot, whereon was to be enacted a little ceremony that was to find a place on history's pages; recording the culmination of over half a century of "hewing the way," to bring about a completed mountain highway, one of the most scenic in the world. This roadway was to receive its name -a name suggested by Dr. John N. Baylis, of San Bernardino.
The members of the party felt the force of the spell that the time and place was casting upon them-a fulfillment of the longings of a pecple -- and with bared heads listened to the eloquent dedicatory address by that master poet of the Southland, John Steven McGroarty, when he pro- nounced the name, "I baptize thee 'Rim of the World,' tell thy story to the children of the earth as they pass this way."
When the name was pronounced, that is to go down time's way, a bird sang in the shadows of the monument, an answering encore to the South- land's singer of beautiful thoughts, John McGroarty. Thus was the high- way receiving its baptismal name by both man and bird.
During the six years following that memorable July morning in 1915, hundreds of thousands of nature lovers have passed the spot, seeking the echo as it resounds from peak to peak-a tonic-a sedative-a recreation.
THE SAN BERNARDINO FOREST RESERVE. The act creating the San Bernardino Forest Reserve was signed by President Benjamin Harrison, February 25, 1893, who had also set aside the San Gabriel, the other principal forest reservation in Southern California, San Jacinto, having been set aside by President Cleveland. The San Bernardino reserve con- sists of 737,280 acres, 249,000 acres being classed as timber land and 90,000 acres as "first-class." Of this, 35,000 acres of the best timber land is located in the Santa Ana Basin. Prior to the formation of the reserve, the best of the timber lands had been appropriated by lumber companies and settlers, and are therefore not controlled by the Government. The timber for the most part is yellow pine, although there are also fir, cedar, pinon and juniper, and in the forest growth is found mountain mahogany, live oak, mountain alder, ash, cottonwood, sycamore, black willow, yucca and black oak. About 35,000 acres of this area is drained by Bear Valley. while the Arrowhead system drains about 100,000 acres more. The patrol system was established in 1898, and in the neighborhood of fifteen rangers are employed in the San Bernardino reserve, it being their duty to patrol their districts, guard against fires, prevent trespass of all kinds, measure timber, cut trails and to use every effort to protect and preserve the forest water sheds. Some effective work has been done in late years in retimber- ing burned districts and introducing new species which are suited to the locality.
The life of the ranger-the man whose duty it is to look after that part of the range in his charge-is no bed of roses, as viewed from the standpoint of the man in the city.
Vol. I-5
66
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
He knows every nook and corner ; the deepest recesses of the darkest canyons, the windings of every stream, the trails, hunting grounds, and the dangerous places. They are familiar to him-that is part of his business.
The man who seeks the post of forest ranger must be physically strong, he must be able to build trails, cabins, pack and ride and deal tactfully with all classes of people. He becomes a "watcher" over the des- tinies of the people of the valleys that the mountains may continue to hold the waters for them.
Wm. B. Greely, at Washington, D. C., is the head of the Forest Service. Groups of forests are divided into districts. All of California falls into District 5, with Paul G. Reddington as district forester. Each forest is administered by a supervisor and his staff of rangers. Under the last arrangement and in force in 1921, the Angeles National Forest extends from the Santa Clara Watershed Divide, near San Fernando to the Whitewater River, east of Banning.
The San Bernardino, or east half of the forest, is composed of 600,000 acres, administered by Deputy Forest Supervisor Fred J. Jeken, with headquarters in San Bernardino, assisted by ten permanent rangers. Each ranger has charge of a district and attends to all the administrative work in his district, which consists of timber sales, grazing, special use and land adjustment. L. H. Anderson has charge of Bear Valley district and during the summer months two guards, one at Converse and one at Santa Ana, control H. F. Burbank, Cajon district. J. H. Hayden, Lytle Creek, has a guard at Alta Loma. G. H. Moore, Devil Canyon district, and has a guard at Del Rosa, and one at City Creek. J. H. Sanborn, Mill Creek district. B. W. Switzer, Little Bear Valley district, and has a guard at Fredalba, and one at Coxey Ranch. R. M. Tuttle, Skyland district. C. A. Morris has charge of the Banning district and has a summer guard at Oak Glen. J. H. B. Allen, clerk in the San Bernardino office.
