Riverside County CA Archives History - Books .....The Dawning Of A New Era (Continued) 1912
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Book Title: History Of Riverside County California

CHAPTER IV.
THE DAWNING OF A NEW ERA
(CONTINUED)
By E. W. Holmes

   The town had now outgrown the little hall in the Odd Fellows' building. To
supply the need for larger accommodations for entertainments and public meetings
a little cheap "opera house" was built on the south side of Eighth street,
between Orange and Lemon. It was covered both on the roof and sides with
corrugated iron, and, though it had a stage with curtain and wings, could only
serve as a makeshift. It was here that the first comic opera was performed and
where traveling shows appeared. But something better was greatly needed, and
Albert S. White, with characteristic public spirit, undertook to incorporate a
Citrus Fair Association, the main purpose of which was to build a pavilion with
a large auditorium and committee rooms, required for fair purposes. His plan
involved the raising of $5,000, and by fall the entire amount had been
subscribed, in $25 shares. The building was completed the following season and
served admirably for the purposes designed until destroyed by fire in 1886. The
sum raised from the sale of stock was only sufficient to complete the building
itself, and the stage, curtain and scenery required to equip it for general
public use were not secured until a year or two later, when the writer organized
an amateur dramatic club, which gave a "benefit for pavilion improvement," which
provided the needed funds. The plays staged for this benefit were a
dramatization of Dickens' "Our Mutual Friend" and the popular old farce, "Box
and Cox." All of those who took part, twenty-eight years ago, are living, and
all but one are still residents of Riverside.

   The members of the club were: Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Backus, E. W. Holmes,
Charles F. Packard, Frank Patton, Miss Kate Overton, Mrs. W. P. Russell, Miss
Jessie Gill (now Mrs. Frank Patton) and George Rotner. In this connection the
fact is recalled that one of the first companies of professional players to make
use of our pavilion stage was one managed by Kendall Holt and wife, who found
Riverside so attractive that they gave up theatrical life and became permanent
residents. He was, until his death a few years since, a city editor on one of
our dailies, and his widow is still teaching elocution to our youth and giving
her services as a reader when needed for benevolent objects.

   The increased values of orchard property ten years from the first planting is
shown by the sale, in 1881, of fifteen acres belonging to Capt. B. B. Handy,
located at the top of the hill on Brockton avenue, for $15,000. C. A. Tinker was
the purchaser. Several years later an adjacent seedling grove is said to have
sold for $3,000 an acre, a price never exceeded in these later years. But all
this section now has a greater value for residence use than for orange growing.

   In January, 1882, Riverside had an unusual experience—her first and only real
snow storm. The 11th had been a beautiful day, but the mercury dropped to 26
degrees during the night following. Toward morning it became overcast and the
temperature moderated. Finally, at daybreak, the snow began falling, and
increasing, fell steadily all day and into the night, and when morning came
there was a layer of the white covering fully eight inches in depth. For a while
during the storm the orchardists had vainly tried to shake off the snow from the
trees, heavy already with fruit, but finally gave up the work as hopeless, and
many trees split down with the burden. Strangely enough the presence of the body
of damp snow held the temperature steadily at 32 degrees and little fruit was
injured. Impromptu sleighs were rigged up, and a few took advantage of the rare
conditions to enjoy a sleigh ride. The snow, when melted, showed an equivalent
of 1.40 inches rainfall.

