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 21
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 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102
In 1887 the Supervisors submitted to the people a proposition to vote bonds to the amount of $125,000 for building a County Jail and rebuilding the Court House. This proposal met with strong opposition, as it was de- clared that the sum was not sufficient to put up such a building as the county needed, and there were strong objections to the site, The Supervisors then proposed a bond issue of $75,000 for a Hall of Records,-this, too, was voted down, and the county officials then proceeded to levy a tax of $40,000 to build the Hall of Records. This plan met with strenuous opposition, and the talk of change of county seat and of county division dated from its inception. The Supervisors, however, proceeded with the work, and in 1891 completed the handsome, fireproof and earthquake-proof building which now contains the
178
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
county records. The building is of Colton marble and Mentone sandstone, and is well built and substantial in every particular, and well adapted for its purpose.
Bond propositions to raise money for the erection of a Court House and Jail were twice voted down, and the fight was hot and long; but the redoubt- able Board of Supervisors, Messrs. J. N. Victor, I. W. Lord, J. C. Turner and I'm. H. Randall, proceeded to levy direct taxes and to let the bids for the work on the Court House. The people declared that the sums expended were extravagant and unnecessary, but the work proceeded, slowly but surely, and when the building was completed in 1898, it was, with the exception of the State Insane Asylum, the finest structure in the county and is one of the most complete and convenient courthouses in the state. It is a handsome struc- ture, built of Mentone sandstone with trimmings of Colton marble and Sespe sandstone, stone floors, iron stairways and spacious hallways and rooms. The design is dignified and altogether it is a source of pride to the citizens of the county, and as it is paid for, with no bonds or interest to meet, there is a general feeling of satisfaction that the work is done and the county in pos- session of ample and adequate buildings for many years to come.
THE INSANE ASYLUM.
Prior to 1890 the only state institutions in the southern section of the state were the Reform School at Whittier and the Normal School at Los Angeles. During the session of the Legislature of 1889, a bill was introduced and passed providing for the erection of an Insane Asylum in one of the five southern counties of the state and a board of commissioners, one from each of the counties, was appointed. The Commission was made up of M. S. Severance, Los Angeles; James Kier, San Jacinto: K. P. Grant, Ventura ; IV. N. Hawley, Santa Barbara; Joseph Brown, San Bernardino. Proposi- tions without end for the location of the institution were examined into by this board. Nearly every town and section in the five counties had some site to offer. But the commission finally decided to purchase 360 acres of the Daley Tract at Highlands, with sixty inches of water from the North Fork Ditch, the consideration being $114,000.
The bill providing for the establishment of the asylum appropriated $350,000 for the purchase of the site and the erection of the main building and north and west wings, which were first completed. The bill also pro- vided for the appointment by the governor of a board of five trustees, all to be Southern California men, three to be appointed for two years and two for four years, and thereafter all appointments to be for a term of four years. Another provision of the bill was that it authorized the board to select an architect to prepare the plans of the building, and also appoint another com- petent architect to act as superintendent of construction.
179
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
The true responsibility in the erection of a building of this character rests with the board of trustees and when the governor selected as such board Messrs. H. L. Drew, E. F. Spence, M. A. Murphy, John Andreson and H. A. Palmer, the public gave itself no further concern about the matter. It was a foregone conclusion that the affairs attendant upon the erection of the asylum would be honestly and economically administered, and that each member of the board would bring his fine business training and intelligent knowledge of affairs to bear upon the matter and the trust reposed in them by the state would receive the same careful attention as if it were a private enterprise in which the individ- ual fortunes of the trustees were embarked. The sagacity of these gentlemen was first shown in the employment of Messrs. Curleit & Eisen of Los Angeles and San Francisco to draw the plans and specifications, and the appoint- ment of Mr. T. H. Goff of San Bernardino as superintendent of construction to see that the plans and specifications were faithfully and honestly carried out.
The board of trustees were for - tunate in that the lowest responsi- ble bidder in the erection of the work was Mr. Peter Crichton of San Francisco.