All rangers and guards ride their respective beats under a patrol schedule, which enables the deputy forest supervisor to know just where they are at any hour of the day, so that in case a fire is reported at the San Bernardino office, he can get in touch with the ranger in whose district the fire is. The ranger goes to the fire and notifies headquarters how many men he needs and what tools to send up and supplies, and reports often. If the fire is a large one, the deputy district supervisor goes up and directs the fire fighting.
The rangers on either side of the one where the fire is are supposed to go as soon as they see smoke and help take charge of a crew of fire fighters.
The ranger packs wet blankets, his brush knife and six-shooter, and as little clothes as possible. He has the power to intercept any one he meets and press him into service of fire fighting under penalty of arrest and heavy fine for refusal to serve.
THE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTAL STATION. One of the most important institutions of its kind in the state and one which compares favorably with those to be found anywhere, is the Southern California Agricultural Experimental Station, the only one in Southern California, and, because of the variety of soil and conditions, one which is fairly typical of the entire state. It was established in 1891, through the efforts of Richard Gird, who donated thirty acres of light and loamy soil on the northern boundaries of the Chino Rancho, together with the necessary water facilities, and ten acres of damp land lying one mile west of the sugar factory at Chino. Impetus was given the movement by the citizens
67
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
of Pomona, who raised a fund of $4,000, which was used for implements, buildings, equipment, teams, etc., and the station was established under the auspices of the California State University being at first under the charge of Kenneth McLennen. At first the experiments were devoted principally to fruit-deciduous, citrus, olives and small fruits. Many varieties were set and a study made of their adaptability to this section and of their diseases and drawbacks. In 1893 J. W. Mills took charge of the station, a position which he filled for a number of years. About 1895 the station began paying more attention to experiments in green manuring for fertilizing purposes and to suitable growths for semi-alkali lands. The Government keeps a number of experts in the field all over the world, and the plants, seeds and information collected by these men are forwarded from Washington to the various stations, keeping in mind their presumed adaptability to the conditions of each station. Large sums of money have been appropriated for the use of this station, where some very valuable experiments have been made.
CHAPTER VII
AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE
While the San Gabriel Mission in the San Bernardino Valley was utilized chiefly as a stock range and as a means of protection from the hostile Indians of the locality, it likewise has the distinction of being the point where agriculture commenced its history in the county. The fact that the mission was used as an outfitting station, as well as a resting- place, for the travelers making the journey over the Colorado route between the missions and Mexico makes it highly probable that there was a large quantity of wheat raised, and this is borne out in well- authenticated reports of grain fields and storerooms filled with grain. Although the Mormons on their arrival found nothing but a few old grape roots, it is probable that orchards, gardens and vineyards were cultivated, for Mill Creek zanja was constructed about 1820, and could have been used for no other purpose. That the Indians were agricul- turists in their way is shown in the report of Daniel Sexton, who stated that in 1842 these dwellers were raising crops of beans, potatoes and corn around the old mission. The grants of Rincon, Chino and Cuca- monga had a few vines and fruit trees during the '40s, while along the Santa Ana River bottom numbers of New Mexicans, locating on the San Bernardino and Jurupa grants, cultivated and improved fields and orchards. At that time, however, the country could not be called an agricultural one, as cattle, horses and sheep were the chief product of the region and continued to be so until well into the '60s.
The Mormons must be given credit for the real introduction of agri- culture into San Bernardino County. When they came here, in 1851. they at once sowed a large tract of their new purchase to grain, sur- rounding the land by a ditch and pole fence and working the land in common for several years. When the Mormons answered the recall their successors in ownership continued to follow the Saints' policy of selling the land to actual settlers on favorable terms; and thus, when the State as a whole was practically devoted to the raising of livestock. San Bernardino County boasted numerous small farmers who raised vegetables and grain without irrigation, or who utilized, when necessary. the many natural streams.
San Bernardino County was credited by the State Agricultural Report for 1856 with 30,000 bushels of wheat and 15,000 bushels of barley, and the value of the fruit products of the county is placed at $2,450. The census of 1870 reports 10,360 bushels of wheat. 51,906 bushels of barley, and 1,808 tons of hay, 48,720 gallons of wine, and fruit products to the value of $5,235. Even at that date stock was the chief resource of the county, being valued at $151.530.
