San Bernardino County 



|HE distinction of being the largest county, not only of California, but 

 of the United States, lies with San Bernardino County. New Hamp- 

 shire, Vermont, and Rhode Island combined do not equal it in area. 

 There are eight States in the Union whose areas, severally, are less 

 than that of this county. 

 In the number and character of irrigation enterprises, San Bernardino 

 lounty stands in the front rank. It has justly been called the "Mother of 

 Irrigation," because here was dug the first irrigation ditch in the State, 

 md here were raised the first crops by irrigation. 



There are hundreds of miles of pipe-lines and canals, with thousands of 

 liles of laterals and individual pipe-lines. In addition to this, hundreds 

 ind hundreds of wells have been bored, each producing a flowing stream 

 rithout other or further expense, which volume is sufficient not only to 

 irrigate many thousands of acres, but also furnishes the magnificent supply 

 ^hlch fructifies and renders fertile the great plain on which the city of River- 

 lide stands. 



Almost every variety of fruit can be produced in one or another of the 

 listricts of this county. In the mountain valleys and upon the plateaus 

 ipples and cherries are grown. On the lower levels all the deciduous fruits 

 fare produced, the principal varieties being peaches, apricots, prunes, and 

 jrapes. The production of oranges, lemons, and pomelos is large, these 

 lits being grown to perfection. 

 In the western part, in the Rialto, Etiwanda, and Cucamonga neighbor- 

 [hoods, there is produced a large quantity of raisins, which rank with the 

 )est, in quality and appearance. Another section of the county especially 

 [adapted to the culture of grapes is that about Hesperia, which lies along the 

 lojave River. 



The Chino Ranch, located here, is the third largest sugar-beet factory 

 in the world. About twenty thousand acres are devoted to sugar beets, 

 'his culture has been a profitable industry for the farmers. On the Chino 

 tanch are fattened thousands of head of cattle upon the beet-pulp, which 

 siloed for that purpose. 

 Along the slope of the mountains, and in the mountain valleys and can- 

 nons, are numerous bee ranches, from which is produced a large amount of 

 joney, which commands a high price in the Eastern markets. 



The raising of sheep and cattle is carried on along the mountain ranges 

 [and in the upper mountain valleys. Dairying Is carried on in both the upper 

 [and lower valleys. Pure-bred or high-class dairy cattle are in general use. 

 \A stock company for the breeding of the most desirable classes of horses has 

 |a large ranch at Victor. 



Vegetables of nearly all descriptions are raised, the yield being large, 

 tand a growing shipping trade to outside markets has been established, 

 ^heat, oats, and barley are grown in considerable quantities, and alfalfa is 

 [raised with profit. 



The northern and eastern parts of the county are heavily mineralized, 



[and although prospecting has been carried on for fifty years, new and greater 



finds are being made every year. Almost every known mineral has been dis- 



jovered. Cold, silver. Iron, copper, tin, lead, borax, soda, and nitrates are 



Hound In abundance and scattered over a wide area. Some of the richest 



silver mines in the State are found In this county. Copper exists in great 



labundance, and recent developments have shown some of these properties 



Ko be of extraordinary richness. 



