All through the Church administration led by Brigham Young there was
evidence of well-defined intention to spread the Church influence
southward into Mexico and, possibly tracking back the steps of the
Nephites and Lamanites, to work even into South America. There seemed an
attraction in the enormous agricultural possibilities of Southern
California. The long-headed Church President, figuring the commercial and
agricultural advantages that lay in the Southwest, practically paved the
way for the connection that since has come by rail with Los Angeles. It
naturally resulted that the old Spanish trail that had been traversed by
Dominguez and Escalante in 1776 was extended on down the Virgin River
toward the southwest and soon became known as the Mormon Road. Over this
road there was much travel. It was taken by emigrants bound from the East
for California and proved the safest at all seasons of the year. It was
used by the Mormons in restocking their herds and in securing supplies
and for a while there was belief that the Colorado River could be
utilized as a means of connecting steamboat transportation with the
wagons that should haul from Callville, 350 miles from Salt Lake.
In 1851, nearly four years after the settlement at Salt Lake, President
Young made suggestion that a company be organized, of possibly a score of
families, to settle below Cajon Pass and cultivate the grape, olive,
sugar cane and cotton and to found a station on a proposed Pacific mail
route. There was expectation that the settlement later would be a
gathering place for the Saints who might come from the islands of the
Pacific, and even from Europe. The idea proved immensely popular, the
suggestion having come after a typical Salt Lake winter, and the
pilgrimage embraced about 500 individuals. President Young, at the time
of their leaving, March 24, said he "was sick at the sight of so many
Saints running to California, chiefly after the gods of this earth" and
he expressed himself unable to address them. Arrival at San Bernardino
was in June.
The Author has been fortunate in securing personal testimony from a
member of this migration, Collins R. Hakes, who later was President of
the Maricopa Stake at Mesa, and, later, head of the Bluewater settlement
in New Mexico. The hegira was led by Amasa M. Lyman and Chas. C. Rich,
prominent Mormon pioneers.
A short distance below Cajon Pass, Lyman and Rich in September purchased
the Lugo ranch of nine square leagues, including an abandoned mission.
They agreed to pay $77,500 in deferred payments, though the total sum
rose eventually to $140,000. Even at that, this must be accounted a very
reasonable price for nearly thirty square miles of land in the present
wonderful valley of San Bernardino.