The herald., 1897-12-12

structure. Externally as we'll as in
ternally, with it's spacious and well i'm
proved Fairgrounds, 1t Is a credit to the
enterprise of the trustees and citizens of
the new district that was set off from
Downey school district.
CHURCHES
The spiritual wants of the commun-
ity are supplied by the following relig
ious denominations: The Baptist church,
Rev. u. II. Gibson, pastor; M. L. Church
South, Rev. r. l.. Dukes, pastor; Pres
byterian church, Rev. J. r. Kirkpatrick,
pastor; Holiness church, Rev. A. NJ. Nc
Killop, pastor; Christian church Ono
pastor assigned), and NJ Z. church, Rev.
w. G. Cowan, pastor.
All of these religious societies have
neat, commodious and we'll furnished
buildings, with comfortable parsonages
belonging to three of them. The church
of Latter Day Saints has an organized
society, of which Elder Nelson Van
Fleet is the presiding elder, but has no
house of worship as yet.
FRATERNAL AND BENEVOLENT
The fraternal and benevolent societies
are well represented. Downey lodge,
F. and a. NJ, and Nietos lodge, I. o. @.
F., own their halls. Eastern Star and
Rebekah Degree lodges are fraternally
connected with these orders respective
ly. The fraternal insurance societies are:
Court Downey, Independent Order of
Foresters; Downey tent, X. o. T. M.
(Maccabees); Los Nietos Valley camp,
Woodmen Of the World, and Silver Star
lodge, A. o. u. W., which Is the lessee OF
Manning's hall, which it has furnished
and rents to the other societies above
named. The Ladies' Aid society, w. c.
T. u, Symphony club and Chautauqua
reading circle, and last, but not least on
the social program, the Downey brass
band, composed Of number of patriotic
young gentlemen, who take pleasure In
contributing to the success of the public
entertainments of the town.
CLIMATE AND AGRICULTURE
The section of which Downey is the
business and social center has the dis
tinction which few spots on earth en-
10y, that of yielding a crop of some kind
every month in the year. Lemons ana
lines the entire year, Oranges from No
vember to September, alfalfa pasture the
year round, alfalfa hay crops ten months
in the year with six or seven cuttings;
root crops and garden vegetables every
month in the year, berries in the spring
and summer months, barley hay in May
and June, corn, pumpkins and melons
from August to November. Grapes in
September and October, walnuts in Oc-
tober and November, apples, pears,
peaches, aprcots, nectarines. and all
other varieties of deciduous fruits from
June to November, which, with Irish and
sweet potatoes, tomatoes and every other
vegetable in use by civilized peoples, in
Guiding tobacco, which this year has
produced three mature crops, makes
continual harvest season.
The floral wealth of this region is rich
and varied and offers exceptional ap-
portunities to the lover Of flowers. All
varieties bloom profusely in their sea-
son and some bloom the entire year.
Roses especially make vigorous growths.
Bulbous plants show marked superior
lty over those grown east, carnations and
that class of flowers thrive luxuriouSly
and only need convenient market to
make their cultivation profitable en-
terprise. 1t is chiefly though in adorn-
ment of gardens and lawns our flowers
are grown. Here every taste can be
gratified ut trifling expense. Plant
and cultivate and nature does the rest.
The conditions which contribute to this
prolific yield by old Mother Earth are an
even temperature the entire year, rich
alluvial soil and an abundance of water
for irrigation, and particularly freedom
from strong winds and severe frosts.
This condition continues northward,
covering the Rivera and Ranchito dis
tricts. So varied are the products Of the
Immediate vicinity OF Downey that an
estimate of the amount and value of
each could not he obtained with the time
at the writer's disposal. The shipment