   The spring of 1882 saw the first steps made in an undertaking which had
tremendous influence in shaping the valley's growth, since it doubled the
irrigable acreage of the valley, induced large investments of foreign capital,
and added immensely to the population of the city. Matthew Gage this season
filed on section 30, located on the extension of East Eighth street. It was
taken under the desert land act, which enabled a person to take up 640 acres of
dry land, with three years in which to redeem it, by bringing irrigating water
upon it. It was the possession of this land which furnished the motive for Mr.
Gage's persistent search for water, and prompted his successful effort to secure
the large capital necessary to build the Gage canal across the rough intervening
country to a point where it was possible to spread it over the many thousands of
acres, where are now our finest orange and lemon groves. Although this great
work was initiated at this time, the three years allowed the claimant in which
to secure the title to his land had nearly expired before the water reached it.
But we may as well give at this point a brief story of this great undertaking.
With no capital excepting faith and an undaunted courage, Mr. Gage persistently
pressed forward until the work was accomplished, and his name will be forever
linked with a development ranked among the most important in the history of 
Southern California. In his search for a water supply, Mr. Gage found a tract of
several hundred acres in the Santa Ana river bottom, several miles above Colton,
owned by J. A. Carit. This land had a right to all the water flowing in the
river, after previous claims had been supplied, and he was convinced that by
sinking wells of moderate depth in the lands adjacent to the stream, he should
find artesian water in abundance. He bonded this property for $75,000, for a
limited time, not having the capital necessary to enable him to purchase it, and
then went quietly at work obtaining rights of way for a canal from this land to
the plain above Riverside, upon which his claim was located. His ambition had
now risen far beyond the original scheme of supplying water for his own land. He
now proposed to water the whole territory between Riverside and the foothills.
The Iowa Land and Development Company, of which Governor Merrill was the
president and S. H. Herrick and A. J. Twogood the local representatives, had
purchased some 2,000 acres of land where Highgrove now stands, which amount was
later increased to some 3,500 acres. As the owners of this tract would be Mr.
Gage's largest customers he went to Iowa to confer with Governor Merrill. The
Iowa company had received overtures from Carit in regard to selling them his
water-bearing lands, but Mr. Gage had secured the only available right of way,
and for this and other reasons they closed a contract with him, agreeing to take
335 inches—an amount afterwards increased. Armed with this contract, Mr. Gage
returned, closed his bargain with Carit, and commenced the work of canal
building. Nearly all the owners of land under the flow of the proposed canal
took water stock, and with this substantial collateral he obtained all the ready
money required. He guaranteed to purchasers a water right of an inch to five
acres for $100 per acre, when his canal should be completed. The original G-age
Canal terminated at section 30, the system serving the land owners under this
canal in the Highgrove section having purchased a right from Mr. Gage to about
725 inches of water.

   The Riverside Trust Company, Mr. Gage's successor, .afterwards extended the
system across the big arroyo, and now supplies an immense area of the best mesa
and hillside lands in the state, whose product in quantity and quality is
unsurpassed. Considerably over a million dollars have been expended upon this
water system, which in canal mileage and value is not inferior to that of the
original Riverside Water Company plant.

   An irrigation district was later organized to furnished water for land above
those just described, but purchasers of land found that the district, like many
others organized at that time under the state law, had everything required
excepting water. Among these land owners was Ethan A. Chase, and it was through
his efforts mainly that the Riverside Highland Water Company was organized and
made one of the best water systems in the valley. About a million dollars were
required to purchase water-bearing lands at distant points in Lytle creek and in
the Santa Ana river bottom, and to establish the pumping plants and pipe lines
required. The company is now pumping nearly a thousand inches of water to a
point in the hills 500 feet above the bottom, from where it flows in pipes to
the various orchards.

   The oldest and best of the water rights along the river furnish a supply for
the West Riverside section. And these are supplemented by an immense quantity
pumped from wells where no one dreamed in the early days that water could be
obtained. Modern pumping machinery and the building of great electric power
lines through what was literally desert lands only a few years ago are
transforming the sandy wastes tributary to Riverside and Corona into broad green
fields of profit-paying alfalfa, as well as into other lines of development
inviting settlement, and this diversifying of the resources of the county bids
fair to maintain a prosperity which once depended upon practically a single
branch of horticulture.

   The record of the sales of land in 1882 is a wonderful one for so young a
town, footing up $522,338, and the changes which a dozen years had brought is
indicated by the fact that it was in this season that the venerable and popular
postmaster, Dr. Greves, who first took charge of the office at a salary of $5 a
year, was supplanted by C. W. Filkins, who was given a salary of $1,700.

   It was in this year that the first effective steps were taken in providing
the city with a public park: the four blocks which Mr. Evans had given in
exchange for the original plaza had become little better than a tule-grown frog
pond—a public nuisance. Dr. Clark Whittier proposed to build a brick sanitarium,
and desired to locate it upon the corner of the park at the junction of Eighth
and Market streets. He offered to fill the pond and park, the central portion,
if he should be given the north and south portions fronting on Eighth and Tenth
streets. The consent of every property owner in town had to be obtained to
legalize the trade. The building erected is now a part of the Holyrood hotel.
The bargain was a fine one for the doctor, and hastened the building up of that
section, but it has always been a source of regret that the action taken had
forever restricted the area of our only centrally located park. A little later
the citizens raised $2,000 to use in building a bandstand and beautifying the
grounds, and in recognition of his interest in securing the improvement of the
park it was finally named the Albert S. White park. In recent years, George N.
Reynolds built the pretty fountain which occupies a central location.

