The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-03-07
PEPPERMINT AND CELERY.
Two Products by Which the City of
Kalamazoo, Mich, Has Been Made
Famous and COMPARATIVELY
wealthy.

WCttAtnEs
From the Chicago Chronicle.
The first thing that strikes stranger
entering Kalamazoo, Mich, is a strong
odor of peppermint. And this is not to
be wondered at. because fully 95 per
cent. of all the peppermints in the
United States and three-fourths of. all
used in the world is prepared for the
market right there.
Peppermint King Todd has his big
laboratory little way from the Union
passenger station, and that is why the
visitors nostrils are greeted by such
a pungent odor as he leaves the train.
Kalamazoo has long been noted for its
celery, and the fact that such great
quantities of this fine vegetable have
been raised there has overshadowed
everything else but A. NJ. Todd, who
discovered new method in distilling
peppermint, thinks there is something
else in Kalamazoo besides celery.
1t has been several years since Albert
Nj. Todd made his valuable discovery
and since that time he has been grad
ually growing richer and richer from
his peppermint trust. To-day he is
rated as one of the richest men in the
city and is called millionaire. South
ern Michigan is rich field for the
well-known herb, and great quantities
are shipped in from all directions to be
reduced to oils and essences by the Sc
cret process in the Todd laboratory and
sent out to cure the stomach aches of
the whole world.
Here is made the foundation for
creme de menthe, the green after-din-
ner drink; the flavoring for candies,
and innumerable other things in which
peppermint forms an integral part
From the aromatic plant that grows
in rich profusion in the fertile soil of
the state he has coined money and
made his name famous wherever the
volatile oil is known and where medi-
cine and confectionery abound.
Mr. Todd guards the secret of his
success well, for it stands him in hand
to do so. Before he made his valuable
discovery there were numerous little
establishments for the preparation of
this valuable oil and essence, but his
process so far outdid every other that
1t was only a little time until he had
monopoly, and he has long been
known as Peppermint Todd by the
people of that section of the country.
The laboratory is a large brick struc-
ture' and it is not hard to find from
the fact that the smell of the pungent
plant is a sure guide.
Mr.. Todd is one of the public-spir-
tied citizens of the town, and has been
in politics more or less. He was elect
ed to the state Legislature on the
Union Silver ticket in 1896. He owns
considerable property, and is interested
in the upbuilding of the CITY, and Kali
amazoo is one of the best cities in
Southern Michigan. 1t is pre-eminent-
ly city of homes and many of them
are palatial 1t was settled by New
Englanders, and this sturdy stock has
been in evidence from the very be-
ginning. Some of the best known fam
lilies and some of the wealthiest people
are of Eastern origin-the sons and
daughters of early pioneers. But the
city has a large foreign element as
well-a large importation. This ele-
ment is largely Dutch, and these peo-
pie are interested to a great extent in
the cultivation of celery, an occupation
for which they are most remarkably
well fitted. The Hollanders trained
from infancy in their own land to
truck gardening, have the patience re-
qutred in raising celery, and they care
for the vegetable, foster it, pet it and
make 1t grow better than the less pa
tient and more nervous Americans.
Little fortunes. are made in celery
raising, too, but they come through
hard work, care and attention. It is
said that many poor Dutch families ar
rive in Kalamazoo with scarcely
enough to keep them alive and in one
year they have little bank accounts. OF
course, they are frugal and all that,
and take good care of the pennies,
but they live well and soon buy little
homes. and gradually from year to
year accumulate until to-day there are
many Dutch families in Kalamazoo
which might be accounted rich. Promi-
nent business and professional men,
financiers, educators, and others here
can trace their beginnings from the
celery beds that surround and even en-
croach on the very city, The sons and
daughters Of the early Hollanders who
came in wooden shoes and other quaint
costumes are taking important places
in social, business, and professional
life, and this, element forms one of
the most stable, the most conservative
and worthy in the municipality.
1t took ages to make the rich celery
beds of Kalamazoo The city and
surrounding country is now in the val
ley made by the Kalamazoo River
and the decaying vegetable matter of
centuries has formed bed of the
greatest fertility. The soil is a rich,
black loan, of peaty consistency, but
far richer and more productive. With
care and attention to business three
crops may be raised year on the
best ground.
Men. women, and children work at
the business, and it is estimated that
the annual output of celery brings in
the sum of S1,000,000. A strange fact
about the business is that 1t 10 a very
difficult matter to get good celery in
Kalamazoo. People naturally think
that when they arrive in the city they
will find crisp, succulent. and tender
celery in every home, in all the hotels,
and in the grocery stores, but this is
rot a fact. The reason is not far to seek,
The celery raisers sell the best part
of the crop and keep the less choice for
home consumption. 1t is estimated
that nearly one-fourth of the popula-
ton of Kalamazoo in supported by
eelery-raising. The city has a popula-
ton based on the recent city directory
of about $4,000 and is steadily growing
each year.
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