USA > California > San Bernardino County > Ingersoll's century annals of San Bernadino County, 1769-1904 : prefaced with a brief history of the state of California : supplemented with an encyclopedia of local biography and portraits of many of its representative people > Part 20
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"San Bernardino lay dormant too long. Shrouded in her isolation, like
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a pretty girl's face behind a veil, the outside world was in ignorance of her healthful and fertile valley, her matchless climate and her gold ribbed moun- tains. Besides, while population was sparse, San Bernardino was too far from 'Frisco to attract much attention. And, then, Los Angeles with fier beautiful groves and fertile fields stood like a smiling syren, with open arms to welcome every stranger who came along. But all this is changed. Emi- grants are pouring across the mountains by thousands-coming in search of cheap lands, and invalids in search of rejuvenating climate. We ought to and will secure our share of this population. Again, money is becoming more plentiful, and capital can wish for no more profitable nor sure specu- lative field than this county. But, it is idle to expect that people, whether men in search of land, or men in search of investment, will come by chance. They must be informed of the advantages which we hold out to them-of our waste lands and their fertility,our facilities for manufactures, our un- developed mines, our immense forests-in short of the countless opportuni- ties open alike to wealth and work."
A fuller account of railroad matters will be found in the chapter on Transportation.
CHAPTER V. PROGRESSION-1875-1885.
The coming of the Southern Pacific railroad did not bring the immediate and unbounded prosperity that had been predicted. It put an end practic- ally to the freighting business and the trade with Arizona and largely de- creased the trade of all stage stations. But stage travel and post routes were still necessary in many directions. A stage line between San Bernardino and Colton and Riverside was kept up for many years. A stage made regu- lar trips between the county seat and Lugonia and Redlands until the com- pletion of the railroad to those points in 1888.
The merchants of San Bernardino found that goods could be shipped to Anaheim Landing by steamer and hauled from there by mule team cheaper than they could be brought to Colton by the railroad. And the "mule line" was patronized until the Southern Pacific reduced their rates to meet the competition.
In 1882 the California Southern road reached Colton, and in 1883 the first train entered San Bernardino. In 1885 the branch line to Waterman was completed. thus giving San Bernardino a second transcontinental route.
Fares from the east continued to be high even after the completion of the railroad and new settlers did not come in rapidly during this decade. Still there was a steady and healthy growth in all directions. The county had a population of 7.786 in 1880. In assessed valuation the county in-
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creased from $1.339.377, in 1870, to $3,159.456 in 1880, and $11,189,842 in 1885. Thus it will be seen that San Bernardino county had really begun to awake.
AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.
This decade marked the beginning of the great horticultural epoch in this valley. In 1873 there were, according to statistics gathered by the State Board of Agriculture, 7,111 orange trees in this county. In 1879, the value of the fruit products of the county is given as $56.612. By 1881 their valne had increased to $106,457, while the number of orange trees was given as 15.435. For 1885. 1,018. 537 fruit trees are reported for the county of which 214,513 were orange trees. Thus the era of orange planting was fully upon us. The large increase in acreage of fruit trees was largely due to the number of new settlements developed during these years. The completion of the Southern Pacific road to Colton in 1875 marked the foundation of that town which grew rapidly and set out a considerable acreage before 1880. In 1883, the colony of Etiwanda was established and the work of development begun here. The same year the Chaffey Brothers purchased the land and laid out the model colony of Ontario, which at once proved a success, and set out a large acreage of groves, orchards and vineyards. At the same time Richard Gird was making extensive improvements on his lately purchased Chino Rancho, especially along the line of improved stock. (See chapter on Agriculture.)
CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO.
In 1876, San Bernardino supported seventeen mercantile houses, several groceries and provision stores, four drug stores, three boot and shoe estab- lishments, four jewelry, two furniture and four cigar and tobacco establish- ments, two steam planing mills, two door and sash factories, twelve saloons, one bank-Meyerstein's ; two hotels-Starke's and Pine's-and four flouring mills in and about the city.