   On the 1st of August, 1882, the California Southern railroad ?vas completed
from San Diego, through Temecula canyon, to Point of Rocks, near where the
Southern Pacific road now crosses it. Owing to the San Bernardino interests of
Chief Engineer Perris, all efforts to locate the line by an easier grade
directly through Riverside failed. The Riverside station was therefore located
three miles from town. H. E. Allatt was the first station agent.

   Three years later the Santa Fe road completed the building of its line
through the Cajon Pass and made connection with the Riverside-San Diego road, by
which means, the valley was brought into direct connection by rail with Chicago
and the east. In September, 1885, the Santa Fe company asked for a right of way
for a line from East Riverside to Los Angeles, through the valley, and the
people of Riverside, led to suppose this was to be the main overland line of
that system, generously raised the money necessary to give the company a right
of way and depot grounds. On the 22nd of March, 1886, this line was opened to
travel, amid general rejoicing, for it gave the city direct rail connection with
Los Angeles and all points in the east, and led to a reduction of $60 a car on
the rate for oranges.

   This was but the commencement of a great amount of railroad building, which
has given the city the benefit of three great transcontinental lines," and a
local trolley system inferior to none in the state. A steam motor system was
built, mostly by local capital, in 1888, connecting Riverside and San
Bernardino. It did not prove a profitable investment to the stockholders, who
lost practically all they put into it, and was finally purchased by the Southern
Pacific company, by which that road obtained its present valuable depot grounds
on Market street, in the very heart of the city. But the result gave the valley
connection with a second great railroad system.

   The 6,000 carloads of oranges annually shipped from Riverside made it
profitable for the Salt Lake line, when planning its overland route, in 1893, to
locate the road directly through Riverside, building a magnificent cement bridge
across the Santa Ana to reach the city, and giving the citizens the best service
yet secured. Thus, in spite of what in the early days seemed an unfortunate
situation, the valley has secured such railroad facilities as are enjoyed by
few. And recent developments indicate that before this volume shall be on the
library shelves, still further advantages in this direction will have been secured.

   The growth of the place during these years had tempted the investment of
capital in other lines than those above referred to. Tracts adjacent to the city
were subdivided, and to make these accessible several street car lines were
projected, most of which were so premature as to involve loss to the promoters.
An improvement company was organized by local capitalists, which secured the
site for a grand hotel to be erected on a spur of Rubidoux mountain, overlooking
the entire valley. Some $80,000 was expended upon this undertaking, the rocky
summit being blasted out for a foundation and the first story framed and
boarded, when the financial storm which brought ruin to so many swept over the
country and swamped the undertaking. The building was torn down, and the city
reservoir now occupies the spot where sanguine citizens had hoped to see a
million-dollar hotel located.

   An auxiliary undertaking connected with the above scheme was the securing of
an artesian domestic water system, which was soon sold to the Riverside Water
company for a nominal price, and has proved of incalculable value to the city
from a health point of view. A. S. White, Dr. Joseph and J. T. Jarvis, O. T.
Dyer, J. Gr. North and E. Rosenthal were the prominent members of these
improvement companies, and were heavy losers through their connection with them.

