Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-11
BOARD OF TRADE.
IMPORTANT BUSINESS TRANSACTED At
THE ANNUAL MEETING.
P. E. Plat Elected President-Ch Chicago
the Unanimous Choice for the
Worlds Fair.

The Board of Trade held very impor-
tant meeting yesterday afternoon. 1t was
the annual meeting, and new officers were
elected and reports received from the retir
ing officers. Besides this, steps were taken
towards erecting a new and handsome
Board Of Trade building which will be
credit 10 the city.
The FIST business attended to was the
reception of reports from officers. Secre-
tary G. G. Pickett read over his accounts
briefly and was followed by those of the
Auditor and Treasurer, the latter showing
the Boards finances to be in healthy con-
dition.
President Joseph Steffens then made his
annual report. 1t was as follows:
Members Of The Sacramento Board of Trade
GENTLEMEN The time having again arrived for
the annual meeting of your Association, the
several officers thereof Will now present their
annual reports, as required by the constitution
The report of the Secretary, Mr.. G. G. Pickett
viii as usual give detail of the business failures
and adjustments for the year just closed, and
the Auditor, Mr. D. A. Lindley, will treat of the
financial transactions OF this Board, as well as
Its present condition. As required by the con-
stitulion ! will now give you hasty review of
other matters that we have more or less con-
sidered during the year, and which are not
covered by the other two full reports heretofore
referred 10. Our present membership is sixty,
being confined mostly to those who are in the
wholesale and retail trade. / cath has again
visited Us, and quite recently III a marked in
stance; the case being that of one of our ex-
Presidents John Mcneil. who presided over the
deliberations Of the Board in 1882. Mr.. Mcneil
was man whose opinions were always Gated
with great consideration by our membership
He was d straightforward, conscientious man.
and while quite positive in his views was
those; who in arguing differed sfeSu' with i'm
him. he was a man of more than
ordinary make up es regards those special
characteristics that go far 10 impress others ia
voIably. strict integrity was his rule of action,
and genuine loyalty to those principles that
make superior man was the leading aud prom
1neEt trait OF his character Viewing his long
career, from the standpoint OF straightforward
and strictly upright business life, it seems to
have been marked and successful one.
One OF the first events that occurred after our
last annual election of officers was the appoint
ment OF del gates to visit the Citrus Fair al Orc
Vile. The delegation was surprised and much
pleased with what they saw at the exhibit
knowing that The display was made by local eff
fort, and that the varied products as seen there
were entirely local to that point. The Faif,
taken as an entirety, was revelation to those
of the delegation who had not fdmiliariZed
themselves with the capabilities and extent of
the available territory of that locality.
Last April committee from Jackson and Ply
mouth visited this Board, and discussed the
proposition of building railroad direct from
Sacramento to Jackson, Suffer Creek and that
section. The ground was gone over, many facts
brought out, and parties having means have con-
sidered the enterprise quite favorably. The eff
forts made then are almost any time liable TO
lead to permanent and mutually beneficial re-
suits to that section and this city.
Several attempts have been made in this city
to further the interests OF those engaged in
FLOODED stock raising. There n
gagged in 1t quite extensively that are located in
this vicinity. II has been stated that if some
inducements could be held out to guarantee
Eastern men that portion of their expenses
could be earnfd here they would bring out
some of their bloOded stock 10 winter here. No
plans proposed seem to have been acceptable
nor worthy of approval by any considerable
portion of our membership until the State Agri
cultural Society consented to give Spring
Meetings at the State Agricultural Society S
race-track here their countenance, control and
support. In June last a committee of this
Board at once secured some 81 500 for that pur-
pose, which it is thought will, with other offer
ings, place the enterprise on secure and pros
porous footing and further the Interests OF an
enterprise fast coming into great prominence in
this State and which should largely center at
this point.
In August last delegates were appointed to a
commercial conference at San Francisco, which
MS held under the auspices Of the Chamber of
Commerce. While as a rule all such conven
tons bring about a better understanding be-
tween the different sections of the country hay
ing mutual interests, yet it is no doubt better
for the Boards of each section to fully con-
slider all important questions at home, where
all local int 'ests can be represented, and then
express their views TO delegates in Congress di
rect. such expressions are apt TO carry more
weight than views expressed at conferences
held in large commercial centers where la-ge
local representation generally dictates cOnclu-
siOns.
