The herald., 1894-01-01
THRIFTY WHITTIER.
The Genius OF Industry is Everywhere
Xinihla.

/
The Genius of Industry is Evsrywhsrs
Visible.
The place that bears the name of the
immortal poet Whittier is one of the
most favored in Southern California,
situated as it is in basin-like mesa
ensconced in the Puente foothills and SO
protected by them that frost becomes an
unknown quantity. The inhabitants are
on this account able to raise winter
vegetables aud thus keep agriculture
alive the wear around. There are two
water systems for irrigation and other
purposes, and these for their needle and
demands are almost perfect in thoir ap-
poirtments.
The soil ia q rich, sandy loan and
Yields crops which, if the amount were
told to any person but Californian, he
would believe that some great fish story
were being told. Nevertheless it would
be the simple truth, which, in some in
stances, as in this case, is stranger than
fiction. There is scarcely man, woman
or a child in the place but who has
some visible means of gaining liveli-
hood, and, to all appearances, want"
can never gtamp its mark there.
In 1887 q company composed OF mem
bers of the society of Friends purchased
tract OF land known as the John
Thomas ranch, on the southwestern
slope of the Puente hills, l3 miles east
of Los Angeles city, and laid out the
town. The Pickering Land and Water
company developed water in the Puente
hills. 1t has supply of 81, 900. .0G0 GAL
Ions per annum, aud four reservoirs
with storage capacity of 4,500, 600 gal
Ions. The water is piped to every house
in the town. at a cost of $4,000. The
East Whittier Land and Water COM
pany bored artesian wells near Ell
Monte, constructed cement ditch six
feet across at the top. four and one-half
feet deep, four feet across at the bottom,
and nine miles long, and which is
tighily covered with two-inch boards.
Over 900, ,0O0 feet of lumber was used.
The cost OF the ditch was about $500, 900.
It now carries about 700 inches OF water.
The flume passes through Whittier and
terminates in East Whittier. The lat
ter 10 q prosperouH addition to the town.
The total cost of the buildings in the
town proper is over 81 900, 900. A large
proportion OF these homes are on five
acre tracts that have been set out to
citrus and deciduous fruits.
There are two public school buildings,
one cost $17 900 and the other $4,000.
There is also an academy, under the
auspices of the Friends society, with
Dr. w. V. Coffin as president, assisted
by faculty of five. This school has "a
students. 1t is the only Quaker school
in California.
The Whittier state school is located
here ami has an attendance of 410 chill
dren-3S0 boys and so girls. This is an
academic, military, trades and agricul-
tural school. under the control of
and supported by the etate.
About two-thirds OF the population OF
Whittier are members OF the Society OF
Friends (Quskers). They are not differ
ent from other people either in dress or
conversation, nor are they different in
the conducting of their church service
from the ordinary evangelical churches.
They have very commodious meeting
house, which ia crowded at almost every
service. The only distinguishing peculi-
arity OF these Friends ia their industry,
intelligence and sobriety. Wherever
there is member of this society you
may rest assured that there is an indus
trious and worthy citizen. They are also
peculiar in their earnest belief in lib
eral education, and they have had for
several years a hourishing academy, of
which DR.. w. Y. Coffin 10 president, as
sisted by faculty OF ak instructors.
Lsst year this school had "a students,
mostly from distance, a1d this year it
opens out with prospects OF even larger
attendance. The Friends are now erect
ing beautiful college building, stu
ated on a campus of 20 acres OF land
donated to them by the Pickering Land
and Water company. Thie build
ing is three stories high, and its dimen-
sioDs are about 140 by II feet. 1t will
be completed about the 1st OF February,
1894, and it is the intention of the board
Of directors, of which DR.. G. J. Cook is
president, to transform the academy into
8 college with preparatory department
and to occupy this beautiful structure.
This is the only school OF this nature
that the Friends have in California, and
Il will be this only college of their soci-
ETY. west Of the Rocky mountains,
und under the able manage Of DR..
Coffin, who is a classical graduate OF the
well known Earlhem college, and q
medical graduate of the Miami univer-
atty. there is no. doub. but this school
Will ibhkc ptOi4ll1iCht 4dhh hCt OAAly db "
school for the youth OF the Friends
society, but also as school where all
parents who have children that they
desire to place under special morsl and
religious influences can feel that here ia
place of safety.
The officers and board OF trustees:
DIR. J. @. Cook. preaident I. T.. New
lin, necrete-y; | II. Cammack. vice.
president; Lydia J. Jackson, treasurer
Cyrus Trueblood, L. n. Baldwin, Aiva
starbuck, Perry O. Hadley and W. P.
Hunnicutt.
The executive board are DR.. J. G.
Cook, |. IL. Cammeek and T. K. New
lin.
Bookkeeping, etenography, typewrit.
ing, music. painting and drawing and
physical culture are taught in addition
to the academic and classical courses.
The programme OF each day com
rnencea with chapel sxe<cises, consist