Los Angeles herald., 1892-08-28
WHITTIER ATTRACTIONS
LUXURIANr ORCHARDS AND A HAP
PY MORAL PEOPLE
The Wonderfully Rapid Development OF
Thriving Town-Some of Its Ad-
mirabie Features-ReaI Es-
tate Values.

WHITTIER, Aug. 27.-Five years ago
the place now known as Whittier, which
includes East Whittier, was vast bar
ley field; now it is beautiful hillside
city of about 800 population. 1t is most
charmingly located on the gentle slope
OF the Puente hills, westward and south
of the San Gabriel valley, having an
average of 500 feet elevation, covering
more than two square miles, which is
regarded real frostless belt. Its view
of the valley and the ocean, eighteen
miles distant, is unobstructed, and the
sea breezes are fresh and pure, not Sec
ond hand. The city of Los Angeles,
thirteen miles to the west, is in plain
view by day, and her electric lights are
visible by night. Many of the towns of
the valley, and also Pasadena, are with
in the range of our vision, and the
scenery is so varied that one never tires.
Whittier was named for the great
Quaker poet, and large proportion of
the citizens are members of that denom-
ination more strictly speaking, the
Friends. The place was quite generally
known at first as the Quaker colony. 1t
is yet quite Quakerly in many respects,
particularly in a moral point, verita.
BILE city of steady habits. 1t is one of
the places in California that has no sa-
looms, and no eed for them.
On account OF the strength of the soil
here, and its capacity to retain moisture,
it is prolific in the entire range of semi
tropic production-corn and oranges,
cabbage and lemons, potatoes and figs,
pumpkins and persimmons, with all the
rare fruits of our climate, may be seen
growing in the same enclosure.
The water supply is now abundant,
and in quality the very best. Both the
systems are carefully managed, and con-
stantly being extended, as newcomers
and increasing demands require. The
East Whittier company has good sur
plus, and a new district is now being or
ganized, below the conduit, on the GER
tifcate and bond system. Both COM
panies are wealthy and able to develop
water for any emergency of the wonder
fully prolific soil. There are four reser-
voirs and two thoroughly equipped
pumping stations.
The young orchards now beginning to
bear are giving uncontradictory evidence
of the superiority of the location for all
first class fruits and the nursery stock
business now indicates faith in the
future of this section that is simply IL
limitable. The prize fruit handled at
our cannery this season was grown on
the Whittier slope. A vast acreage has
been put out to trees this season, and
thousands more will go in next season.
One of the beauties of Whittier soil is
that all kinds of citrus and deciduous
fruits, walnuts and everything else
grows we'll and natures perfectly.
The citizens have great interest in
educational matters. and besides the
excellent graded public schools, an acad-
emy is kept up for higher education.
This institution, Whittier academy, is
under the control of the Friends
church, and ably presided over
by Prof. w. V. Coffin and John
Chawner, assisted by other able
teachers. Iui ion is low, and ac
commodatit ms good. The spiritual in
terests of the town are cared for by the
Friends and Methodist churches, each
having able pastors and strong mem.
bership.
The state reform school is located here
and now has over 300inmates. This in
stitution is very important addition to
the business interests of the place, and
the wisdom of locating it here on beau
tiful site and in good. moral atmos-
phere. has most surely been verified. 1t
is not a prison, as many seem to think,
but school where the unfortunate
young of the state are taught to think
and do right, to labor and to play and
grow into respectable manhood and
womanhood. 1t is vastly more i'm
portant institution than most citizens
of the state have supposed.
We have in the business enterprises
about the usual run for country town /;
also, the usual shops and factories. But
the greatest enterprise for this part of
California is the Whittier cannery. This
business is presided over by Mr.. @. J.
Vernon, and now employs 200 hands at
canning, drying, buying and hauling
fruit. The output is above car load a
day OF canned goods, and work will con-
tinue until the winter crop of tomatoes
is cared for. Fruit, of all kinds is
brought here by rail and wagon from a
very large area of country. and the
amount of money distributed through
this one enterprise, is immense.
Whittier is on the Los Angeles and
Whittier branch of the Southern Pacific
railway, and is also within two miles of
the Santa Fe coast line, at Los Nietos
station.
Another enterprise worthy of mention
is the Whittier Register printing Office,
which is complete country news and
lob office. The Register is a weekly
local seven column folio paper well pat
ronized by merchants and citizens.
The town is also provided with hotel,
livery stable in fact, fixed for business
all round.
Real estate is comparatively low here,
town lots of 30 feet frontage selling for
from $75 to $125, and acreage, according
to location, from. $100 to $400 per acre,
both with and without water privileges.
New homes are going up constantly,
and there are still openings for some
branches of business. There is still
abundance of room, and as good land
untitled as the state affords. Taken on
the whole Whittier is one of the best
new towns on the coast, and more
desirable place to live would be difficult
to find anywhere.