During 1878-79 the town suffered from several disastrous fires. At one time a considerable portion of the business district was burned over. The fruit store of R. I. Trask, a millinery store, the offices of Drs. Rene and Campbell and of Justice Morris, the Boston Bakery, the shoe shop of John McCall, and the Lone Star Saloon were among the establishments burned out. All of these but one were frame buildings and were later replaced by more substantial structures. One of the worst of these fires was that which consumed the O. K. stables, when a number of buildings were destroyed and several fine horses were burned to death.
In 1879, the Santa Fe representatives were induced to visit San Ber- nardino and to examine the Cajon Pass as a possible route for their proposed transcontinental line.' As a result of the negotiations of this year, the Cali-
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fornia Southern road was built from San Diego through the San Bernardino valley and on September 13th, 1883, the first railroad train arrived in San Bernardino, an event which aroused great rejoicing. The coming of the road gave an impetus to the town and new buildings and projects multiplied.
In 1883 the theater was erected by Messrs. Waters and Brinkmeyer, and was then the most complete theater building on the coast outside of San Francisco. In 1882 a telephone service was established between the Trans- continental Hotel at Colton and Starke's Hostelry at San Bernardino. It was inaugurated by a concert, the Misses Bufford singing and the band play- ing. Riverside and Redlands were also reached by this line which was under the management of Mr. R. T. Blow. Its working was, however, never very satisfactory.
LIGHTING.
The first franchise for gas works was let to Wm. Farrel & Co., in 1873. This company purchased a lot opposite Starke's garden and erected a plant. But the quality of the gas furnished did not prove satisfactory and the plant was soon shut down.
In 1881 the National Gas Company of New York, secured a franchise and put in an extensive plant. November 2nd, 1881, the city was first lighted by gas, and the Times of that date declares: "Gas under the new dispensa- tion is a brilliant success as was abundantly made manifest last evening. The brilliancy of light from many places of business and residences was equal to an illumination. It is a light, soft, pure, clear, and brilliant. Its power and diffusive qualities, united with its other good merits, make it a marvel among the successes of artificial illumination. The exhibition of its effects last evening was highly gratifying to the throngs of our public streets, to our citizens in their residences, to our guests at the hotels, and to those enjoying the charms of the dance or the delights of social intercourse." And after all that, it is only a year or two before the Times is kicking vigorously about the poor gas and without doubt protesting every bill of $5.00 per thousand.
1885-1890-EXPANSION-THE BOOM.
Historian Guinn says that the first California "boomer" was Viscaino, who visited this coast in 1603, and lied most cheerfully about what he fonnd. The Santa Monica Outlook claims that Lieutenant Derby, who was stationed at San Diego in the forties and wrote of the climatic conditions of that port with a vigor that attracted attention, was the first Souther California "boomer."
Perhaps the most consistent and effective boomer who ever boosted or
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boasted San Bernardino county, was L. M. Holt. As editor of the Southern California Horticulturist, the Riverside Press and Horticulturist, the Orange Belt, the Times-Index and other papers, he did good service in exploit- ing the resources of this coun- try and in spreading knowl- edge concerning ways and means that would win success, especially in fruit raising. It was largely due to his energy that the Citrus Fair in Chicago in 1886 was suc- cessfully carried through and opened the eyes of thousands to the new "golden era" in Califor- nia.
He has been closely seconded as a "boomer" by Scipio Craig, who, as editor of the Colton Semi-Tropic and of the Redlands Citrograph, has for years written and worked incessantly to make known to the world the advan- tages of this county in particu- lar and "South California" in general. No man has done more L. M. HOLT towards advancing our home in- dustries. Many others have labored earnestly to build up the reputation of San Bernardino County and to develop its advantages to the full.
