e have now reached a point in the history of Redlands were events cannot be followed seriatim. We have witnessed the planting of the seed, and its germination, but to see ten years of growth and expansion would require a continuous panoramic view for the whole decade. This feature, however, will be found quite extensively treated in this work further on, especially in the sketches of the lives of those whose portraits appear herein. From the standpoint of the present day the reader will see photographic reproductions of the salient points of interest in Redlands, together with portraits of men foremost in developing the city. He will read, also, interesting descriptions of all this portraiture, and from this he will learn about the men who made Redlands, as well as those who are today foremost in advancing the interests of the city and promoting its progress.

(Source: Illustrated Redlands, 1897, p. 3)