USA > California > Riverside County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume I > Part 13
USA > California > San Bernardino County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume I > Part 13
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A prophecy made in 1890 by Mr. Holt, which has been borne out hy experience, was to the following effect : "It is a question with some good growers yet, whether there is more profit in any of the varieties-even the Riverside Washington Navel, than there is in the seeding, because of the fact that the seedling trees grow so much larger and therefore produce more fruit to the acre. If the markets were always to remain as they are today, then there would be good reason to stand by the seedling, but as prices become lower with increased production, it is believed that the seedling will become less profitable at a time when the navel will still bring a price that will pay largely."
THE WASHINGTON NAVEL ORANGE .. In the past there has been much discussion as to whom may be given the credit for introducing the "seed- less" orange. Some hold to the opinion that L. C. Tibbetts, of Califor- nia, has that distinction, but others hold differently. Prof. H. E. Van Deman, a well-known horticultural authority, says: "The recent state- ment in The Rural New Yorker and some other papers that Mr. L. C. Tibbetts, of California, 'gave the seedless orange to the world' is not entirely correct. It is evident that the variety known as Washington Navel, or more properly the Bahia, is meant. The latter is the true name, as it was and should have been given by Mr. William Saunders, of Washington, D. C. It is to him that the world is indebted for this orange more than to any one else, although Mr. and Mrs. Tibbetts too were instrumental in bringing it prominently before the public in Cali- fornia." The Hon. E. W. Holmes, writing in the Los Angeles Express. says in part: "The young trees sent from Mr. Saunders at Washing- ton to Mrs. Tibbetts were planted and cared for by Josiah Cover and Samuel McCoy (who occupied irrigated lands near the grain ranch with- out water rights occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Tibbetts), and it was due to this care that they lived and became the progenitors of the millions of navel trees now bearing in Southern California. Tom Cover obtained buds, and, I believe, sold the first trees which went to other districts and
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the trees had fruited and he had concluded they would prove superior to anything we had."
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY'S FIRST ORANGE TREES. The first bearing orange trees in San Bernardino County were three specimens set out by Anson Van Leuven in 1857 on his farm at Old San Bernardino, for- merly known as Cottonwood River. These were among six trees which he had secured from San Gabriel. About 1862 Mr. Van Leuven set out four acres of three-year-old nursery stock, brought from Los Angeles. He stated that at the seventh year from planting the yield was one and one-half boxes per tree, and eight years from planting, two boxes per tree. In 1865 L. R. Van Leuven planted fifty three-year-old seedlings, and in 1873 planted 100 seedlings of the same age, from which, the sixth year from planting, the yield was one-fourth box per tree.
An Orange Grove near the Foothills, California.
In 1874 the San Bernardino Guardian reported in a news item that Lewis Cram was engaged in setting out 1,500 orange trees. Mr. Cram made the following statement : "At the time I located on my place in the East San Bernardino Valley orange culture was hardly thought of. No attempts had then been made to start in the business with any hope of making it a success, and we early settlers had not at that time the slightest inkling of the great changes that were to take place in this valley as soon as it was known that oranges could be grown here with profit. At the time I set out my grove, in 1869, I had an opportunity of purchasing 500 young trees, or enough to plant five acres of land, but I decided to take only enough to set out 134 acres, thinking as an experiment it would be as well to start with a few trees. This orchard is now over twenty years old and it is believed that there is not a finer grove in California, either in productiveness or in size and appearance of trees. The trees have never failed to bear since coming into bearing, but have increased from year to year until in 1887 I realized $1,757 from the 134 acres."
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About 1870 the Crafts orchard at Crafton was set out, and in 1874 Colonel Tolles planted the seeds of his Lugonia orchard, using the seeds of rotten Tahiti oranges brought from San Francisco. The first orchards at Colton were put out about 1875 by W. R. Fox and Rev. James Cam- eron, who planted nursery stock ; and E. J. Waite set the first orchard in Redlands in the spring of 1882. W. P. Russell put out an orchard of six acres at Riverside, in 1872, and the old "Hewitson" grove was set out the year previous.
