Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-03-13

The citrus fair which opened Tuesday
evening at the Pavilion is the largest and
graudest display of it's kind ever held in
California. 1t is probable that it is the
first of series of annual citrus fairs
which will be given with State funds for
premiums and under the auspices of the
State Board of Agriculture. 1t is very
possible that year after year as the
orange crop of Southern California in
creases in size citrus fairs may be held
which contain larger quantity of fruit,
and more elaborate scenic effects may be
attempted in the displays, but certainly
no one will ever take place which will be
better managed or more heartily received
by the public.
The State Legislature during its ses-
sion of year ago passed bill calling
for an appropriation Of $4,000 to be
used as premiums for two citrus fairs,
one to be held in the northern and one
in the southern part of ths State. The
money was placed in the hands Of the
State Board of Agriculture. 1t was de-
cded by that body to hold two fairs in
each section OF the State, using only half
the appropriation the first year and the
rest the next. This put the appropria-
ton for premiums at $500 for each fair.
The northern part of the State led off
with fair at Oroville which opened Jan.
uary 7th. Fruit growers from the south
ern part of the State were allowed to
enter products, but not in competition for
premiums. Premiums moreover were
not restricted to citrus fruits but were
allowed for large variety of agricultural
products. BY this method the affair was
made very successful, although it could
perhaps hardly be considered 10 have
carried out the design of the trainers OF
the bill who desired to stimulate interest
in orange growing by putting the various
sections in rivalry against one another to
win premiums. The fact that the bill
called for "citrus fairs" shows that the
purpose of the Legislature was with re-
gard to what should be exhibited.
There was a good deal of delay in get
ing the arrangements started for the
Southern Citrus Fair owing to the fact
that the first committee appointed by the
Los Angeles Chamber Of Commerce re-
fused to serve under q superintendent
appointed from the northern part OF the
State. Mr.. E. w. Hancock, who had
been appointed, resigned and new COM
mittee was nominated by the Chamber
of Commerce.
The committee which finally took
charge of the fair was made up as fol-
lows:
F. Edward Gray, Alhambra, F. A.
Miller, Riverside, ]. A. McComas, Po-
mona, II. X. Snow, Santa Ana. f. A.
Kimball, San Diego. Eugene German,
@. M. Wells, Los Angeles. @. M. Wells
was elected president and F. Edward
Gray secretary. The committee was
appointed in January, but did not get
down to work until the 1st OF February.
The cause of the delay was that there
was disposition on the part OF some
sections to abandon the effort to give the
fair. 1t was objected that the date
and that it would be impossible to gel
ready in so short space OF time. Il
was also urged that most of the fruit
crop had been sold and that suitable dis
plays could not be secured. How mis-
taken all these objections were now
appears from the enormous quantity o.
fruit which is piled up at the Pavilion
and also from the TACT that under Captain
Gray's efficient management the fail
opened promptly, all in order, on the
very day set.
When the committee finally concluded
to undertake the work, Captain F. Ed
ward Gray was made manager, and {
special finance committee was appointed
of which Eugene German and Q. M
Wells were members, to raise guar
antee fund of 81, 500 to cover all expenses
that were not paid by gate money, fol