December 15, 1890, the corner stone of the building was laid with appropriate ceremonies GOVERNOR R. W. WATERMAN under the auspices of the Grand Lodge F. and A. M. of Califor- nia, Governor Waterman and staff being present, and the exercises were followed by the most elaborate banquet ever spread in San Bernardino County.
The first building was completed in 1893. It was built in the most sub- stantial manner and was fully equipped with a complete water and sewer service, electric plant and all modern conveniences. It was opened August Ist, 1893, 100 patients being brought from the north to start with. Dr. M. B. Campbell was appointed superintendent, a position which he ably filled until September, 1904. A completely equipped farm, extensive orchards and grounds are largely cared for by inmates, who are thus healthfully and use- fully employed.
180
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
In 1902 an appropriation was made to complete another wing of the building, and this was finished in 1903 at a cost of $250,000.
The buildings now accommodate more than eight hundred inmates. The monthly pay roll of the establishment is $4,100, and the annual expend- iture for the asylum is given as $138,000.
The present board of managers are: E. P. Clark, Riverside; John H. McGonigle, Ventura ; J. W. A. Off, Los Angeles; H. B. Wilson, Redlands, and G. P. Adams, Los Angeles.
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY ORPHANS' HOME.
In February, 1893, the Associated Charities of San Bernardino City, Mrs. Robert F. Garner, President ; Mrs. Laura P. Bidgood, Secretary and Treas- urer ; Mrs. Olive Byrne, Vice President, and Mrs. F. M. Johnson, Lewis Jacobs, S. F. Zombro and H. Goodcell, trustees, decided to opeu an Orphan's Home. Accordingly the lease of the Hart place on the corner of C street and Base Line, was secured. This, which was one of the oldest and most beautiful places in the city, comprised an acre of ground, set with fruit trees of many kinds and with an abund- ance of shade and room for playgrounds. Some alterations were made in the house, and the Home was opened with about twenty chil- dren, most of whom were transferred from the Orphan's Home at Los Angeles. Children were received here from San Bernardino County and San Diego County, particularly. In 1896, it was necessary to enlarge the build- ing and it was refitted with modern conven- iences and made more suitable for the purpose for which it was used. In 1899 it was char- tered and incorporated by the state, and it now draws funds from the state for the sup- MRS. F. M. JOHNSON port of all orphans. There are, at present, about twenty-five children in the institution, who are being educated and cared for and carefully trained.
In 1901, the County Supervisors erected a sick ward for the use of the Home, and the county makes occasional appropriations for the aid of the Home.
Mrs. Florence D. Draper is now President of the Board, and Miss Mary Barton, Secretary and Treasurer.
ROADS.
After the opening of Anza's highway between Sonora and Monterey,
18
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
via Yuma, the Puerto de San Carlos, or San Gorgonio Pass, and San Ber- nardino Valley, the next traveled road in the county was probably that between San Juan Capistrano and San Gabriel, by way of Temecula, "Laguna Grande" (Elsinore), Temescal and Rincon, thence via Chino to San Gabriel and Los Angeles. This latter became the route of the Butterfield stages. The New Mexican overland route was much traveled during the thirties and forties-this came through the Virgin and Green River valleys and crossing the Colorado near where Ft. Mohave was later established, followed the Mohave River up to the Cajon Pass. The old "Mormon route" also went out by way of Cajon Pass, but struck across the county further north and crossed Nevada to Salt Lake. Between San Bernardino and the coast there were several routes in early days, one by way of Agua Mansa and Cuca- monga, another crossed the Jurupa plains and passed through Chino. These early roads followed the contour of the country. No bridges were built, and probably very little work of any kind was done on them.
. The first constructed road in the county was the one up Waterman cañon built by the Mormons in the winter of 1851-52 under the direction of Captain Hunt. This was a free road open to all and for twenty years large quantities of timber were annually hauled down over it. At one point the grade was so heavy that ordinary brakes refused to hold; the teamsters were obliged to attach heavy trees to their wagons, which were thrown off at the end of the grade and formed what was known as the "drag yard." In 1859, the first toll road in the county was built up Twin Creek Canon, and was known as the "Daley road." In 1861 John Brown, Sr., H. M. Willis and G. L. Tucker received a franchise for the construction of a toll road through the Cajon Pass. This was built, and in 1862 John Brown started a ferry across the Colorado at Ft. Mojave. For twenty years the life of the conces- sion, this toll road was kept up and much heavy traffic went over it.