Horticulture, as a recognized business, started with the settlement of Riverside in 1870-71. At the start, deciduous fruits, wine and raisin grapes were the chief products, but by 1873 the planting of orange trees had attained a good start, and statistics gathered by the state during that year showed 7,111 orange trees, 268 lemon trees and about 25,000 other fruit trees in the county. The years between 1870 and 1880 showed a marked advancement in both agriculture and horticulture, and by 1880 the supremacy of the livestock business had come to an end. In 1880, according to the report, 53,461 acres were under cultivation,
68
69
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
nearly eight times the acreage of 1870. The value of all farm products was given as $430,407, while livestock amounted to only $397,806.
The decade between 1880 and 1890 was one of phenomenal expansion and development. A feature of this period was the discovery, through experience, of the fact that all land is not suitable for the growing of oranges and grapes. Hundreds of acres of these two fruits were set out on lands and in localities totally unsuited to them, only to be rooted out later and used for fuel. Raisin growing was a popular form of horticulture at this time and reached its highest point of development in 1890, but thereafter suffered a decrease in popularity, many of the vineyards being replaced by alfalfa, citrus fruits and other crops.
During a long period large freight shipments of hay, grain and flour had been made annually to the mines in the eastern part of the county, as well as to Arizona and Utah, and other interior points, and early in
ALFALFA
the '80s the shipments of fruits began to add to the revenue of the county. About 1882 the first shipments of oranges were made to the East, and by 1886 Riverside sent out over 500 carloads, which had been doubled by 1888. Nevertheless, while fruit growing had become so important a factor, grain growing retained its place over a large area of the valley. In this connection, a local newspaper,1 in May, 1888, had the following comment to make: "As a general proposition, the more trees and vines are set out in any section, the less grain will be grown there. All over the State the wheat field is being encroached upon by the orchard and vineyard. San Bernardino, however, is an exception to this rule. Though thousands of acres are now devoted to fruit growing, and although more orchards and vineyards will be set out this year than ever before, it is also a fact that the area seeded to grain is the largest ever known in the county. All over the valley, from one end to the other, the plow and seeder have been at work, and an immense area of
1 The San Bernardino Times.
70
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
virgin soil has for the first time felt the plow and will unquestionably produce a large crop."
THE AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS FOR 1900.2 The agricultural statis- tics for 1900, given in the U. S. Census, were as follows :
Number of farms.
2,350
Total value of domestic animals.
$642,280.00
Number of cattle
13.000
Number of horses
6,500
Number of sheep
12,000
Number of poultry
54,000
Value of poultry .
27,313.00
Swarms of bees
5,602
Value of bees
16,959,00
Pounds of honey, 1899.
123.450
Acres of alfalfa.
6,347
Tons of alfalfa
29,637
Acres grain cut for hay
18,112
Tons of hay.
12,074
Acres in potatoes.
406
Bushels of potatoes
55,000
Acres in vegetables.
312
Value of vegetables raised.
31,134.00
Value of deciduous fruit products
150,482.00
Value of grapes, wine and raisins
90,573.00
Value of sub-tropical fruits
1,393,728.00
Boxes of oranges
1,244,021
$2,352,469.00
ALFALFA. It is a fact not generally known that San Bernardino County has the distinction of being the first section of the country in which alfalfa was successfully grown. One of the oldest grasses known, it was introduced into the United States as early as 1835, and perhaps earlier, but attempts at is cultivation in New York and other Eastern states proved unsuccessful and for a time it was thought that it was not suited to the soil of this country. It was a party of Mormons from Australia who introduced the plant to San Bernardino in the winter of 1852-53. Perhaps several of this party possessed alfalfa seed, but it is of record that one of them, John Metcalf, sowed a small crop on his property, now the site of Mount Vernon Avenue, near First Street, and irrigated it from Lytle Creek. The success attained by Mr. Metcalf encouraged others to cultivate this product, the seed for which first sold at $1.00 per pound and was widely distributed from San Bernardino to other points in Southern California. San Bernardino furnished the first supply of seed for Los Angeles, whence it was taken to Salt Lake, and thus the alfalfa industry, one of the most important of the State of Utah, had its beginning. San Bernardino County's alfalfa crop in 1900 had become one of the county's most important resources, more than 6,000 acres being seeded to this plant.