The completion of the Santa Fe line to the east in 1885 gave California a competing line to the Missouri river and in 1886 followed a rate war which led to what Charles F. Lummis calls the "Pullman conquest" of California. To most eastern people California had been a far-away, vague and beautiful dream-something that might only come true for the wealthy-the globe- trotter; but the sudden fall of rates-$25.00 with a rebate and even lower figures-unexpectedly brought the journey to California within their grasp and thousands siezed the opportunity and realized their dream. The "boom" was precipitated by the rate war which followed the dissolution of the Trans- continental Traffic Association January, 1886. Rates were slashed merci- lessly-both on passenger and freight traffic, all the other roads combining against the Atchison System which had first withdrawn from the pool. The cutting of rates lasted for many months and the old high figures were never fully restored. How many thousands of people visited California during the two years of 1886 and '87, it is now a difficult matter to determine, but the number ran into the hundred thousands.
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The flood of visitors thus poured into California saw what soil, water and climate, utilized by intelligent industry, had accomplished at Riverside, Redlands, Anaheim, Santa Ana, and many other points. They saw that California was still a "land of gold"-gold dug from the ground and trans- muted into currency by the orange tree-and the "boom" was on. This "boom" which began in the spring of 1886 was a remarkable example of the contagious excitement which sometimes sweeps through a community and deprives men of their reason and good sense. Pioneer, "tenderfoot," pro- moter and farmer alike lost their heads and apparently believed that the possession of California soil, with the remotest possibility of water, was a sure road to fortune.
At first established orchards, ranches, and lots changed hands with un- wonted rapidity and prices leaped upwards by the hundreds of dollars. Soon the rise was by thousands of dollars and people began buying for investment and then for speculation. Then came the syndicate-colonization craze. Land almost anywhere was platted into tracts and lots and advertised as the "com- ing metropolis." Stores, residences and hotels were erected, or at least begun; auction sales were the favorite method of doing business ; excursions, free lunches, band concerts and free carriage rides were among the induce- ments and often a lottery of one or more houses or lots-to be given away under certain conditions-helped to increase the fever. Men and women rushed by the thousands to each new scheme, standing in line for hours- sometimes even all night-awaiting their chance to purchase lots in some new sub-division located miles from anywhere.
February 24, 1886, a "Grand Excursion and Auction Sale of Real Estate," was advertised in San Bernardino, which may be taken as a fair sample of the earlier stages of the boom. Free drives, free lunch, free fruit and a con- tinuous band concert were among the inducements.
In and about San Bernardino many additions and suburbs were offered for sale. Fairbanks,' Everts', Owen's, Christy's additions ; Urbita, St. Elmo, Daley, the Hart tract-these were a few of the many. Outside of the city, Redlands, Lugonia, Beaumont, South Riverside, East Riverside, Rialto, the Barton tract, Terracina, Auburndale, Allessandro, Banning-were among the settlements originated during the "boom" period.
It was believed that the rush of tourists that so flooded the country in '86 and '87 was to become a permanent situation and preparations were made accordingly. Every town or settlement projected had its "boom" hotel, large, well-fitted, surrounded by carefully laid-out grounds, the whole thing ridicu- lously out of proportion to its environment. An interesting chapter might be written on the history of these boom hotels. When "the ball was over" they remained desolate reminders of unrealized expectations. A large num- ber of them burned down in the next few years-indeed there seemed to be an epidemic of fires among this class of buildings. Some of them were converted
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into school houses or "colleges," others torn down for their lumber, and a few are still in use as hotels and are a constant wonder to the new-comer who cannot understand how a building suited to a city, got lost in a fruit settlement.
The advertisements of the "boomers" were another curious feature of the times. Every sort of extravagance was resorted to. Aside from news- paper space, which was used by the page, circulars, handbills, booklets and every description of printed matter known-excursions, with auctions. lot- teries, prizes, etc., fakes, frauds and stool pigeons of every sort were resorted to in the latter frenzy of speculation which was engineered by professional "promoters."
Here is a specimen which ran in the San Bernardino Times during Sep- tember, '87: "Boom! Of All the Booming Booms in the Booming City of S. B., the Boomiest Boom is the Boom of the Hart Tract-the Garden-spot of Beautiful Base Line. Fourteen prizes aggregating $16,000. First thirty lots will be sold for $750 each ; the remaining forty lots, $850 each. Buy early and make $100."
Another advertiser drops into poetry. From a column ad we quote:
"We will come to the land where the olives grow, Wrote the tenderfoot to his friend ; Where the sun with a golden mouth can blow Blue bubbles down a vineyard row! Wrote the tenderfoot to his friend.