The first bridge across the Santa Ana was that built to the south of Colton across the river between Riverside and San Bernardino. The citizens of Riverside petitioned for this convenience for several years. Finally the drowning of a man by the name of Tibbits at this crossing induced the county to act and the bridge was built about 1877.
Various toll roads into the mountains have been established at different times. In 1890 the Bear Valley toll road from Highlands to Bear Valley was built. In 1891 the Highland Lumber Co., now the Brookings Co., built its toll. road up through City Creek Canon. The Devil's Canon toll road was built about the same time. The Arrowhead Reservoir Company built a toll road in 1892, which was nineteen miles long and was well constructed : this gives access to some of the finest scenery in the country. For many years there has been a demand for a free mountain road which should enable the people to visit the lumber camps and the resorts of the San Bernardino mountains and give them free access to the magnificent scenery and the won-
J. B. GLOVER
183
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
derful air and water of the great mountain range. Although many projects have been discussed the matter has never taken any definite shape until the passage of a new act by the Legislature in 1903, enabling counties to build roads out of the general funds. The county at once took action upon the opening of the way. Various surveys have been made for the county, several of the existing toll roads have offered to sell their routes at reasonable figures and within a short time, without doubt, a free mountain road which shall enable the visitor to drive with ease to the summit of the mountains and to visit all the many attractions offered in the heart of the San Bernardino range, will be an actual fact.
THEO. F. WHITE
Within the past few years San Bernardino county has adopted, or rather developed, a system of oiling her roads which not only does away with one of the greatest drawbacks to travel in this county-dust - but also greatly improves the roadbed. To the Supervisors of the county and particularly to J. B. Glover, of Redlands, and T. F. White, of Chino, belongs the credit of working out a practical method of road building and oil- ing which has attracted attention all over the United States and which is fast giving our county the best roads in the State. The advantage of hard and dustless roads in this hot, dry climate, and with the many sandy and rough roads which were formerly common, can hardly be over
estimated. This improvement alone is a long step in advance for the
county.
COUNTY DIVISION.
It was natural that San Bernardino, the largest county in the state, should sometime be divided. Yet so large a portion of the county was made up of mountains and desert, which is and must remain, sparsely settled, and the main population was so closely confined to the San Bernardino Valley, that practically the county was not more unwieldly for government than many smaller counties. But, unfortunately, there was for many years a lack
184
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
of unity between the two largest towns of the county, Riverside and the county seat. At the very outset of the settlement of Riverside, the old set- tlers and particularly the residents of San Bernardino, ridiculed the idea that anyone could ever make a living off "that desert" as the plains of Jurupa were known. Naturally the Riverside settlers resented the attitude of their neighbors. They continued in their undertaking until, developed water and Riverside Washington Navel oranges made their unpromising venture a bewildering success. Riverside grew more rapidly than San Bernardino. Her citizens were largely young men from the east, whose ideas and methods were different from the conservative movements of San Bernardino's solid citizens' who were mostly of an earlier date-pioneers who had been trained in the school of hard circumstances rather than in the colleges and the rush- ing business life of eastern cities. Differences, small but rankling, grew out of the citrus fairs and exhibits, road matters, the management of the County Immigration Society, the Chicago Exhibit, the development of artesian water, and other matters. There was too, a touch of the old soreness grow- ing out of the location of the Southern Pacific depot and the building up of Colton that prevented the hearty co-operation of Colton and San Bernardino. The dissatisfaction in the county culminated upon the question of building a new Court House.