MARKETING THE PRODUCT. The orange produced in California had an immediate market, but proper methods of marketing the fruit were of somewhat slow and deliberate development. Anson Van Leuven's first bearing trees were a great curiosity to the people, who drove miles to view them and willingly paid 75 cents per dozen for the privilege of picking them from the trees with their own hands. In 1879, in a report to the State Agricultural Board, I. N. Hoag states: "A gentleman in Old San Bernardino has an orange grove of eighty-three trees to the acre and the average sales have been 2,000 oranges to the tree, sold at 3 cents apiece-$60 per tree, or $4,980 per acre." An interesting letter from an old resident appeared in the Riverside Press and Horticulturist of 1882: "Nearly ten years since the few of us who then resided in Riverside journeyed often over the bad roads of the canyon to Old San Bernardino to see Captain Pishon and Anson Van Leuven, and get an impetus from seeing 1,000 to 3,000 oranges on thirteen-year-old trees, worth upon the tree from 50 to 60 cents per dozen, and which price we cheerfully paid, for had we not young trees that would in a few years bring us in from $40 to $80 each? Our purchased fruit we would keep to look at and see the gold and silver in the dim distance." The writer goes on to say that in 1882 it cost from $1.15 to $1.40 per box to pack and ship oranges to San Francisco. "My oranges have sold in San Francisco this year at from $2 to $4 per box; at about the same time in Denver, the same class of fruit-seedling oranges-sold for $7.83 per box containing 165 oranges to the box. A gentleman who shipped to Denver with me received from his Riverside Navels about $8.22 per box of 137. It costs about $4.20 to pay freight and commission on a box of lemons to Denver and $3.50 on a box of oranges."
"I find by a careful examination of prices for the years 1877-78," writes Thomas A. Garey in the Semi-Tropic Californian, "that the price for Los Angeles oranges averages $22.50 per thousand." While the freight rates were practically prohibitive at the time, as early as 1879 fifteen cars of oranges were sent from Los Angeles to Salt Lake. One of the earliest shipments to the east that can be authenticated was that made by F. B. Everest, who purchased for $40 per thousand on the trec the crop of Washington Navel oranges of Cover & McCoy, in December, 1881. These were presumably shipped to the larger cities of the East and placed on the market.
Packing methods of the early days of the industry were somewhat primitive as viewed in the light of later-day customs. The fruit was shipped packed loosely in barrels or boxes, and sent by steamer to San Francisco and coast points, and by wagon to Arizona and New Mexico. By 1880, however, some advancement had been made, as some attention was being paid to sorting and packing by the more progressive growers, and a uniform box had been adopted. Owing to the increase in orange production, as well as to the approach of another transcontinental line, in December, 1881, the Southern Pacific cut its rate on carload lots of oranges from $650 to $350 per car to Chicago, at the same time setting
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a rate of $300 from Los Angeles to Kansas City, $335 to St. Louis, and $10.00 per ton on carload lots from Los Angeles to San Francisco-300 boxes to a car. So far as the records show, the first carload shipment made out of San Bernardino County was that of G. W. Garcelon and A. J. Twogood, who, according to the Riverside Press of April 24, 1882, "are getting ready to ship a carload of oranges and lemons to Denver."
What is believed to have been the first step toward the organization of growers and the recognition of orange selling as an industry in San Bernardino County was a meeting of some fifty orange growers called at Riverside, in December, 1884. At this meeting a discussion was held as to the advisability of selling fruit on commission and it was unani- mously agreed that "this is the best method that can be adopted." About 1885 the Orange Growers' Protective Union of Los Angeles was organ- ized, this including Los Angeles and Riverside. The California Fruit Growers' Union had its inception at San Francisco during the winter of 1885-86.
Beginning with 1882 packing houses began to come into being and to bid for business. Among the first of these was the Riverside Fruit Company, which, in December, 1882, announced that it was ready to handle oranges on commission, to box and pack the fruit and to ship in carload lots. At the same time the E. C. Packard Company invited business, and in 1884 the Germain Company and Griffin & Skelley built packing houses and offered inducements. The first organization of pack- ers was held at Riverside, December 28, 1887, and adopted rules as to the conduct of their business.
