Los Angeles herald., 1893-01-01
SAN BnaNARpINo COUNTY.
Its Progress and Prosperity, Resources
and Natural Advantages.

GAu DtEndIQlAO OO0hsI ~ NAS ~s--
one in the state. 1t was cut OIL from
Los Angeles county in 1858. 1t is divided
by the Sierra Madre, which here have
their highest peaks. North OF these
mountains is the Mojave desert, on
which are some OF the richest mining |
camps of the Pacific coast. Calico,
Iyanpah. Providence, Orc Grande, Dag
gett and Victor are noted for their min
eral productions. The Mojave river
flows northerly and easterly from the
Sierra Madre and sinks in the desert
sands. The grand Colorado river is the
eastern boundary OF the county and OF
the state.
The San Bernardino valley is the gem
of the county. This great basin has the
Sierra Msdre for its northern and east
ern boundary, the Pomona and Chino
hills for it's western boundary, and the
Temescal mountains for its southern
boundary. The greatest length OF the
valley is about AZ miles east and west.
Its greatest width is about 80 miles
north and south. 1t has compara-
lively level area of over 800 square miles.
Nearly every acre OF this valley is arabic
land, needing only irrigation to render
it profitable For this the great water
sheds OF the high mountains to the
north and easr, whose tallest peaks
have eternal snow, afford al ample sup
ply, only awaiting proper outstanding.
Nowhere are the benefits OF irrigation
more apparent than in the San Bernar'
dino valley. And all around its rim,
set like clusters of emeralds in golden
crown. are the thriving colonies of Red
lands, Grafton, Mentone, Highlands,
San Bernardipo, Rialto, Etiwanda,
Cucsmonga, Ontario, Claremont, Lords
burg, Pomona (for the last three named
places are geographically within this
yalley), Chino, Rincon, South River
side, Arlington, Riverside and Cotton.
The valley was first settled in the
wear 1929, at Old San Bernardino, by the
priests OF San Gabriel mission. The
ruins of their buildings and zapj % still
remain. Ia 1S4l a colony of New Mexi-
cans was established at Aqua Mansa,
near Cotton,
In 1851 a Mormon colony from Salt
Lake founded the city of San Bernardo
no. They laid out townsite with
streets crossing each other at right an
giles, erected sawmills in the mountains,
built houses, dug irrigating bitches and
farmed successfully. In 1857 majority
OF them obeyed an order OF Brigham
Young to return to Salt Lake. After
that time the town gradually assumed
q purely Gsntie character. until now
very little traces of its Mormon found.
ers are left.
With the advent OF the railroad in
1877, and the increase OF the colonies in
the valley, the growth of the city has
been continuous. 1t has good court
house, hotels, schools, electric lights,
,l linz ehnrah q
and newspapers. and is right on the
overland line of the Santa Fe route.
The shops OF this road are located
here.
Since its enlargement by the abeorp-
tion of outlying settlements, San Bsr-
nardino is taking on qnite metropolitan
airs. The most marked new departure
there of late 10 in the transform alton of
her streets, which are being rapidly put
into shape to compare with those OF
any city in the state. There is little
specu ation about rain in San Bernar-
dino, because that valley is really the
best watered in California. The city
itself rejoices in Mill crack, Warm creek,
Lytle creek, Plunge creek and the Santa
Ana river, while srtesian wells in
Vulnerable give evidence OF the mex
haustible character OF her water supply.
The heart OF the city-the region just
around whore the Hotel Stewart stood
is now built over an old watercourss.
The Sen Bernardino valley is not only
noted for the abundance of it's water
supply, but for the energy and persist
ency of its capitalists in developing
water. Two splendid schemes of water
exploitation are under way in that re-
gion just now. The first is the extern
os< - hn al Il
the second is the Arrowhead dam and
reservoir plan.
For years it was said that San Bernar-
dino lacked enterprise and was of the
paleozoic order of municipalities. No
one who visits the place now will in
dulge in any such reproaches. Excel
sior" seems to be the motto on ali
hands. The spirit of improvement has
taken firm foothold and is the domin-
ant impulse of the hour. When the
present plan OF streets shall have been
completed no city in the state will excel
our neighbor in the smoothness and per-
fection of her roadways. The many
handsome edifces recently erected bear
testimony to the spirit of improvement
that pervades the city. The develop
ment of the country tributary to San
Bernardino warrants this urban growth,
and the march OF progress will doubtless
soon De resumed with accelerated pace.
San Bernardino valley has many "a
nous places. A few miles north of the
city are the celebrated Arrowhead
spring., whose mud baths are noted for
curing Rheumatism Near by is the site
of the Southern California insane asy-
lum.
Up in the mountains. to the north of
Mount Graybsck. is the famous Bear
valley reservoir, that has sufficient Ca
pacity to irrigste 28, 900 acres.
Eastward is Redlands, city that has
been built since the boom, and whose
citrus products are famous.
Southwark is Riverside, with its
world vide reputation for oranges and
raisins
Farther on are the Temescal tin mines,
which are attracting considerable atten-
ton.
Westward is Etiwanda, noted for its
raisins, Cucamonga for its wines, On
tario for its cirrus fruits and Chino for
it's beet sugar
Near by is Cotton with it's lime and
marble quarries.
Some of the statistics of the county
are given elsewhere under the general
headings for Southern California.
Take it all in all another such valley
cannot be found throughout all the Pa
cifie coast.