San Benito County CA Archives History - Books .....Chapter VIII Resources Of San Benito County 1893
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Book Title: Memorial And Biographical History Of The Coast Counties Of Central California.

CHAPTER VIII.
RESOURCES OF SAN BENITO COUNTY.

THE agricultural resources of San Benito county are very extensive. Some of the
best wheat produced in the State is raised in the upper San Benito valley, and
in the other smaller valleys in the southern part of the county. The soil of
this region seems to be peculiarly adapted to the growth of both wheat and
barley. While the crop of grain for the year 1892 is reported short in other
sections of the State, owing to the lateness and shortness of the rains, that of
San Benito county is said to be a full average in quantity, and extra in quality.

  San Benito county is noted for its hay product. The quantity of grain and hay
produced in the county is prodigious.

  The Victor Mills of the big Sperry Flour Company are located at Hollister. The
capacity of these mills is 400 barrels of flour per day of twenty-four hours
each, and they are now run night and day. They have twenty sets of rollers, and
a 200-horse-power engine, and consume 1,500 tons of wheat per month, or 18,000
tons per annum, or the larger part of the local product, besides about 200 tons
of barley per month, or 2,400 tons per annum, which they convert into feed for
stock. The market for their flour is the entire State. William Steinbeck is the
local manager. Last year a business of about $600,000 was done by these mills,
less than the average; this year they will do more.

  A capital of about $200,000 is required to carry on the business, including
the plant. The Victor Mills are of immense value to the county, as they furnish
its farmers a sure market for the greater portion of the grain they raise. The
mills buy for cash and sell on thirty days' time.

"HOLLISTER HAY."

  The quantity of hay shipped by the Southern Pacific railroad from the
Hollister station from June 1, to August 18, 1892, as shown by the record, was
492 carloads of eleven tons each; or 5,412 tons, which is estimated to be less
than one-fifth of the total quantity which will be shipped from that station
during this calendar year.

  Mr. R. P. Lathrop, who has been in the hay business here since 1876, and who
has been over all that portion of San Benito county which is tributary to
Hollister railroad station, and who has taken careful statistics of existing
stocks, states that the quantity of hay, which will be shipped from this
station, of this year's crop, will not be less than 27,000 tons, in addition to
what will be consumed locally.

  The hay raised about Hollister commands the highest price in the San Francisco
and neighboring markets, and "Hollister hay" is well and favorably known from
San Diego to Seattle. The reasons are: Climatic conditions, quality of soil, no
fog, and the education of the farmers in the art of making and curing hay. A
stranger visiting Hollister, especially during the haying season, is struck with
the sight of trains of hay-loaded cars, trailing hay-loaded wagons, and the
loading and unloading by tackle and block of endless bales of hay, hay, hay?


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California.

Illustrated.

Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the
Earliest Period of its Discovery to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of
its Auspicious Future; Illustrations and Full-Page Portraits of some of its
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers, and Prominent
Citizens of To-day.



HENRY D. BARROWS,
Editor of the Historical Department.

LUTHER A. INGERSOLL,
Editor of the Biographical Department.

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendants."-Macaulay.


CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
1893.

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