It was about 1889 that the matter of the adoption of trade marks and labels began to be discussed. Prior to this the matter of systematic grading had been taken into consideration and in 1884-85 Charles R. Paine, of Crafton, made a grader for his own use.following a description furnished him by a Florida friend. The Jones grader, manufactured at Philadelphia, was used at Riverside in 1886, and in 1887 J. W. Keeney patented a grader which proved successful. In the meantime the trans- portation of oranges to Eastern points had become an important feature of the railroad problem, and the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific began a contest in the way of furnishing facilities. The ventilated car was introduced in 1887 and orange trains were run as specials, and in March, 1888, a car of oranges, starting from Riverside on the 13th, reached New York City on the 25th, the shortest time on record at that date. The refrigerating car service made its appearance in 1889, and the reg- ular system of inspection and icing contributed materially to the efficiency of the service.
THE SITUATION AT THIS TIME. Like every other industry of any importance, that of growing and marketing oranges has had to pass through successive stages of development. The men connected with this great institution, if it may be so called, have had to learn their lessons through experience, and experience is an expensive teacher. For the greater part the orange industry in California has been singularly free from devastating blights of insect pests or weather and crop failures have been comparatively few and far between. But it has at all times been necessary to keep a close watch upon conditions and to fight for a standardization of prices to keep the market at a normal tone. At present the situation seems to be well in hand and the industry on the whole is a prosperous one.
FAIRS AND EXPOSITIONS. Great encouragement and impetus have been given the orange industry by fairs, exhibits and expositions. The
FROM NURSERY TO PACKING HOUSE (3 VIEWS)
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first citrus fair, so-called, held in the world, was staged at Riverside in February, 1879, and its success led to another exhibit of its kind in February, 1880, and a third in March 1881. In 1882 a special pavilion was built for the occasion by the people of Riverside, and the fifth annual fair, in 1883, was held in conjunction with the semi-annual State Con- vention of Fruit Growers. The fairs continued to be held annually at Riverside, with the exception of several at Colton, until 1891, in which year San Bernardino held its first citrus fair in its new pavilion. Colton had the fairs in 1892 and 1893, the latter being a state fair at which a handsome pavilion was dedicated, and since that year the expositions have been variously distributed. San Bernardino County has always made a splendid showing at these exhibits and has had its full share of prize-winning entries.
At the New Orleans Exposition of 1884-85 San Bernardino County won the following premiums: Gold medal for the best twenty varieties of oranges grown in California; gold medal for the same grown in the United States; gold medal for the same grown in the world; silver medal (highest prize) for the best display of lemons, from any part of the world. These prizes were won in competition with oranges and lemons from various districts in California, from Sonora and other Mex- ican states, from Louisiana, Florida, the West Indies and various places along the Mediterranean. The Chicago Citrus Fair of 1886 was another event which drew attention to the fruit and the possibilities of fruit cul- ture in Southern California. During the five weeks of this exposition it was estimated that it was attended by at least 75,000 people from all parts of the Northwest. The San Bernardino Times of March 3, 1886, says : "At about noon today the train carrying the citrus exhibit from San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties for the Chicago fair pulled out, amid loud hurrahs from those who were at the depot and along the line of the track. The train was a long one and was made up of citrus fruits from Southern California. It took three large engines to haul it, or at least three were hooked on. At the head of the long train of cars were five decorated cars from San Bernardino, Riverside and Los Angeles. The San Bernardino car was handsomely trimmed with evergreens, while about two dozen American flags floated to the breeze from the top and sides of the car. On each side, near the top, 'San Bernardino' was painted in colors, and underneath on both sides of the car door, 'Semi-Tropic Fruit and Mineral Exhibits.' It was decidedly the most handsome looking car on the train. On the Riverside car was the legend, 'Riverside Fruits for Chicago Citrus Fair. 1886' in large letters with evergreen decorations. The cars from Los Angeles County were also decorated and gave the destination and import of the cars and their contents. No doubt this freight train will create more excitement along its line of travvel than any that ever before crossed the continent. It is expected the exhibit will arrive in Chicago about the 15th."