   These subdivision and hotel schemes tempted to other ventures called for as a
result of their undertaking. The first street car line was built by W. A. Hayt,
A. S. White, and others, to connect their east side lots with the business
center, and the proposed hotel with the railroad station. It started from Fourth
street and ran over Park avenue to Eighth, down Eighth to Main, along Main to
Tenth, and down that street to a point near the proposed Rubidoux hotel. J. A.
Studebaker and his brother William secured a franchise for a car line to run up
Eighth street, from Main to Grand View and Sedgwick streets. Thomas Bakewell was
the first to undertake to build a car line down the valley, his road running
down Main and Prospect streets and up a steep grade out of the arroyo, in front
of where the Polytechnic High school now stands, by North street, Bandini and
Brockton to Magnolia. Mules were the motive power for these lines, supplemented
by human help in emergencies. A story is told that illustrates the accommodating
spirit of the management at that time. It is alleged that a man who was in
danger of missing a train prevailed upon the driver of the hourly car, as it
jangled southerly on Main street without a passenger, to unhitch his mules,
attach them to the other end of the car, and take him to the Santa Fe station.
The historian doesn't vouch for the truth of the story, but he is tempted to
accept it when he recalls having seen a Southern Pacific conductor stop and back
up his train, after he had started from the Los Angeles station on his four-hour
trip to the terminus at Colton, to accommodate a belated passenger whom he saw
coming down Commercial street. But that train was advertised as an
"accommodation train," while the passengers on the early Riverside cars had
often patiently to accommodate themselves to the idiosyncrasies of often
overworked and balky mules, or mulish drivers.

   But all these various and unprofitable car lines were finally consolidated,
when F. A. Miller and S. C. Evans took them in hand, and, eliminating the
worthless, undertook to combine the remainder into a complete electric system.
But for a long time the income did not meet the expenses of operation, and when
the debt had grown to a dangerous sum, the system was practically given to H. E.
Huntington, who gradually improved the service until he sold it to the Southern
Pacific, who have made it a part of the great Pacific Electric system of Los
Angeles, with which it will be shortly connected by way of Corona and the Santa
Ana canyon. It is already one of the best local systems in the state, serving
not only the business section of the city, but bringing into close relations
Arlington, Highgrove, Victoria avenue, Fairmount Park and Bloomington, with a
certainty of early extension to Col-ton, San Bernardino, Redlands and Rialto.
The Bloomington and Eialto section is an independent line, owned by the
stockholders of the Riverside Portland Cement company, whose works are at
Crest-more, but is operated in connection with the Pacific Electric line. Few
larger cities of the state have a more satisfactory service.

   The first fruit cannery was built and put in operation in 1882, employing,
according to Mr. Roe, some 200 hands. It is certain that there was much more
deciduous fruit grown here then than there is at present, since shortly after
commencing operations it handled over thirty tons of fresh fruit daily. The
average pack for a time amounted to about 8,000 cans a day. The growing of
peaches, apricots, etc., being largely given up for orange growing, and the
consequent absence of a sufficient quantity to warrant the cannery's operations,
it was subsequently moved where such fruit was more abundantly grown or was
within easier reach by rail. Recent conditions have shown that it was a serious
mistake to plant oranges where deciduous fruit would yield more certain, if not
larger, returns.

   Riverside citizens were conspicuous among the political candidates in the
fall campaign. H. M. Streeter had served so acceptably as assemblyman that the
Republicans selected him as their candidate for the state senate, but his
Democratic opponent, Mr. Wolfskill of San Diego, defeated him at the November
election. James Bettner was made the Democratic candidate for the assembly, but
the Republicans succeeded in electing his opponent, Truman Reeves of San
Bernardino. A. P. Johnson was chosen county supervisor over his Democratic
neighbor, P. S. Russell. M. V. Wright was complimented by being named as the
Prohibition candidate for congress, and Dr. John Hall as their candidate for the
assembly.

   The population of the valley in January, 1883, had reached fully 3,000, and
the need of a local government was generally felt. The strongest influence
impelling action regarding incorporation as a city was the desire to make use of
the power recently given municipal authorities to fix water rates, and another
object which appealed to many was the desire to regulate the liquor traffic,
regarding which the San Bernardino county officials were too conservative.
Besides these reasons there was the desire to make better streets and other
improvements which could not be so successfully carried forward by private
effort. Because it was necessary to control the water question the entire valley
was included in the corporate limits, and this caused bitter opposition on the
part of many citizens in the lower part of the valley. The first meeting to
discuss the advisability of securing a city government was held on the 12th of
May. B. D. Burt presided and L. M. Holt acted as secretary. Messrs. William
Finch, B. F. White, A. P. Johnson, J. E. Cutter, James Bettner, E. Caldwell, H.
B. Everest, H. M. Beers and others were participants in the discussion, which
resulted in the selection of a committee to secure the necessary petition. The
county supervisors ordered the election held on the 25th of September, and the
result was favorable by a vote of 228 to 147. At this election Hon. B. F. White,
Capt. B. B. Handy, H. B. Haynes, A. J. Twogood and A. B. Derby were elected
trustees; B. D. Burt, treasurer; and T. H. B. Chamberlin, city clerk. W. W.
Noland was appointed city marshal; E. Conway, city recorder; G. O. Newman,
engineer. On the 27th of October the certificate of the secretary of state was
received, and Riverside was a "city of the sixth class." The trustees held their
first meeting in the building on Eighth street, next to the Evans block.

