The record-union., 1893-01-04
RIVERSIDE COUNTY.
Substantial Reasons for Its ES-
tabliShment.
The People Have n Right tc Self-Gov-
ernment-Facts and Figures Show
ing Why the People Demand the
Right to Have Separate County
Government.


Government.
In the manifesto appended hereto num-
erous facts and figures are given concern
ing the proposed County Of Riverside.
From this statement, which can be re-
lied upon as absolutely correct, many
reasons may be evolved for seeking
separation which has thus far encountered
no serious opposition. 1t will be seen
that the people OF northern san Diego
County are in hearty accord with the citi-
zens Of Riverside and vicinity in asking
division Of territory that will insure
better government and increased pros
perity.
The Riverside County division bill, to
be introduced during the coming session
Of the Legislature, ought 10 receive the
support Of all who have noted the datter-
ing degree OF success following the con-
summation Of other division propositions
in this State during the past few years:
STATEMENT OF FACTS.
TO Whom It ldy CoHcCTR, The people
residing within the territory shown in
map now in the hands Of our committee
1871 ~ 10 9CN oAl sto a anu
respectfully ask your careful considera-
ton ofthe following substantial reasons
for granting the request:
Petitions, also in the hands Of our COM
mltteG, which You are invited to inspect.
SHOW that Il large majority of ali the
voters in the district interested have
asked to be allowed to govern themselves.
Under the system OF government III
our state the right Of selfgOvernment
eliminates in the county government.
In national and state affairs the citizen is
far removed from the manifestation of
public power. His sovereignty is most
nearly III his own hands in the county
organization, ana here. if anywhere, the
Will OF the people should prevail.
The Constitution OF this state provides
the limit beyond which county sub-divi-
sion shall not go, and its restrictions in
sure that no petty counties shall exist.
| Within these limits the will Of the people
should be free to make their county
| boundaries, subject only to the dictates
OF common justice.
The people in the territory contiguous
to riverside ask for the formation OF a
separate county for themselves. If their
demand is reasonable and just, should it
not be granted?
And that their request is reasonable,
we will endeavOr to show.
The territory included within the pro-
]
GUS il products and population, nat
urally tributary to riverside, and the re-
moter portions have been included at the
earnest solicitation Of the citizens thereof.
They are now III two counties, 10 Wit:
san Diego and san Bernardino. The
northern portion Of san Diego County,
which wishes to be Incorporated in the
new county, is subject 10 extreme hard
ship in her present relations, which must
be selt-eyldent upon an examination of
the map, and that they are entitled to rc-
lief there can be no question. The aver
age distance by rail from their county
seat is now more than one hundred
miles; in the proposed county it would be
but twenty miles.
In regard to san BernardinO County
we can truthtully say that our people are
a unit in desiring the separation, and it
will work no injury to the remainder OF
the county.
The territory to be set off is ample in
all respects for county organization, and
the territory left is also ample, as the fol-
lowing figures prove:
square Miles.
Area Of san Hcrnardino County. II 600
Area TO be taken by proposed River
side County $50
Area remaining in san Bernardino
Area OF san Diego County........-......... 1850
Area TO be taken by Riverside County GALS
Area remaining in san Diego County. $40
Population Of san Bernardino County
Population 10 be taken by Riverside
County ............... s,I45
Population remaining in san Bernar-
dlHO county II ,302
Population of san Diego County
t119O l-....-.-..-; .........--.--. ,9S7
Side County nty...,..,.,,.....,..,,,......,.,. 5000
Population remaining in San Diego
County y....-,.........- ..........-....... 29,3S7
Assessed valuation of San Ber-
nardino County y...................... S26.T35.514
To be taken by Riverside County 100000
Remaining in San Bernardino
county SIS, ,O35,5 ,514
Assessed valuation of san Diego
County ....-..,.. S20.162, SOS
To be taken by Riverside County 3,s49,114
Remaining in San Diego County S25,313.694
The territory remaining in San Ber-
nardinO County after division consists of
20, 400 square miles, of which about 500
square miles lying south of the mount
aims consists of the choicest fruit and
semi-mOist grain and alfalfa lands and
on which are to be found the flourishinp
ClLl6S duu LONnS Ol 1cQlduOS, Cotton.
San Bernardino, Highlands, Messina'
Grafton, Mentone, Mission, Rialto, Ell
wanda, Cucumonga, Bloomington, On
tario and Chino. Nearly 1000 square
miles is mountainous, but containing
many thousands of acres of valuable
timber and some of the richest mining
districts within the State. OF the remain
ing 10000 square miles, which is So
called desert, large portion can be made
productive by means of irrigation from
reservoirs in the mountains and by con-
serving the waters OF the Mojave and
Colorado Rivers, and already has an
assessed valuation of nearly $2,OOO.OOO
and is in no wise burden.
In spite OF the above showing, the re-
maindeT of San Bernardno County OBJ
jects to the division. This is natural. and
complimentary to the section seeking its
independence. and too natural to lament
or contest.
Some other cities object to our project,
because it interieres with their own am
bitions to create new counties for their
personal advantage. Such opposition,
when understood, neutralizes itself.
Any manifest injustice in the project
should be righted; personal interest
should not thwart the will of the people.
1t is claimed that the remainder of San
Bernardino County Will be crippled
financially by division; but, in 1880. with
an assessed valuation of only s., ,576. .927,
and tax rate of 81 ST per S100, there was
no difficulty in meeting county expenses.
To-day s4ftnr division tbayr ba vya n ,yof,,,