THE SAN BERNARDINO HORTICULTURAL COMMISSION. In 1888 there was formed a body which has been a great factor in the development of fruit growing in San Bernardino County, namely the San Bernardino Horticultural Exposition. In their efforts to protect the most important wealth-producing interests of the county, the commission at first met with much opposition, as is generally the case with a movement of this nature. This opposition, however, has lessened year by year, and the benefits of the intelligent and well-directed labors of the commission in their constant warfare against pests of all kinds are now generally rec- ognized by the fruit growers, who are glad to lend their co-operation to
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the work of the board. At the outset the commission consisted of three members, who divided the county into districts, each supervising a district and making separate reports to the secretary. A radical change was made in 1896, when S. A. Pease, of Ontario, was appointed sole com- missioner by the supervisors. This led to litigation in the courts as to the authority of the supervisors to abolish the other offices, which was eventually decided by the appointment of two other commissioners, with Mr. Pease as chairman. Under his leadership, the old system was abol- ished and local inspectors were appointed to send in monthly reports. He also began the collection and classification of entomological specimens for the benefit of the inspectors and others interested in fruit pests and their remedies, and this collection now comprises not only the destructive and beneficial insects and parasites native to San Bernardino County, but also includes many specimens from different sections of the United States and Mexico.
More than a hundred years ago one man owned all the great Valley of Romance-the Valley of San Bernardino. When he was not much more than a boy he served in battle for Spain, and in return for his services to the king he was given a concession of many leagues of Land of the Valley, from mountain to sea. The early history of California of the South-nearly any part of it-reads like a fairy tale. It is a story of fighting and of faith. The faith and the fighting still remain-faith in God and in the valley; in the land and in the future.
The spirit of the ground has called strong and loud for opportunities to give forth a full measure of the resources hidden in its soil. Agri- culture and horticulture are the agents.
Is it any wonder great industries have sprung up and vast orchards, vineyards and vegetable gardens now flourish, where but a short time ago sheep roamed at will and the cacti and the sagebrush were rulers . of the soil?
In the early days when the first carload of oranges was shipped to an Eastern market the natives said the shipper was crazy. When finally the annual output amounted to 5,000 cars the people said: "What shall be done with this vast amount ?"
Today the fighting and the faith have developed industries which ship annually, from the products of the tree, the vine, and the ground more than 125,000 carloads. The total crop values in the county for 1920 exceeded $30,000,000.
It is almost a pity that those brown-garbed missionaries who brought the early orange seeds to these shores and planted them about their new- found missions could not return to see these once wild lands converted into leagues of highly profitable orchards, amid which the homes of happy and contented people nestled-the orchards and the fields.
NATIONAL ORANGE SHOW. Within a generation or two we have witnessed a remarkable and wholly new development in almost all the great interests which share in our economic growth. There has been a concentration of effort, a co-operation on the part of all those who are engaged in any particular line of production or distribution. This has not only been made necessary by the intensity of commercial rivalry, but because, with more tolerant appreciation of each individual's depend- ence, has come an appreciation of the fact that out of the common fund of experience the real lessons of success are to be learned.
The National Orange Show acquired immediate recognition from this fact. The class of men who were engaged in the citrus industry were and are of a very high order of intelligence. It required courage
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and vision for those early producers of California to embark in an unknown venture. All its lessons were to be learned. As they worked out their problems, they found large gain in the sympathetic and intel- ligent help of their fellows. And finding helpfulness in the suggestions which came to them as individuals, it is not surprising that they wel- comed and acclaimed the establishment of an annual national exhibition of their industry, in which luminous conception they recognized a great medium for the exploitation of the magnitude of the citrus interests and the establishment of standards which would prove both an incentive and a reward to their best efforts.
The idea originated with Mr. Harry Perkins. Its presentation to the Chamber of Commerce of San Bernardino gave it instant recogni- tion. With large public spirit and enthusiasm the project was welcomed by the people of the city, and in March, 1911, the first show was held. In retrospect that first show was not a great one. From the date of the first exposition it has grown-from 3,000 admissions to a 150,000 of the one held in 1921. Each year it grew, not slowly as was once the wont of institutions, but as befitted the age of rapid development. Its evolution was made to appeal not only to those actually engaged in the growing and marketing of the citrus fruit, but to the general public who, as the ultimate consumer, must be entertained and amused.