   No sooner had the organization of the city been effected than Mr. Evans,
president of the water company, instituted a suit against it, to determine the
right to fix irrigating water rates. All of the 400 water users were made
defendants. The company demanded 15 cents an inch, instead of the 7y2 cents
previously charged, alleging that that rate was required to cover running
expenses and a fund to maintain the system. Mr. Evans refused to make necessary
repairs; the orchardists were sometimes compelled to wait two months or more for
water, to the detriment of their property; the system was endangered and
prospective settlers were driven away in consequence. The citizens were disposed
to buy the company's property, but thought the price of $226,000 too high, and
the suit dragged in the courts.

   The second matter which came up for consideration at this first meeting was
presented by Mrs. N. P. J. Button, who appeared in behalf of the women of the
city, to request that the liquor saloons be compelled to pay a license fee of
$100 a month. It is a matter of interest to note in this connection that there
were other radical temperance people here in those days, for at a meeting in the
following year, F. A. Miller and L. M. Holt appeared as spokesmen for citizens
who asked that saloons be compelled to pay a license which would amount to some
$6,000 a year.

   For three years the rainfall had been extremely light, that of the last being
less than three inches for the entire twelve months. But '84 was "the year of
the flood," twenty-four inches falling. Frequent heavy rains during the winter
destroyed the county and railroad bridges, shutting off all communication for
weeks with the outside world. The irrigating canals and bridges were everywhere
badly damaged, and the then unpaved streets a sea of mud. The orange crop was
exceptionally fine in quality, but it either rotted upon the trees or spoiled in
the packing-houses, even when packed, for the Santa Ana bridges as well as the
Temecula Canyon railroad were destroyed. The long-continued storms caused Lake
Elsinore to overflow through the Temescal canyon. The strange conditions did not
end with the winter, for in August there came a terrific "cloudburst" and
hailstorm, during which four inches of rain fell in an hour or more. The water
in the streets was so deep as to make them like rivers, the orchards everywhere
badly washed, and probably fully 50 per cent of the next year's oranges so badly
cut and marked by the hail as to greatly reduce their quantity and value.

   The conditions in March made it necessary to give up all thought of holding
the annual citrus fair, and this was given up. L. M. Holt of the Press had
interested the people of the entire state in the first irrigation convention,
which was called to meet at the time of the fair. This was postponed until May,
when there were present most of the prominent men of the state who were
interested in horticulture and irrigation. Hon. J. W. North presided, and the
affair proved of great value because of the discussions participated in by
scientific and practical men, and which were afterwards extensively published.

   At the first regular city election, held April 14, 1884, Martin Hoover and A.
J. Twogood were elected trustees for four years, and B. F. White, B. B. Handy
and W. P. Russell for two years. On the opposing ticket were F. J. Hall, S. R.
Magee, W. H. Ball, M. F. Bixler and H. A. Westbrook. In spite of the fact that
the first city tax rate was only 50 cents on the $100, the opponents of the city
incorporation immediately brought suit, in the name of James Bettner and F. J.
Hall, to test the legality of the city organization, but the court affirmed its
legality.

   The death of Hon. B. F. White, as the result of an accident while engaged in
his official duties, created a vacancy on the city board which was filled by the
choice of O. T. Johnson, who was also selected to fill Mr. White's position as
acting mayor. Mr. White's standing in the community is shown by the fact that he
was head of the city government, president of the Citrus Fair Association, the
Riverside Water Company, the school board, and trustee of the Riverside Fruit
Company and of the Congregational church. His funeral was held in the fair
pavilion. The resignation of A. J. Twogood at this time led to the selection of
E. W. Holmes as a city trustee. E. Conway was made recorder and Dr. E. H. Way
selected as chairman of the board of health.

