The herald., 1897-07-04
holders are all satisfied with their profits

holders are all satisfied with their profits
from the business.
The Westminster Butter and Cheese
company was established at Westmin-
ster two years ago, since which time it
has been in constant operation. 1t ham
dies about 1000 pounds of milk per day,
while their monthly output of butter is
about 1900 pounds. 1t is conducted on
the cooperative plan and all the dis
bursements go out among the farmers
with the profits of the business added
| thereto. 1t is a well managed and pros
porous institution which is doing much
to benefit its stockholders. who are all
| farmers of the district. The officers of
] the company are: j. r. Newberry, Los
Angeles PRESIDENT w. j. Edwards. vice
president and James Moss secretary.
This company expects soon to put in a
branch plant at Bolsa.
| Westminster is accommodated by sew
eral good business houses representing
various lines, of which the general mer-
chandise store conducted by J. F. Pat
| terson and H. H. Hawkins deserves
special mention. Baker Bros. also main
tain a well stocked general merchan-
disc store, while Mr. H. Flowers is
dealer in harness. saddles and horse
furnishings. There is a good hotel we'll
managed, and altogether, the visitor to
| Westminster will find first-class accom-
modations among first-class people.
| The community take a just pride in
their splendid schools. prosperous
church organizations and well attended
Sunday schools. The Methodist and
Presbyterians have each good church
edifices. Rev. W. L. Miller is pastor of
the Methodist church, which has men,
bership of over one hundred.
A short distance to the southwest of
| Westminster is located the third cream
cry, the Golden Belle. This establish
| ment takes upward of 1000 pounds Of
milk per day from the farmers of the
| neighborhood. Their product is shipped
to Los Angeles from Benedict station.
The Golden Belle company milk thirty
cows of their own. which number will
shortly be increased to sixty. The es
ia blishment is owned by Messrs. Hide
brandt and Edwards. Mr. F. NJ. Hide
brandt is manager and is making al sue
cess of the business. On their farm
south of Westminster A. and J. Solomon
operate a separator and market their
cream at Bolsa. Near by, ]. NJ. Cum
minis and w. H. Johnson have each
seven acres cultivated to celery.
1t is but short distance to the south
of Westminster where are located the
famous peat lands of Southern Califor-
mia. The business of raising celery on
these lands has proved so very profit
able that the development of the lands,
considering the amount of work neces
sary to bring them into a fit state for
production, has been rapid. There will
be between five and six hundred acres of
this peat land planted to celery this
season. The planting season is now on
and the fields present an animated view.
Mr.. D. E. Smeltzer is the leading figure
in the celery business, and it is largely
due to his energy and experience that
these lands have been developed. The
business was started in 1891, when a few
acres were planted. IT has steadily
grown to its present proportions. Mr..
Smeltzer will plant over 200 acres this
season. His former experience in the
business in Michigan enables him to con-
duct the work in an economical manner
and get the best results from the lands.
Last year his firm handled 450, 900 dozen
punches. There were altogethee 260 car
loads shipped east last year. Although
it is claimed that as high as from $500
to $400 profit per acre has been cleared on
this peat land. the average is not above
$3.50 per acre, which certainly is rich
reward for tilling an acre of land. Da-
vid Rogers has sixty acres of fine peat
land and. a farm of 200 acres west of
Westminster. Mr.. Rogers is a pioneer
of the valley and takes much interest
in all matters tending to its develop
ment. Judge Josiah Mccoy is justice of
the peace, notary public and insurance
agent at Westminster, where he has
made his home for many years. W. T.
Clark has a fine body of peat land which
he leases to parties for celery raising
On this land are two excellent springs
which give a large flow of pure water.
Mr.. Clark is erecting large two-story
residence on his place. Mr.. w. NJ. Kes-
emann has some of the best peat land
in the district and has planted this year
thirty-five acres. Mr. w. H. Young of
the district is putting up new residence
on his place, and there are many other
improvements going forward which in
dicate prosperous condition with the
dwellers on the peat lands. Much of the
trade originating in this district goes to
Westminster and the certainty of the
yet greater expansion of the business of
celery cultivation will still further add
to the trade of the village About two
miles south of Westminster is located
the Garden City poultry yards. This is
an interesting place to visit. To aLy one
who is lover of fine poultry, appreci-
ates a fine bird or has taste for choice
poultry stock this place has varied at
oat; 10. I, 9.
est bred poultry in the state. Every
known variety is represented and some
of the birds are valued at over $100 each.