We are weary of work in this sunless plain, Wrote the grasshopper blighted man, We are weary of work in the snow and the rain- Where to labor is loss, and to live is pain, Wrote the grasshopper blighted man.
Our pen is poor and our ink is pale. As they were in the school-day rhyme : But our love for the land will never fail, And who buys our lots will never bewail The investment of his dimes."
A comparison of the assessment rolls illustrates more forcibly than words can do the effect of the boom in San Bernardino county. In 1880 the valuation was $3,680.745 : in 1885, it was $11.189.842; in 1886, it was $13 .- 309.750: in 1887 it was $23.000,000. The census showed a population in the county of 7.786 in 1880; in 1890 this had become 25.497. San Bernardino. the city, had a population of 1,675 in 1880, and 4.012 in 1890.
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Expansion in every line and development of every resource of course followed such an increase of wealth and population. Bear Valley reservoir and water system, the most important in the county, was carried to comple- tion and a large acreage put under irrigation and set out in fruit. The Gage canal at Riverside was finished in 1888. The Riverside water system was largely increased and the South Riverside system constructed. A num- ber of smaller water companies were organized and began active develop- ment both of water and orchards. The acreage of orange trees multiplied very rapidly.
The railroads kept pace with other growth. Many branch lines were built and improvements in rolling stock and service were made. Several lines of street railway were constructed in the county, but the most import- ant transportation movement of the time was the building of the various motor lines-forerunners of the present electric service. The line from Col- ton to San Bernardino was first put into operation and later the lines to Riverside and to Redlands gave a great impetus to communication between these points.
Many large and costly public buildings, business blocks and residences were erected which proved in advance of the need, yet, although the un- natural excitement and increase of values necessarily reacted and a period of depression followed. The "boom" was certainly responsible for great material improvements which would not have appeared for years in the natural course of events. As L. M. Holt justly summed it up in the Orange Belt :
"It is true that during the boom years of '86-'87, there was a considerable amount of wild speculation that had little or no foundation. Acre property was cut into town lots where no town lots ought to be. Dry land was com at high figures regardless of prospective irrigation, or whether or not the land would ever be productive. The question of production was never dis- cussed. The only argument used for the time being that the property could be bought today for $2000 and sold next week for $3000, or in a few weeks for $5000. And yet during this wild speculative craze there was established many solid improvements that have since been turned to good use in build- ing up the country and making it attractive to eastern people who are seek- ing homes in our midst.
"There is no section in this state or in the United States where good cement sidewalks in cities and towns begin to compare with those of South- ern California. There is no other section where cities and towns have so good a supply and system of domestic water service, it frequently being found that the domestic piped water system under pressure is established before there are people to use the water. There is no other section where there are so many rapid transit motor railroads that stop at any point on the
1
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line to pick up passengers and yet make schedule time, including stoppages, oi fifteen to twenty miles an hour.
"The boom was not an evil in all respects. During that period of in- tense speculative excitement there were many foolish things done and many men lost money. But as a whole there was more money made than lost and the country as a whole forged to the front in a manner that could not be equalled under any other circumstances in less than several decades."
CHAPTER VI. SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY-1890-1904
Although the "boom" has passed and gone, San Bernardino County has continued to advance, if not with such phenomenal rapidity as during the previous ten years, still with long and steady strides. The county of today stands upon a firm basis of accomplished results ; her resources are becoming known ; her possibilities are more clearly understood; her wealth and pros- perity are assured.
During 1890 and for two or three years succeeding, the "wildcat" de- velopments of the Bear Valley Irrigation Company and the anticipated com- pletion of the extensive Arrowhead system, induced the formation of several Irrigation Districts and other projects which had little foundation for success and naturally met with disaster. Of the various Districts formed in the county under the Wright act, nearly all have now gone out of existence as Districts. The Rialto District has become a prosperous settlement. Alles- sandro and Grapeland have not yet recovered from the setback then received.