   It was in the fall of 1884 that the first regular packing-houses were
established. Before that time the growers generally packed their own fruit, or
the commission men bought and packed it. This season Griffin & Skelley started a
packing establishment, and were the most prominent dealers for years. H. C.
Hemenway & Co. also started in the business, George H. Fullerton being the local
member of the firm. A. J. and D. C. Twogood opened a packing house on Market
street the following season, J. G. Kyle being their house manager, and the
Riverside Fruit Co., of which B. D. Burt was president, also did some packing.

   Our annual citrus fair had already attracted an almost nationwide interest,
not only because of the beauty of the display and the quality of the fruit
exhibited, but because of the practical study given to all questions of interest
to the horticulturist, and especially to the careful scientific study of the
characteristics and quality of the varieties shown, methods of cultivation, etc.
This study was not confined to the citrus fruits, but to the raisin, olive and
other products. The fair of 1885 was an unusually successful one in every
respect, and attracted wide attention from fruit dealers everywhere, as well as
of the general public.

   There had always prevailed in the eastern fruit trade, centered in the great
cities, an opinion that only in Florida and the Mediterranean country could
there be grown a perfect orange, and this prejudice had been strengthened by the
few specimens of the thick-skinned seedling oranges and lemons which were first
sent from California to the Atlantic coast. Indeed, there were many here who
shared this notion, and questioned the wisdom of contesting with Florida the
matter of superiority. With many, the tender, juicy, acid-free product of the
Indian river section was near perfection. But there were others who believed
that the more beautiful, fragrant, firmer-textured Riverside orange had no
superior as a marketing fruit, and took the first good opportunity to test the
matter.

   This was afforded at the World's Fair at New Orleans, where handsome prizes
were offered for an exhibit of fruit from all the orange-growing sections of the
world. The judges appointed were none of them Californians, but they were expert
and competent judges. H. J. Rudisill and James Bettner took the lead in securing
a suitable exhibit from Riverside, and went to New Orleans to arrange it. Some
eighty Riverside growers contributed fruit and funds. The primitive railway
accommodations of those times made it difficult to compete with Florida, so much
nearer, but the result proved the exceptional keeping quality of our fruit.
Florida's proximity and larger variety enabled her to carry off the honor of the
largest display, but where appearance and quality counted she was, to her
surprise, thoroughly outclassed. Riverside carried off the first prizes for
appearance and quality, receiving a gold medal and $100 for best oranges against
the world; a gold medal and $100 for best oranges grown in the United States; a
gold medal and $100 for best oranges grown in California, and the first prize, a
silver medal and $25, for best lemons grown in the world. The Riverside fruit
covered sixteen tables and was contained in 2,500 plates, but so much was drawn
from individual offerings to make up the main display that few personal prizes
were won, those being awarded to James Bettner, H. J. Rudisill, W. N. Mann, P.
D. Cover, Perley & Patee, G. W. Garcelon, D. H. Burnham, W. H. Backus and E. W.
Holmes. This result was a surprise to the fruit dealers of the country and
opened the way to enlarged markets.

   The honors so splendidly won at the New Orleans World's Fair would prove of
little practical benefit if not used as a means of advertising the possibilities
and attractiveness of Riverside. There was also need of obtaining a larger
market for our rapidly increasing orange crop. Appreciating this, that energetic
boomer, L. M. Holt, at that time editor of the Press, secured the co-operation
of the citizens of Riverside, Pasadena, Alhambra and Santa Ana, and organized an
association for the purpose of holding a great citrus fair at Chicago in the
following spring. Los Angeles, which city reaped the larger benefit from this
exposition, contributed little or nothing toward it, and Redlands, Ontario,
Pomona and the other towns since famous, hardly had existence. The general
committee in charge consisted of H. N. Rust of Pasadena, L. M. Holt of
Riverside, C. Z. Culver of Santa Ana, and J. E. Clark of Los Angeles. Riverside
contributed about $1,000 in cash and several carloads of oranges and other
fruit, besides many growing orange trees. The largest department of the fair was
occupied by Riverside, and was in charge of G. W. Garcelon, L. C. Waite and E.
W. Holmes, assisted by W. H. Backus, A. J. Twogood, W. T. Simms and T. E.
Langley. Free transportation was given by the railroads, and the train arrived
in Chicago on the 17th of March, 1886, and was installed in the large Battery D
armory. Here, for three weeks, immense crowds of interested visitors rushed to
examine the novel and beautiful display and listen to the lectures on Southern
California, delivered almost continuously by Messrs. Rust, Garcelon, Waite and
Holmes. There is no doubt that this work had a remarkable result in awakening
the interest in Southern California, which created the "boom" of the succeeding
years, and started Los Angeles and the other towns of the south on their
phenomenal growth in population and wealth. The people of San Diego refused to
share in this undertaking, but took an exhibit of their own to Boston, where
they showed it in the Old South church.

