Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-04-09
THE ADDRESS.
What President Germain
Tells the Board of Trade.
HIS HISTORY OF THIS BODY.
Review of improvements Made ia
the City Last Year-Sugges-
tiOns for the Future.

To the Members of the Los angeles Boarc
of Trade:
GENTLEMEN-Another year has come
and gone, bringing to some prosperity
to few adversely, and to all knowledge
1t also brings us together for the pur.
pose of hearing the reports of officers
and of electing those whose duty it will
be to direct the management of the
Board for the next twelve months.
At such a time, 1t seems to me, il
would be fitting to review the history oi
the organization before detailing what
has been done during the year now
ended, or bringing to your notice the
various subjects that have presented
themselves to me as worthy of your
future consideration and being unwilling
to trespass too much upon your time at
this late hour, will content myself with
briefly stating, since its creation, the
steady growth of our association.
On the 9th day of March, 1888, num-
Der of the business men of this city met
together and organized the Los Angeles
Board OF Trade, electing six of it's mem
bers as its directors. On the 4th day OF
the same month these directors filed
with the County Clerk articles, incorpo-
rating said Board of Trade under the
laws of the State of California.
At the first annual election, held April
%, 1883, there were 33 members; at the
second, held April z, 1884, their number
had increased to 1879; at the third meet
ing, held April 6, 1885, the membership
was l5O; at the fourth, held April 6,
1886, 149; at the fifth, held April 8,
1887, 159; and at the sixth, held April
Is, 1888, 175. During the past year tif-
teen new members have been added f;
five have been suspended and two have
resigned, leaving our present member
ship 1888.
During the year just closed there has
been one annual and one special meeting
OF members, twelve regular and twelve
special meetings of the Directors, and
four joint meetings of the members OF
the Board of Trade and Chamber of
Commerce. At these meetings many
imp ortant matters have been discussed,
and among the results are the following !:
A resolution urging upon the C.ty Coun-
Gil the necessity of establishing regula-
tion, requiring permits for the erection
of all buildings within the city limits.
The object sought will be accomplished
when the provision of the new Charter
relating to this matter is carried out.
A resolution thanking Governor For
aker, of Ohio, for the interest taken and
assist ance given by him in securing the
means by which the Southern California
exhibit at the Columbus Exhibition
achieved such wonderful success in ad-
vertising our section of the country; also
acknowledging the good service of our
townsman, g. w. Van Alstine, who had
charge of the exhibit, and through whose
untiring exertions the products of South
ern California forwarded to him were dis
played to the best advantage. In this
connection | am pleased to state that
since the return of Mr.. Van Alstine the
Directors of this Board have appointed
him their immigration agent, and he is
now doing good work answering the
large correspondence received, either by
letter or by sending printed matter.
A resolution in relation to establishing
a branch postoffice, centrally located.
Although we were supported by all the
leading business men in the city, as also
by the press as unit, we have obtained
no satisfaction. The enigma why busi-
ness men should go eight or ten blocks
from the center of the city to transact
their business with the postoffice officials
has not been satisfactorily answered, ana
I leave it for future solution.
A resolution in relation to establishing
q branch Insane Asylum in Southern
California. Whether our action had any
effect or not, the establishment of said
institution is now an assured fact. Say
ing nothing of the need of such branch
Asylum, owing to the overcrowding of
the present buildings at Stockton and
Napa, and the great distance our patients
have to be conveyed to reach them, the
expenditure of the $3.50, 900 appropriated
for the building, and the other necessary
sums for its maintenance in our section
of the State will, in a measure, be just
returns of a part of our burdensome
taxation.
A resolution in relation to the protec-
ton of our forests, and the necessity of
planting trees. This is a matter that
deserves great deal of attention on the
part of the Forestry Commission. In
this connection / note with regret, that
Mr.. Abbot Kinney, most efficient
worker of the Forestry Commission, has
been removed by the Governor. In my
estimation, his removal is great loss to
the State, for he was most valuable
and earnest member of that Commits
sion, and hope that our next Governor,
whoever he may be, will see fit to rein
state him.
A resolution in relation to establishing
a military post in our city, and urging
Senators Stanford and Hearst and Cen
eral Vandever to present the advant ages
of Los Angeles as point for the location
of Headquarters for the Department of
Arizona, and l sincerely believe that at
no distant day our city will be the home
of numerous officers of the regular army
and their families, together with the
usual number of men, thus creating de-
mand for large amount OF supplies for
their maintenance.
A resolution favoring the adoption OF
the new Charter for the. government OF
our city. A year ago favored the adop-
tion of this Charter, not that believed
it to be perfect, but that it would be
much better than the one we were then
governed by. have had no good fea-
son to change my opinion since, and
while sufficient time has not elapsed
since it has become effective to form
final judgment upon its merits, yet am
satisfied that many needed provisions tor
the government and improvement OF the
city will soon be taken advantage Of, and
that, within the next year, should the
Supreme Court decide that its approval
by the Legislature was regular, the wis
dom of its adoption will be proven be
yond doubt.
A resolution in ralafion IN oitv aawar