Me find artical on Southen Pafific histery.


Back in the Day: How the Southern Pacific Railroad had a hand in creating Riverside County

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As we head into 2018 – the 125th anniversary of Riverside County’s formation – it is important to look at some of the outside factors that brought about the county’s creation.

First and foremost among them is the Southern Pacific Railroad.

During the late 1800s, the railroad practically owned the California legislature, due to the massive landholdings enjoyed by the corporation because of its subsidy by the federal government. Due to Southern Pacific’s influence, most political decisions made in the state were sanctioned by the railroad company, whether right or not.

When it came time to ask to create Riverside County, our representatives in Sacramento were able to play several hands involving the railroad.

First, Riverside was exporting an exponentially-growing number of very valuable boxes of citrus fruit each year – but on the Santa Fe rails. The Southern Pacific had not come to Riverside, but by 1893 was extremely eager to get a piece of the action when it came to exporting citrus. Riverside residents knew this, and were able to leverage this desire on the part of the railroad into action on their part.

The other aspect of this relationship involves Frank Miller, the future builder of the Mission Inn.

According to research by Maurice Hodgen, Miller had intervened on behalf of Southern Pacific in an inquiry brought about by the San Bernardino County government. Miller put a quiet end to that inquiry, and the railroad responded to Miller by inviting him to ask for a favor at the hands of Southern Pacific.

Due to Miller’s tremendous desire to put Riverside on the map as both a new county and a county seat, he was able to parlay the railroad’s offer into action on behalf of a new Riverside County.

Another factor — the Southern Pacific’s hatred of San Bernardino — also played a role.

During the railroad’s construction in 1874-75, Southern Pacific officials had asked for (actually, demanded) a “subsidy” from San Bernardino of about $100,000. San Bernardino officials balked at the proposition, which angered the railroad and made them reroute the line to the south through what became Colton.

During the effort to create Riverside County, when officials from San Bernardino were in Sacramento arguing against the formation of Riverside County, they continued to assert that Riverside County officials were, in effect, buying votes. The problem with that logic is that it backfires – if San Bernardino officials said that Riverside supporters were trying to buy votes, they were in turn accusing the members of the legislature of being on the take. Not the best way to influence someone you need something from.

In the end, Riverside County supporters won out. They did not have to buy votes as San Bernardino supporters asserted, because they had the 900-pound gorilla in the room on their side – namely the Southern Pacific Railroad.