In October last this Board concluded that it
would be showing proper spirit to other sec
of ff.lf OrrlfQ NJ 81 d.
vance the interests OF citrus fruit culture to
waive what claims this city had to state aid in
support of u proposed citrus fair in favor OF
some section located north of US, and where
they, locally, had the products capable of max
ing such an exhibit. The recommendation was
acted upon by the Directors of the State Agri-
cultural Society, and after hearing the claims OF
several points located northerly from us, it was
decided in favor of Oroville. 1t is expected and
to be hoped that the enterprise will receive al
the aid and support that 1t is possible for the
Peep of this city to give 1t.
During the year your Chairman has beer
called upon to represent the Board on seYera
pub ic occasions, the most imI ortant ones being
the Convention of the Press Association o
Central and Northern California, held in the
CITY last September, and at the recent unyeil1nl
Of the A. J. stevens statue-the former being {
timely and promising movement and TN
latter credit to the mechanics whit
carried the undertaking to successful compile
ton, and q tribute justly conferred, aud IL
which the entire city takes pride.
This Board, also, by its Dictatorship, consid
cred several propositions, and at dlferen
times made recommendations that seemed RICH
and proper 10 make, the most important one be
ing instructions given to the delegates ina
were appointed TO the commercial conferene
held in san Francisco, to favor measures 7
properly regulate the competing efforts OF Tn
common carrier business OF the Canadla
Pacific Railroad. To make the matter NOR
plain-that while it is natural and business hk
for those having merchandise or products t
move East or West by rail TO take any and a
:
BILE nor proper for us to uphold and receive IN
benefit of Government control and supervise
of the American transeontinental railways, an
at tn same time quietly aeQulesce ana suppo
the tempting transportation facilities offered b
the Canadian Pacific Railroad. American law
not affecting thst line, and Dominion patronas
and law Urging it to competition and eontro
brands il rs mol being in any sense legitms
competing common carrier as far as the Paelf
States of our nat on sre concerned. 1t takes 81
the consideration of an equitable common sem
business mind 10 promptly determine tn
something is wrong somewhere, and IN
what is rghted lessons the wrong. In this CO.
nection permit me to suggest that if the Cover
ment control OF the common Garner system
OF this country is based on the fact OF l
granting charters and lis duty to eual
the interest of the people,, Why shou
not great incorporated trusts" be also to
by legislative enactment, Thus far shalt tho
90 and no fgrthorgf lhe intelligent stretchl
forth of the regulating and protecting hand
the Government snd the checking OF mani est
disorderiy drift ipgs in high and low places W
endear the Government to the people, enlar
and strengthen the conservative multitude al
leave less ground to- the sturoers 70 STAND 0
The last annual meeting appointed comm
tee to take into consideration the river ques 10
Very soon after Convention was CALF d to co
slider engineer A. Boschke's plan for the rel
aud care of the Sacramento liver and its u
utaries OF any o;her similar measures IN
might be presented 4 very representa-
body of men met in this city a.
discussed the question in general, and tn
plan in particular, and referred action 10
large committee The only good results so
that have come from the agitation OF the gu
ton was the passage OF bill through the l,
Legislature providing for the appointment a
compensation of a Commission 10 make 8
yeys and prepare data regarding the river, a
have the same forwarded 10 congress ior
consideration Il is to be hoped that the .
mighty will so distribute the rai1; all ana cat
the great watersheds of this valley 10 so res
late The flow of the waters that our crippl
and almost ruined rivers viii not be totally
stroyed before our Reprs sentaiiveS can
the importance of the mater before congress
such share that it will have 70 pe lf9pe
considered and acted upon. The iect Is U
the rich lands annually placed ID Jeopardy =
ANNUALLY partially ruined by neglectiul ooIe
ment guardianship of the sacramento nv
are capable of producing more IOl Lnan ,
teuauce and pleasure OF his palate tns s al 81.
acres OF the states of Minnesota ana niscV1
taken tcge her whit through their i've y
gressmen have secured hundreds OF tnousal
of dollars from the United States Treasury
assisting the great upper Mississippi river,