Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-18
BERDOON ON THE BOOM.
SOME NOTES OF PROGRESS WHICH
INDICATE GREAT PROSPERITY.
San Bernardino Provided with Many Met
ropolitan Features-Water Works Just
Completed-A Proposal to Annex Ger
tain Suburbs.
Correspondence of the Herald.

Correspondence of the Herald
EDITORS HERALD: l read the HERALD
constantly, and see news from all over
the country and correspondence from
most of the cities in the southern part
of the state; but seldom do l read any
thing from San Bernardino city. We
have been accused of being an easy-
going people up here. In fact, some of
the boomers have applied to us the less
polite term OF ''moss Backs" because
the boom did not flourish so we'll in our
midst as with some of our sister cities.
But If the history of the year just draw
ing to close is any criterion, we surely
ought to resent being called "moss
backs" This city has within the last
year voted $160,O00 for putting
in a system of water works;
the bonds sold at premium,
and the works have been built and
have now been in successful operation
for over two months. The surveyor of
the Pacific Insurance union, who was
here and critically examined and tested
our works, said that they were the best
on the coast, and that we have the best
fire pressure of any city in Southern
California. We are proud of this, be-
cause the works are exclusively of our
own production. The plans were drawn
and the work superintended by f. G.
Finkle. a civil engineer of our own CITY,
and the contractors, Messrs. Cooley &
Vieweger, were home men. The only
work done by outside parties was three
miles of pipe laid by the Lacy Manu-
nf oitxy
they did their part most creditably.
Another thing we have done this year
is to build a pavilion in the city park
capable of seating 1000 people, The
pavilion is now receiving the finishing
touches, and will be dedicated by the
society OF California pioneers of this city
by ball on New Years night.
The city trustees have also passed
resolutions of intention and adver-
tised for bids to pave with bituminous
rock, nearly mile of street. After our
paving is done, it will be hard to find
anything in which we can progress, for
we will then have sewers, water works,
electric lights, free postal delivery, a
pavilion, an electric fire alarm system,
and paved streets. The question of an
neXing some of the suburbs immedi-
ately adjoining the city is now before us,
an election having been called to decide
the matter. Ii annexation carries, as
there can be no doubt that it will, as
the suburbs proposed to be annexed
are as thickly settled as the city proper,
we will have city of from 10000 to 49,
600 people, with an area of less than five
square miles.
Yesterday we had gala day for this
city, it being the occasion OF the laying
of the cornerstone of the new insane
asylum at present being erected by the
state few miles northeast of this city.
The Grafton of the day was delivered by
W. A. Harris, of this city, and
fine addresses were made by
Governor Waterman and other
distinguished gentlemen. In the
evening a banquet was rendered our
guests at the St. Charles hotel by the
citizens of the county. There were fully
$50 people who partook of the elegant
repast and listened to the numerous
| toasts.
The surrounding country is building
up very fast in this valley at present.
Numerous irrigation systems are being
organized under the Wright irrigation
law, and water will be brought on many
an acre of fine land in time for the next
planting season.
The Alessandro district people are
putting in 24-inch pipe line from Bear
valley, under the supervision of Mr..
Butler, of Redlands; and the East Riv-
erside district have employed Mr.. Fin
kle, who was engineer of our water
works, to make their surveys, plans and
estimates, for 3O-inch pipe line from
the Lytle creek artesian belt Other
districts are being formed, and at the
present rate all our dry lands will be
transformed into orange orchards within
few years. A. M. r.
San Bernardino, CAL, Dec. 16, 1890.