The sudden expansion of 1886-87 rendered the old Court House, built in 18,4. entirely inadequate to the needs of the county. Accordingly the Supervisors, in 1887, submitted to the voters of the county a proposition for bonds to the amount of $175,000 for a new Court House. The people of Riverside, especially, opposed this proposition on the ground that the sum was too small to build a suitable county building and that the location of the Court House should be changed before building. The proposition was lost and the Supervisors next proposed a bond issue of $75,000 for a Hall of Records. This too, was lost, but the county fathers immediately took steps to raise $40,000 for this purpose by direct taxation. The citizens of River- side, Colton, Chino and other points objected so decidedly to this movement that they began to discuss the question of a change of the county seat. En- thusiastic meetings were held, excursions with brass bands and torch light processions were employed. Riverside, Colton and Redlands were aspirants. Colton offered to put up a $200,000 building and donate it with a block of ground, to the county free of cost, provided that town was made the county seat. November 5, 1889, a petition with 3.700 signatures, asking that the matter of the removal of the county seat be submitted to the vote of the people was presented to the Board of Supervisors. The Supervisors in the meantime proceeded with the plans of the Hall of Records and let the first contract April 8, 1890. In May, 1890, after a long and bitter legal fight, it was decided that more than 1,000 of the names on the petition for county
185
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
seat removal, were incompetent, for various causes, and consequently there were not enough signatures to call an election.
Then began the talk of County Division. January 2, 1891, a mass meet- ing was held in Riverside at which it was determined to form a new county to be known as "Riverside," with Riverside as county seat, and to include, Riverside, South Riverside, Jurupa, Rincon, Beaumont, Banning, Alessan- dro and Perris. Senator-elect, H. M. Streeter, was pledged to support the scheme. Pomona county with the county seat at Pomona was also proposed and the bills were duly introduced into the Legislature. The Supervisors resolved to oppose all schemes for the dismemberment of the county and to fight the Riverside bill in the Legislature. Men and money were sent to Sacramento by both sides and after a vigorous campaign the Riverside bill was defeated, March 25, 1891, and the Pomona bill met a like fate.
June 13, 1891, another bond issue- this time for $350,000-for the erec- tion of Court House and Jail, to be located on present grounds, was voted upon and received a majority of 425 votes, which was less than the two- thirds majority required. The county officials, nevertheless, advertised for bids for a county jail and for extension and additions to the Court House. December 9, 1891, Supervisors Glass and Garcelon of Riverside, resigned. and their places were filled by J. C. Turner and Wm. H. Randall.
March 9. 1892, a contract for the foundations and first floor of the Court House was let for $42,693 ; and March 12, $78,611 was transferred from the county funds to the building fund. A convention of the voters of the county was called at Colton and passed most vigorous protests against the extrava- gant and useless expenditures for Court House and Jail. These were duly presented to the Supervisors and tabled. June 18, 1892, the Supervisors once more came before the voters with a proposition for $250,000 bonds. This was voted down with a considerably increased majority against it.
The air was now full of projects for new counties. San Jacinto county, to take in the northern part of San Diego and the southern portion of San Bernardino county, and with Perris or San Jacinto for county seat, was strongly supported. San Antonio county, including Ontario, Chino and Pomona, was also a favored proposition with the people of that section. A strong representation for Riverside county went before the Legislature of 1893. Large delegations went from Riverside and San Bernardino, and the fight was most bitter. Loud charges of "boodle" were made and the Super- visors declared that Riverside had spent more in the county division fight than her share of the bonds for the Court House would have come to. February 25, 1893, the bill which created Riverside county finally passed the Assembly.
The bill contained seventeen sections, fully defining boundaries and providing for a commission to adjust the financial questions and other points
186
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
arising, or "adjustment and fulfillment of certain rights and obligations." According to the provisions, the Supervisors of San Bernardino county were to select two members, and they chose H. M. Barton and Joseph Brown. Riverside selected John G. North and W. S. Wise, and Gov. Markham ap- pointed G. T. Stamm, the Ontario banker, as the fifth member.
"The Commission organized by electing H. M. Barton chairman and John G. North secretary, and proceeded to business, setting out to do three things :
First: To ascertain the assessed valuation of that part of Riverside county which had been taken out of San Bernardino county, and the assessed valuation of property in the territory still embraced in San Bernardino county.
