Los Angeles daily herald., 1876-01-01

all been large and profitable, and that
too in year generally counted unfa-
vorable in this county. New families
have beensadded until their number
reaches over eighty, within the West
minister boundaries, and the lands to
the East and Northeast are being
closely settled. The original colony
lands are nearly all sold, and of the
addition less than 1000 acres are unoc.
cupied. Artesian wells continue to
be bored successfully, ranging from
sixty three to two hundred and eleven
feet in depth, the average being about
one hundred feet, with flow capable
of irrigating from twenty to one hum
dred and sixty acres each. Fruit ittrees
of all kinds are in bearing; smallfruit
are also in bearing, and several tons
of Muscat grapes have been marketed
with large profits. Orange trees are
growing thriftily and will bear in two
more years. Nursery stock is of the
finest character. The cooperative
store, which was organized last year,
was so successful from the start in at
tracting trade from all the region
round about Westminster, that the
private firm of Robb & Marquis also
entered the field, and the sales of the
two stores now reach over Sl00,0 per
annum, and draw custom even from
the older settlements. The co-opera-
tive store erected fine large building
in September, with public hall in
the second story. This is occupied
regularly by church and grange. But
in four months the colony has out
grown it's capacity, and large church
building will be erected the coming
year. The Presbyterian church now
numbers over seventy members, and
the Sunday-school one hundred and
sixty. In addition to the stores there
are also two blacksmiths' shops,
crowded with work, and harness
maker, cabinet maker and butcher
In all the elements of social culture
and material prosperity this colony is
accomplishing all, and more than all,
that was expected in SO short time,
and has already surpassed even the
most sanguine expectations Of its
founders and friends. Another year
will show even greater changes, for
the foundation has been well laid and
the growth is apparent.
WILMINGTON.
The town of Wilmington, located
on the Sea coast oS miles from Los An
geles, is the shipping port of this val
ley. Its population is about 500, a
small increase during the year. The
progress of Wilmington during 1875
has, by no means, been commensurate
with lnat of the Los Angeles Valley,
though an improvement over last
year has to be recorded. The opening
of the Los Angeles and independence
Railroad, and the foundation of RI
val sea port AT Santa Monica, where
the speculation In town lots has run
high, had temporary depressing ef-
feet. The most serious drawback
however, is the absence of any agri-
cultural or horticultural development
of the surrounding country. The
lands for several miles around the
town are owned by four parties, and
are still aggregated in that number of
large ranches. No efforts have been
made to settle these lands, so that
Wilmington is without any farming
element around her. Indeed scarcely
sufficient has been done in the neigh
boring districts in the way of tiling
the soil to test its productive capacity
In the outskirts of the town, however,
enough has been done to show that
the section is remarkably we'll adapt
ed to vine and fruit growing. Hon.
B. d. Wilson, one of the pioneers of
Los Angeles county, and who now re-
sides at Wilmington, prOnounces the
conditions extremely favorable for
grape growing and horticulture. On
his place are vines that have never
been irrigated, and which were culti-
waited but little, that yielded small
crop the second year from the cuttings;
fruit trees that have never been irri-
gated in any manner show q very rap
id growth and are in a thrifty condi-
ton, while his kitchen garden is Sc
cured by simply planting the seeds.
In front of his dwelling are 5000 Eu-
caiyptns trees now twenty-five months
old which are twenty to twenty-five
feet high with trunk diameters ut the
base of fifteen to twenty inches. This
plantation was made as an expert
ment, and proves that the Australian
Gum can be grown profitably in this
section. Had any efforts been made
to settle the adjacent lands, there is
no doubt but that Wilmington would
to-day be five times her present size.
The 100000 acres in the four neighbor-
ing ranches might now have been oc-
cupied by two or three thousand far
mers and fruit growers, whose trade
would be worth a large amount annu-
ally. The present support of the
town is the traffic in hides and wool
from the stock ranches, and the busi-
ness created by the two hundred en-
ployes of the Southern Pacific Rail-
road. which has located there its ma
chine shops and car-works, with some
trade from the shipping and fishermen.
Several new houses were construct
ed the past season, nearly all of which
were dwellings,. The Southern Pacific
r. r. Co., constructed a fine wharf
some 700 feet in length. A furniture
factory was putin operation by Messrs.
Wilson, Sherb and Taft, which turn
ed out u fine quality of goods, but
work has been suspended of late. We
regret also to announce that the Will
son College, which at one time prom
ised to become a leading educational