   The result achieved by these fairs led the citizens of San Bernardino to
attempt to duplicate the Chicago Fair in New York, a few years later. J. P. Clum
was at the head of this exclusively San Bernardino county fair. While he hoped
to make it a source of profit he depended upon contributions from Riverside,
Redlands, Ontario and Colton to provide the bulk of the material required.
Riverside made her contribution, the larger share, only upon the condition that
one of her own citizens should have charge of the hall exhibit, and E. W. Holmes
was selected for this duty. A feature of this fair was to be the use of many
large potted orange and lemon trees, loaded with ripe fruit, and also rare
desert plants, minerals, etc. A severe cold spell, while the trees were en
route, so injured them as to lessen their beauty, and made this feature of the
exhibition less effective than was anticipated. The fair, held on Broadway,
continued for several weeks, and was the means of making the fruit dealers of
this great center of distribution acquainted with the excellence of our oranges
and lemons, and open a way for their introduction, when the great Florida breeze
compelled the trade to seek other source of supply, but the affair was not a
success financially.

   Our local citrus fairs continued to be held until the burning of our fair
pavilion, after which similar fairs were held in the neighboring cities of
Colton and San Bernardino, and finally in Los Angeles, in all of which Riverside
took a prominent part. As the years passed appeared the temptation to use them
more largely as a means of booming the real estate interests of the various
districts, and to subordinate the horticultural objects which were the original
purpose of these exhibitions. But the beauty and magnitude of the displays made
them attractive to the tourists, now increasingly in evidence.

   In these great State Fairs, held for several years at Hazard's pavilion in
Los Angeles, where Riverside had few representatives upon the managing committee
and therefore little to do with the selection of the judges, she was given the
fairest opportunity to demonstrate her right to rank first among the
fruit-growing sections of the state. The list of Riverside citizens who
contributed to the successes of those days is too long for use, and, indeed,
only the prominent prizewinners can be mentioned here. These are: William H.
Backus, J. S. Castleman, G. W. Garcelon, J. E. Cutter, D. W. McLeod, H. A. Puls,
Seneca La Rue, M. B. Ogden and many others. Mr. Backus deserves to head the list
for the reason that he alone never failed to represent Riverside, and invariably
won the highest honors for the perfection of his fruit and the tastefulness of
its arrangement. When the craze for immense decorative effects changed greatly
the character of the fairs, he steadily depended for success upon a purely
horticultural exhibit, and when in one season Riverside, Santa Ana and Orange
declined to participate because of their dislike to' entering into contests
where pagoda-like structures were substituted for legitimate fruit exhibitions,
he took down fruit grown entirely upon his thirteen-acre ranch on Jurupa avenue,
and won for the quality and appearance of his oranges and raisins six first, one
second and two third prizes, aggregating $345 in money. This was a better
showing than some entire counties were able to make. Considering his success
during the entire period when these horticultural contests were in vogue, he
seems to deserve being placed in the first rank among Riverside fruit-growers.

   The last year in which Riverside was a part of San Bernardino county, her
exhibit at the State Fair enabled that county to win the first prize of $400 for
best county exhibit, and the locality and individual premiums of Riverside alone
consisted of twenty-one first prizes, two second prizes and one third prize for
superior quality and arrangement, which was three more than all the rest of the
state obtained. Riverside received directly $865, while the county exhibits won
$480. The entire county won $1,810 in prizes, while the total won by the rest of
the state footed up but $1,120. Certainly such a record justifies the claim that
Riverside is the center of California's citrus industry. Many of her citizens
hold among their treasures medals won later at the World's Fair at Chicago, and
at the Mid-Winter Fair at San Francisco on the following year.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF
Riverside County
CALIFORNIA
WITH
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified With Its Growth and Development From
the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
ELMER WALLACE HOLMES
AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS
ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME

HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 
1912


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