Second: To ascertain and fix the value of all county property in or be- longing to the original county.
Third: To ascertain what proportion of such county property belonged to the new county of Riverside, according to the ratio of its assessed valuation.
The commission met and organized June 2, 1893, and met at intervals from that date until April 7, 1894, gathering testimony with reference to the value of county property, and county assets, and on the latter day the com- mission, by votes of Messrs. Barton, Brown and Stamm, adopted a resolution fixing the amount due Riverside at $15,586.82. Messrs. Wise and North pro- tested vigorously, but to no purpose. This resolution was introduced by Commissioner Stamm.
The limits of the claims of the rival interests are indicated in two resolu- tions, both of which were defeated, before Mr. Stamm's resolution was voted upon. The Riverside commissioners claimed $132,027.09, and this resolution was voted down, San Bernardino's representatives going solidly against it. Then Joseph Brown introduced a resolution fixing the award at $3144.48, which was also defeated. Mr. Stamm's resolution was then carried.
Following this action the Riverside commissioners proposed two com- promise amounts, first asking for an even $100,000, and finally for $50,000, but the San Bernardino people resolutely refused and the Riversiders went home, mad through and through, and that marked the high water line of feeling over the division of the Imperial county, and the bitterness was no joke in those days.
Three months later Riverside county had engaged the services of two of the most eminent lawyers in the State, and with J. S. Chapman of Los An- geles and R. E. Houghton of San Francisco, went into court, and August 9, 1894, filed suit in the Superior Court of Los Angeles county for $132,027.09, and the war was on.
J. N. Victor was chairman of the Board of Supervisors at the time, des- perate fighter that he was, and the new gauge of battle was picked up in-
187
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
stantly. San Bernardino county's interests were entrusted to the firm of Curtis, Oster & Curtis of this city. With them was associated Judge Van R. Patterson of San Francisco.
What with "the law's delay" and the time needed to square for the battle. the case did not come to trial until September 29, 1896, in Judge Mckinley's court, in Los Angeles, without a jury. The trial occupied weeks, and on the evening of the last day of the year, December 31, 1896, Judge Mckinley pre- sented this county with a bitter New Year's gift, filing an opinion which set aside the finding of the commission and referring the whole matter back to them for readjustment. The court found :
"That the plaintiff is entitled to judgment setting aside the award made by the said commissioners, with directions to make the said award in accord- ance with the provisions of the said act, and to omit from the liabilities of the said county of San Bernardino the salaries of officers and expenses of administration of offices accruing after the IIth day of March, 1893. and interest accruing on the bonded indebtedness of said county of San Bernar- dino after said time, and making a fair valuation of the real and personal property of the county of San Bernardino, and making the adjustment of affairs under the provisions of the said act creating the county of Riverside ; and for its costs of suit. Let judgment be entered accordingly."
It was in these same findings that Judge Mckinley ripped the San Ber- nardino commissioners up the back unmercifully, and seemed to agree with the contention of the Riversiders that there had been a conspiracy to defraud them.
But neither side was satisfied with this decision. Riverside wanted a judgment for $132,000, and did not care to take chances with the commission again, while San Bernardino took the position that the Los Angeles court never had any jurisdiction ; that the act of the Legislature made the decision of the commission absolutely final, and that it could not even be reviewed by J court. Everybody appealed.
The attorneys for San Bernardino filed their appeal December 7. 1897, and more than two years elapsed before the case was presented to the Supreme Court."-The San Bernardino Sun.
November 19, 1901, the Supreme Court rendered a decision reversing the action of the Los Angeles Court and dismissing the case, thus sustaining the acts of the Commission and leaving Riverside County with costs to pay and a prospect of losing the $15.000 awarded by the Commission. Further litigation followed and in October, 1902, the County of San Bernardino drew its warrant for $8,000 in full payment of all claims of Riverside County and thus closed finally the history of the county division.
THE SAN BERNARDINO FOREST RESERVE.
One of the important events of the later history of the county was the setting aside of the San Bernardino Forest Reserve. The matter of setting
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.