Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-01-18

Situation of the Sixth District Agri-
cultural Association PARK Plain
| Facts Stated in Plain Manner
for the Benefit of Shareholders
Historical Statement OF the Asso-
| citation and Allegations Of Crook
edness Established by the Rec
ords.
The affairs Of the Sixth District Agri-
cultural Association have been frequent
ly commented upon of late and to such
an extent that it became apparent that
there was something behind that had
not come to the surface. Inquiry de.
veloped the fact that nothing short Of a
complete statement would furnish the
desired information, and to that end the
following has been PIE pared. in chrome
logical order, and is I ssented as a his
tory of the organization. To obtain it
old records have been carefully exam
ined and transcribed, files and public
documents rausacked and every effort
made to get exact information. II not
interesting reading at this time it may
possess value in the future to those Of
the patrons and frieads Of the Sixth Dis
trict Agricultural Association who aided
in its organization:
A few years ago number Of gentle
men organize what was known as the
Southern District Agricultural Associa-
tion, and acquired a piece of land in the
western portion Of the city be ex.
act, the NV. I Sec,ion7 T. . ), II. w,
surveyed and defined by Hansen 4 So
la.o-and expended large sums in feuc-
ing, erec ins necessary dwelling, stables
add water WORKS, and 81 lsndid mite
track, and held number Of very excel
lent exhibitions thereon. But evil days
came, and in tho universal prossration
which ensued the society became heavily
involved and mortgaged the premises.
1t was the old story-the grounds were
sold at sheriff sale, the whole demand,
including costs and charges, amounting
to s8, 992. %, in a suit entitled "W. w.
O'Melveny vs.. Southern District Agri-
cultural Assoc ation," and l. n Moore,
Esq, became purchaser. As the prop.
erty had been lost-it is positively al
firmed the grounds never paid-matters
languished for about two years.
| The Legislature, by an Act approved
April Is. 1880, divided the State into
IL agricultural districts, and create the
counties of Los Angeles, San Diego, San
Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Vent ira and
Inyo into District No. g. As it was to
some extent State institution, the Gov
ernor was given the power to appoint
and commission eight directors az a
board Of management.
Soon after the passage of the Act
some fifty or more publIc-spiritsd citi-
zens met in Los Angeles and resolved to
avail themselves of the benefits Of the
enactment, and proceeded to organize
and nominate eight gentlemen to be
commissioned directors by the Governor,
who were: J. E. Hollenbeck, ex-Gov.
John G. Downey, y. W. Chill is, and
VIM. Niles, Of Los Angeles; +. ]. Bar.
retto, Downey; Ellwood Cooper, santa
Barbara; L. J. Rose, San Gabriel, ard
j. W. Waters, San Bernardino. The
Act embraced the usual provisions in re-
gard to acquiring property, etc. The
gentlemen above named drew lots at O
meeting held June Sd, 1880. and were
classified as follows: Messrs. Hollen-
beck and Rose for one year; J. w.
Waters and j. G.. Downey each two
years; Ellwood Cooper and VIM. Niles
each three years; F. J. Barreto and o.
w. Childs each four years. Mr.. Hol.
lenbeck was elected President.
At meeting of this board held June
II, 1880. Mr.. L. j. Rose made a state-
ment that the old Agricultural Park
grounds could be redeemed 1t the face
of the mortgage and accrued costs,
amounting in all to $l2,03S. 1t was at
that time determined to take advan.
tage of the offer and arrange to receive
subscriptions to capital stock fixed at
| 5000, in one hundred and thirty shares
at 500, the whole payable down to
avoid incurring debt. rne full amount,
or very nearly SO, was promptly sub
scribed by interested citizens, and the
property, worth many thousand dollars
more than it cost, was saved and secur-
ed to the new association under the title
given it byStatelaw. The Legislature also
at the same session, appropriated $1,000
| Por year u oo uScu Dy tHo tsSOCiattou
towards payment Of premiums offered
and awarded. During the summer Of
1880 an attempt was made to units the
Agricultural with the Horticultural So
ciety; but the effort at consolidation
failed, and each association held sep
arate exhibition. The following year
but one, consolidated horticultural and
mechanical exhibition was held in the
name Of the horticultural Association,
fair being held at the grounds as usY
al. At the fair Gov. Downey made the
opening address, which was universally
commended a. sterling and well deliver.
ed, and very appropriate to the occa-
sion.
At the December meeting of the same
year the secretary was directed to COM
mun;cate to the Governor the wishes of
the board in regard 10 appointment Of
directors to fill vacancies, recommend
ing the reappointment of Mr.. Hollen-
beck and L.SH. Titus, of San Gabriel,
vice L. J. Rose, term expired, and J. M.
griffith vice J. G. Downey, resigned.
The appointments were made as request.
ed. At the meeting held Jan. l3, 1881,
Mr.. j. M. Griffith was elected President.
1 uu1 t&o 4GtOkA0 OOoIQ Vi ulkGttOT3 Dc
| gan its administration.
Al the Park grounds contained much
larger area than was deemed necessary,
the question arose several times in regard
to reducing the same and dispos ng Of
the remaining portion in lots to each
subscriber or stockhold The grounds,
as at present enclosed, number 100 acres
outside the city limits, few lots only
remaining within the corporation.
Up to january 27, 1881, there was no
sufficient organiza ion to possess and
control the property acquired, the title
still remaining in 1. n Moore, the pur-
chaser at foreclosure sale, and at di.
rectors' meeting on that date the Prcsi-
dent, j.. NJ. Griffith, was authorized to
call a meeting for Saturday, February
5th, at the Office Of Ferguson & Rose, to
mako concluding arrangements for the
disposition. The whole claim against
the property had been paid and all de.
mands satisfied.
| SHAREHOLDER MEETING.
Pursuant to call, the subscribers to
the shares of stock met at the place
agreed upsn and organized by electing
J. M. Griffith, Chairman, and w. J.
Neely, Secretary. Seventy.fo shares
were represented, . majority of all sub
scribed for. 1t might be well enough to.
here say that as an evidence OF conf
dence in the enterprise and desire to
contribute to the perpetual existence Of
the association, Col. R. s. Baker had
subscribed for three shares; 0.W. Childs,
five; I. w. Hellman, three; J. E. Hol.
lenbeck, five; J. NJ. Griffith, five: L. H.
Titus, two; j. G. Downey, three; E.
Martin 4 Co., two; ]. R. Toberman,
two; Newmark q Co., three; Wallace
Woodwork, two; VIM. Smith. two; R.
Nadeau. two; VIM. Ferguson. five; L. J.
Rose, five, and Stoneman & Edgar, five.
Other subscribers one share each, the
full price thereof being 500 per share,
cash down. were the following; WIN.
Niles, E. T. McGinnis, F. J. Barretto,