*The extensive development of artesian water, particularly during the late dry seasons, has been of great benefit to the county. It is estimated that in 1899 alone, between three and four thousand inches of water were thus brought into use. Many of these wells flow; but a large number of them are pumped, electricity being used as power. The Journal of Engineer- ing states: "Among the records of the Interior Department there was one made in the fall of 1902, carefully covering the territory under irrigation from electrically operated pumps in San Bernardino. valley, and it was there conclusively shown that the amount of water thus made available for use for irrigation covered one-half as much ground again as that covered by the natural flow of the streams from the power of which the electricity is gen- erated."
+The large increase in citrus fruit acreage and the successful suppression of fruit pests, together with the fact that the citrus belt of the valley is prac- tically frostless and that the supply of water for irrigation has never fallen short, has placed the county in the front rank of fruit counties
* See chapter on Irrigation.
+ See chapter on Horticulture.
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*Our mineral resources have been largely uncovered and the production greatly increased within the past fifteen years. + But the greatest advance within this period has been in the creative industries and in the utilization of raw material. The first large manufacturing enterprise in this county was the Chino Beet Sugar factory, which was erected in 1891. This industry has benefited not only the stockholders, the railroads and the laborers, but has put a large amount of money into the hands of the farmers of this and adjoining counties. The amount of wealth created and distributed by this factory since it went into operation counts up into the millions and a large part of it has remained in the county. The plant itself cost in the neighbor- hood of a million dollars. In 1902, it was estimated that half a million dollars was paid to the beet raisers. During the season, the pay roll of the factory averages $20,000 per month.
The wonderful development and utilization of electricity produced by the water power of our streams is a factor of incalculable value in the progress of this county. The plants of the Edison Electric Company repre- sent an outlay of at least $1,200,000, and have given employment to large forces of men in their construction. The Company also employs a consid- erable force of men aside from the various industries promoted by the power thus supplied. This available electricity has given San Bernardino County as complete and fine a suburban service as many large cities enjoy. The towns and rural communities of the valley have thus been united and busi- ness of every kind greatly facilitated. As a direct result of the cheapness of her electrical power, one of the largest Ice factories in the West has been located at Mentone.
¿The California Portland Cement Company of Colton has established one of the most important productive industries of the county. Their plant located at Slover Mountain represents an estimated value of $1,000,000. They now produce 450 barrels of cement per day, and the capacity is soon to be increased to 1000 barrels per day. They employ from one to two hundred men, and their various outputs foot up to half a million dollars per year.
§ Another very important industry is that of the Pacific Coast Borax Company, located in the eastern part of the county. The average annual product of their mines is $500,000, and their annual expenditure is $250,000. They employ over one hundred men in the county.
|| The Brookings Lumber Company has an extensive plant at Fredalba Park, with a capacity of 50,000 feet of lumber per day, most of which is inade into fruit boxes at their factory at Highland. This company is the chief producer of this class of material in Southern California.
* See chapter on Mining. + See chapter on Chino. # See chapter on Colton
¿ See chapter on Mining. See chapter on Highland.
ISAAC W. LORD
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PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The first public building in the county was the Mormon Council House, which was used as the County Court House for some years. The first build- ing erected by the county was a jail, built in 1858. About the same year, the county rented a one- story brick residence built by Q. S. Sparks and located on the corner of Fifth and E streets. Here the county business was transacted until 1862, when the Supervisors purchased the "ele- gant" residence of Mr. Charles Glasier, which stood on the site occu- pied by the present Court House. This building was used un- til the erection of the THE OLD COURT HOUSE-Built in 1874 "old" Court House in 1874.
About 1872-73, the matter of a new Court House began to be discussed. Many citizens were opposed to the old location, and it was proposed that the site be changed to one near the public square. Public meetings were held, and a lot was purchased, but the majority of voters petitioned that the Court House remain on the old site, and eventually the new building was placed on the lot already owned by the county. Court Street had not then been opened, and E street was then Salt Lake. A two-story wooden building, costing $25,000, was put up which was, at the time, one of the best structures of its kind in the state, and it answered the needs of the county until the erection of the present Court House.
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