Banning High School - San Gorgonian Yearbook (Banning, CA)

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In this way the water slowly sinks into the ground and, instead of running out of the canyon in a few days, it flows underground only a distance of about two to five miles a year. In the Water Canyon there are three ceinegas or underground reservoirs, where the water rises and is again put in spreading ditches. In 1899 it became necessary to put in a well. This well was forty-eight feet deep, and produced a good stream of water o f about two hundred inches. The first well is known as Well No. 1 and is just above Camp Take-It-HKasy. The Consolidated Reservoir and Power Co. was formed in 1914. It diverted the water from the Middle and South Forks of the White- water River and brought it in an open ditch to Burnt Canyon, where it is dropped through a pipe line to Big Oaks and then down the canyon. The Banning Water Company purchased from the Consolidated Reservoir and Power Company all the water, except that which was being used for domestic or irrigation purposes on Banning Heights. This water is spread in the Banning Water Canyon as is the water from storms. The City Water system was installed about 1899, and has been added to as necessary. In January, 1925, a survey was made in re- gard to putting in a new and much better domestic water system. In February, 1913, the City Water Company was formed. This organization takes care of the domestic water, while the water for irrigation is handled by the Banning Water Company. In 1925, Banning’s pumps number five, and when it is necessary to draw water from them, they are operated by water power de- veloped higher up in the canyon. During the irrigation season, when extra demands are made on the resources of the canyon, the well at the end of the canyon is operated first, and then those higher up, so that in this way during the winter the voids in the lower end of the canyon are again filled by the water from the spreading ditches above. (Ch ©) 15}, “i, Cattle Raising Cattle raising began in the very early history of Banning and its vicinity, having a very short but active existence. Many of the ranchers, before the coming of the railroad, were engaged in cattle raising. The ranches extended all through the Pass and in the San Jacinto mountains. The ranchers were Rans Moore, Mr. Warren, and the Smith Brothers. Cattle raising during that period proved quite profitable, even though the market price was only three to five cents on fOOte but, with the influx of population caused by the coming of the railroad, the cattle raisers were pushed out. The new comers engaged in fruit raising, leaving no room for the cattleman. The few remain- ing cattle were sold to the Indians, who raised them only on a small scale. Cattle raising is only another one of the small business at- tempts which marked the early enterprises of Banning. [Page Twenty-eight]

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Water Development in the San Gorgonio Pass In 1875, S. M. Hall, a railroad contractor, noticed a quantity of timber around Banning, and decided to build a saw-mill near the head of the Big San Gorgonio River (Banning Water Canyon) in the foothills of Mt. Grayback, and also a flume down which to float his lumber. Accordingly, he leased the water rights from Ransome B. Moore and organized the San Gorgonio Flume and Lumber Company. Hall borrowed considerable money trom the Temple and Workman Bank of Los Angeles. He then started his “V” flume, floating the lumber down the finished part and using it to lengthen the flume. The Temple and Workman Bank failed and the Company disbanded. Cc. W. Filkens and George W. Bryant bought Moore’s holdings and also the flume, and organized the Banning Land Company and the Banning Water Company. Later they sold most of their stock to Evan Williams, W. S. James, Jacob Klein, and Theo. Hoffer, who were business men from Nevada. In 1883-1884 they began building the rock ditch in place of Hall’s “V” flume. They also built the lower reservoir and laid part of Banning’s domestic water system. Before any of the enterprises had been begun, President Hayes had issued a proclamation setting aside all the unpatented land in the four townships centering just south of Protero Canyon for the Indians. This gave practically all the even sections, in checker- board fashion, to the Indians. The Banning Water Company, in par- ticular, and many people in general were thus caused a great deal of trouble. President Cleveland sent Federal troops out here, and everybody on eyen sections, to which title had not been attached, were forced out, as were those on odd sections who had no patents. To offset this trouble, Mr. C. O. Barker outlined a plan of trad- ing land so that the Indians’ land would all be in one place. The people haying land where the proposed Reservation was located were given land off the proposed Reservation. Thus the Banning Water Canyon was released from the Indian Reserve in 1891. After this trade had been passed through Congress, the Banning Water Company bought out the holdings of land owners in the canyon. After the Indian question had been settled, the Banning Water Company outlined a plan for the conservation of water and submit- ted it to the Department of the Interior. The Department sent out a party of expert inspectors, who recommended the withdrawal from sale or settlement of the land necessary for the carrying out of this plan. This was accomplished February 17, 1914. The present system of development is as follows: The surface water is taken out of the wash and spread on the open land above Camp Comfort. There are about five miles of spreading ditches. In these ditches there are many “cut-outs” or gates that may be opened for spreading the water. [Page Twenty-seven]

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Lumbering In 1876 a new industry found its way in San Gorgonio Pass. Lumber companies were formed, operating in both San Jacinto and San Gorgonio Mountains. One of the most important of these com- panies was operated by Mr. Hall. He started lumbering on the north slope of San Jacinto, and constructed a road on the mountain to bring the logs down. This road is known as Hall’s Grade. At the foot of this grade he founded Hall’s City, which grew to be one of the largest towns within a radius of a hundred miles, but when the timber was all cut and Mr. Hall met with financial difficulties, .the city was abandoned. After Hall had built his mill, another company started operating at Snow Creek. There was no site for the mill near the timber that was going to be cut, so a skidway was built to draw the logs over, and the timber was then hauled down the mountain by means of oxen. Lumbering has never been a very profitable business in the mountains around Banning, athough at the present time the San Bernardino Lumber Company has a mill near Idyllwild. The lumber is taken to San Jacinto and from there it goes to San Bernardino. The lumber industry is only another one of the pioneer activities which found its way into the early development of Banning. Minin g The mining industry has played a very small part in the devel- opment of our city, as Banning served only as a supply center. Periodically the mining fever breaks out; but it lasts for only a short time and more money is spent than gained in trying to de- velop the desert mines. The desert was filled with prospectors for many years, but gold was discovered by accident. Mr. McHanney’s horse, happening to stumble, kicked up some rock which contained gold. Immediately he started the “Desert Queen” mine. Due to his enthusiasm, two others were formed, “Lost Horse” and “Virginia Dale,” the latter still being in operation. The methods of development were very simple, and even in the present day they have advanced slightly. Living conditions were confronted with many hardships, another factor which helped to hinder the possibilities for further develop- ment. Viewing conditions, one can readily see that mining has not proved very profitable, and that many improvements are necessary to make it pay. One of these which is being considered is the Ban- ning-Amboy road, an improvement which will greatly aid the mining activity in this region, and which will be a decided asset to Banning, {Page Twenty-nine]