Los Angeles herald., 1890-11-29
The Board of Directors Hold
an Important Meeting.
The Committee on Hotels Makes
an Interesting Report.
A Pointed Communication on Railroad
Fares to California Presented.
Should Florida and Other Atlantic Coast
Resorts Be Doomed at Our Expense
by the Railroad Companies?

Book present.
The secretary read a number Of letters
from surrounding towns, favoring Los
Angeles as the place for the holding of
the citrus fair.
A letter by ]. w. Northup of the New
York Sun, Offering to write page about
Los Angeles, was read and the secretary
instructed to reply that the citizens
might subscribe for the 10000 issue.
A letter from Warren l.. Knox, secre-
tary OF the Boston Fruit and Produce ex-
change, thanking the chamber for its in
vitation to visit Los Angeles, was read
and filed.
i resolution endorsing Mr.. Mr. / Mercer
as an energetic man and one fitted to
represent a county at the worlds fair
was adopted.
Mr.. Wells moved that President E. w.
Jones be requested to withhold his re-
signation until the end OF his term.
Carried.
The following report from the hotel
committee was read and the committee
given vote of thanks:
10 the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles
Chamber OF Commerce.
GENTLEMEN Your committee on
hotels begs leave to report that it has
interviewed the proprletors of the lead
ing hotels of the city, and finds that
they are well patronized by eastern
tourists, who state that good feeling
for Southern California exists in the
east, and that many would come here to
spend their winters away from the cold
&C 10 fJo
way transportation for California was as
low as it has been made to Florida. The
low rates to that country are taking a
large number of people there this season,
and some effort should be made to OBJ
tain at least temporary reduction in
rates to Los Angeles.
The commercial travellers are here in
larger numbers than at any time in the
history of this city This is an evidence
of the increased prosperity OF this
locality.
The family boarding hotels of the city
are numerous, and are located at con-
venient points throughout the city, and
= owing to the excellent manner in which
they are conducted they are attracting
the attention of eastern tourists, many
OF whom state that they intend to spend
their winters in them, and escape the
pleasantries of the regions of cyclones
and icebergs.
In relation to the reduction of fares to
Los Angeles, the following letter has
been received:
Los ANGELES, Cal, Nov 25, 1890.
To Secretary of Chamber OF Commerce, Los An
geles City:
SIR-While on avisit east last summer
saw crowds at the depots in Cincinnati
and St. Louis buying tickets to Jackson
vile, Florida, and other southern points
at reduced rates. l talked with some OF
them, and learned that there were no
excursion rates to California, at least for
first class travellers. They said that one
person could buy ticket at the same
rate as one hundred could to California,
and have since seen letter from Capt.
Ennis, OF Chicago, stating the same
thing. Now is this right? Cannot your
honorable body do something to remedy
this? l know you will try.
The great need of Southern California,
in my humble opinion, is cheaper rates
that is, frst-class rates. Is it not fact
that very few strangers are coming to
California just now? Talk with the new
arrivals, and you will learn that they
have been here before and have some
holdings to look after, the reason they
have returned.
will make the following suggestion
Will not the chamber of commerce use
their influence to get half-rate first
class fare to Southern California for the
month OF January, 1891, and will they
(the chamber of commerce) assist the
railroads in advertising these rates? 1
believe they will do it ii it strikes them
as the right thing. l therefore request
hat
next meeting, and I sincerely trust you
can prevail upon the roads to treat Cali
fornia right and establish such rates as
will induce travel to our delightful
country. Yours very respectfully,
W. F. GILL;
Mr.. j. Ennis, travelling passenger
agent OF the Southern Pacific railroad
company at Chicago, in letter to Mrs.
n. B. Grasty, of Los Angeles, says
The present rates offer no inducement,
for parties OF one person car purchase a
ticket as cheap as one hundred. This
has destroyed all enthusiasm for going.
Under the regulations of the Transcon-
tinental association of foreign excur-
sions inducements were held out for
parties of fifty or more. Parties who
are compelled to go to California, in
order to secure low rate induced many
to 60 with them, and consequently the
travel was very large. In my opinion
we will never have a large business tc
California again until the old plan is
substituted for the present one.
We are now having large and in
creasing business to Mexico.
In another letter to the same lady Mr.
Ennis states that:
Formerly railroad rates were so ad
justed that parties of ten or more could
secure a reasonable reduction. AS ar
example of California business, wher
the rates for the round trip were 500
if parties OF ten could secure rate O.
say $95, party of fifty or more a rate O
$50. This was the cause of my getting
large parties, running from one hundred
to one thousand, to join my EXCURSIONS
The present one was taken at the same
rate you can secure for large numbers
and no inducement was held out to ex
cursions. believe the only chance fol
you is to go where you are known, ant
get up parties for Mexico"
The Ocola Banner, of Marion county
Florida, gives an account of the securing
of special rates to Florida:
On May lstthe president of the burea,
OF immigration of this state commenced
systematic correspondence with prom
inent railroad officials, with view o