THE WINE, CANNING AND DRIED FRUIT INDUSTRY. The wine indus- try, once an important factor in the resources of San Bernardino County,
2 These total values, given in the U. S. Census, do not include the value of many agricultural products.
71
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
is now a dead letter. The first winery built in the county was that at Cucamonga, erected during the '50s, which for many years remained as a landmark; and, so far as is known, the winery on the Barton Ranch was the second one of any importance in the county. The product of this establishment in 1873 was 30,000 gallons, and, operated for years by the Vache Freres, its wines were widely known and considered of excellent character. It later became known as the Brookside winery. To utilize the product of his extensive vineyard of assorted grapes, in 1885 Doctor Stillman built a winery on his ranch at Lugonia; and two years later F. M. Slaughter erected a winery at Rincon. Numerous smaller estab- lishments and individuals bottled wines in the early days, and it is probable that a winery was located in this section during the Mexican period.
The canning industry dates back to 1880, when a San Jose company established the first cannery of the county at Colton, and in 1882 a can- nery was built at Riverside which produced an average of 8,000 cans per day for the season. ' San Bernardino was given a cannery in 1887, and a fruit evaporator was established at Ontario, which was followed by a cannery. A combination of all the canneries in the State, and a decrease in the production of deciduous fruits, caused the closing of San Bernardino County's canneries.
During the latter '70s a fruit dryer was put into operation at River- side, but transportation difficulties and the growth of other industries caused this enterprise to decrease and it became only one of indifferent importance.
THE CITRUS FRUIT INDUSTRY. One of the most important, as well as one of the most interesting features of the history of San Bernardino County attaches to the birth, growth and development of the citrus fruit industry. From a none too sanguine start of a few scattered seedling trees in 1876 to thousands of acres of carefully cultivated orchards containing several million trees in 1922, the production of oranges has been one of the great developments of a business nature. From the best authorities available, it is supposed that the first orange orchard in California was set out at San Gabriel in 1804, the trees having been brought from the lower California missions, although Vancouver reports having seen oranges, with other fruits, at Mission San Buenaventura in 1792. A few trees, presumably from the San Gabriel stock, were set out by Louis Vignes in 1834, at his home place, now a part of the city of Los Angeles, in 1834, and in 1841 William Wolfskill put out two acres of trees, prob- ably the first orange orchard established for other than personal con- sumption. His success led him in 1858, to set out the famous 'Wolfskill" orchard, which for many years was the largest in the State. This orchard was removed about 1885, owing both to the appearance of the white scale and the growth of the city. From this orchard, in 1877, was shipped the first carload of oranges ever sent out from California, and in 1878 the first packing house in the State was erected. In that year Eugene Germain purchased the crop, paying therefor $25,000 on the trees, and packed and shipped it to San Francisco, whence it was sent to other coast points.
According to L. M. Holt, an authority on the subject, all orchards in 1873 were composed of seedling trees. About that time certain nurserymen began to introduce budded varieties from England, South America, Australia, China and Japan, but of the more than 100 varieties thus introduced only a few were retained as having any special value as compared with the seedlings. The first variety of importance to prove
72
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
of value was the Mediterranean Sweet, imported from Europe, which was extensively cultivated, and, being a late orange, took the market during the early summer months. Other varieties known to the nursery- men of that date were the Paper-rind St. Michael and large St. Michael and the Malta Blood. In regard to the Navel orange, Mr. Holt says : "In 1876-77 the first Navel orange was fruited in Southern California --- the fruit coming from an orchard at Orange. In 1879 the first Citrus Fair held at Riverside under the auspices of the Southern California Horticultural Society developed the fact that there were two varieties of navels grown in this country, and they have proved to be of much more value than the others. The one came from trees imported from Aus- tralia and the other from trees sent from the Agricultural Department at Washington to L. C. Tibbetts of Riverside. Hence the varieties were named Australian Navels and Washington Navels to distinguish them. The latter was afterward called the Riverside Navel and still later the Riverside Washington Navel."
While the resemblance between the Washington and Australian Navel stock was so close that even an expert could not tell them apart, the Australian Navel fruit proved to be of so inferior a grade that nursery- men were asked to guarantee their stock as Washington Navels and compelled by the courts to replace Australian stock when an error was made. Because of this a number of nurserymen who could not guar- antee their stock were compelled to go out of the business.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.