So that in addition to the feature displays where with wonderful artistry the fruits are combined in intricate and pleasing design, and the "tray" displays where the choicest fruits are shown in competition on their merits, a score of other classes have been established, depart- ments maintained and divisions created which exploit every phase of the industry. The development of citrus by-products and their uses in our domestic economy followed naturally.
The National Orange Show was launched with the announced pur- pose of being an asset to California citrus fruit industry, and through the years of its existence and wonderful development that principle and that purpose has ever remained foremost in mind. Men engaged in the citrus industry throughout California take a pride and an interest in the National Orange Show. They come great distances to display their fruit in the hope of carrying away some of the many coveted prizes. To win the National Orange Show "orange sweepstakes" is the greatest honor ; to win the "lemon sweepstakes" is the second greatest honor.
In the first show in 1911 there were 100 boxes of fruit on display ; in the year 1921 there were thousands. The exposition of 1921 was an ultimate in the vision of those who sponsored the original show, and most of them have lived to realize it. No element of pecuniary profit for the promoters enters into the Orange Show. The men who give abundantly of their time and acumen are the leaders in the business life of San Bernardino. For the good of a great interest they sacrifice gen- erously. That the work constitutes a state, and even national, asset, is proven by the great growth of the exposition, by its wide appeal to all districts of the State, by the fact that its awards are eagerly sought, and by the generous and sympathetic co-operation of producers and factors everywhere.
A new president is elected annually and each emulates his predecessor in an effort to make "his" show exceed in beauty and fullness those that have gone before, and well may it be said that in this endeavor no presi- dent yet failed in accomplishment. There are no salaried officers except the general manager and secretary, who devotes the whole of his time throughout the year to the exposition.
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This position has been filled by Harry Perkins, who served four years, Frederick M. Renfro, who acted in that capacity for seven years, and Royal H. Mack, who was elected to the position July 1, 1921, Mr. Renfro leaving to accept exposition work in another city.
The present (1921-22) officers are: Z. T. Bell, president ; J. B. Gill, vice president ; J. H. Wilson, treasurer ; R. H. Mack, secretary and gen- eral manager. Past presidents: First, W. W. Bryson; second, C. M. Grow; third, John Anderson, Jr .; fourth, A. G. Kendall; fifth, S. W. McNabb; sixth, J. H. Wilson; seventh, M. C. Mckinney; eighth, Ben Campton, Joseph Ingersoll; ninth, W. M. Parker; tenth, R. E. Swing ; eleventh, Joseph E. Rich.
The following list of persons have served as directors and heads of departments since its organization, in addition to the past presidents : J. D. Gentry, E. D. Roberts (died in office), L. A. Murray, J. H. Boyd (died in office), Herman Harris, H. C. McAlister, J. W. Curtis, B. L. Holmes, Joseph Strawser, W. W. Swing, C. E. Leroy, G. M. Haven, R. E. Kelly, M. R. Grofthold, E. H. Sharp, C. L. Cronk, W. S. Shep- herdson, Rex B. Goodcell, O. F. Heilborn, W. T. Smith, E. D. McCook, O. P. Sloat, L. A. Strome, Edward Wall (died in office), W. O. Harris, J. Walter Roberts (died in office), F. E. Peachy, R. C. Harbison. H. M. Hays, F. W. Chandler, Mrs. Reetta V. Hadden.
The first show was held on the northwest corner of Fourth and E streets ; the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth on the southwest corner of E and Second; the seventh, on First and G streets; the eighth, ninth and tenth back again to E and Second streets; since then the show has been held at Urbita Springs Park, on the south of the city. Every show has had some distinguishing feature that has given it prominence.
At the first show Gov. Hiram Johnson touched the electric button at Sacramento that sent a blaze of pyrotechnic fire across the sky, and over the main entrance the colored lights flashed the name, "National Orange Show," just at the close of President Bryson's opening address. Mayor S. W. McNabb was to have given the address, but illness pre- vented. Two distinguished visitors visited the show that year ; one was Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks, and his son, Frederick Fairbanks. Highland walked off with the first honors of the first Orange Show. A total of fifteen prizes of the thirty-five given went to the Gold Buckle Association, East Highland.
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