Los Angeles herald., 1890-09-02
IN THE CHAMBER.
"A LONG LETTER FROM s. J. MATHES
ON CALIFORNIA ON WHEELS.
The Ladies' Annex Hold a Meeting and
Discuss Women's Work-Other Busi-
ness Connected With the Chamber.

Some discussion has been created as
to the number reported to have visited
ssCalifornia On Wheels" during its peri
grinations in the past eight months.
The actual number reported by the state
board Of trade was somewhat over S00,-
600, or more than 100000 per month.
That would be rising 5000 day for all
the days out. Mr.. Mathes, in the letter
following says the number is about s.
900 day, rising to 5000 some days.
Secretary Hanchette of the chamber
of commerce yesterday received the fol-
lowing interesting letter from California
on wheels:
HARpERs FERRY, August "a.
HI. JAY HANCHErrE, Esq:
Dear Sir:-Once more Los
Angeles is to the front. You should
hear the comments of the boys here
whenever it is announced that there is
something for California on wheels.
They unanimously say LOS Angeles is
heard from again." or something of like
import, never waiting to inquire whether
t is from Los Angeles or not. The
peaches reached us in a deplorable con-
sdition. The grapes are in very good
condition. All the other things came
O. X. was especially well pleased to
get, the palm leaves, for our decorations
are much the worse for nine months of
wear and tear. and by the way the date
palm leaves we have need to be replaced.
The woods are quite an acquisition
to our exhibit, as we had nothing but
redwood before. One thing more in the
way of woods would make the people
open their eyes-a cut off the base of a
castor bean measuring Is to Is inches in
diameter, as you have them--and big
elder tree also. The castor bean here is
an annual and suppose would have
to make affidavit that it was castor bean
tree, should you send one. The elder
rarely exceeds 1a inches in diameter
here, while you have them IS. Such
things will serve to show our climate bet
ter than we can by other means.
We have reached a country where our
exhibition is more highly appreciated
than any section through which we have
passed, if we may Judge by the crowds
which throng us at every station. We
are simply taken by storm at many
places and sometimes require the
services of two policemen to
keep the crowds in order, in
addition to our force-not that the peo-
pie are disorderly, but there must be
some order observed in entering or some
will crowd in and others Just as worthy
will be crowded out. At Cumberland,
Md, when we pulled into the station we
encountered crowd estimated at 5000.
1t was not less than 1000 certainly. 1t
is poor day now if we do not have to
exceed 5000 persons to pass through our
train. 1t is too maryland we have 90OO
pass through some days. We cannot do
effective work under such circumstances,
for we are obliged to rush them
through like cattle, and if one stops to
ask question it blocks all the train
behind him. 1t serves to show the in
terest taken in our country, however
and you will reap something OF har-
vest from the work of this train.
This has been most disastrous season
to the eastern fruit grower. 1t has
been the same story ever since
we left Chicago. The fruit crop
is a complete failure. Indiana, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, West Virginia and
MARYLAND all together haven't fruit
enough to run Welch's cannery
a week-and am not sure but
i might say three days and come nearer
the truth. The people are hungry for
fruit and their only source of supply Is
California. 1t will be unfortunate il
prices of our fruits are run up too high
It may be profitable for the present, but
it will react on us 1 fear. Many of the
dealers state that our prices are too high
already for them to handle our goods.
hope that moderation may prevail and
that no undue advantage may be taker
of the condition of the fruit crol
throughout the east by our producers.
Yours Truly, S. j. MATHEs.
The following donations were
received yesterday: Geo. Cole
Whittier, prunes, ounces and wal
nuts; r. Baker, Santa Fe Springs
grapes; Geo. w. Cook and Co., Los An
geles, new register; B. j. Higuera, Th'
Palms, mission grapes; Miss Nellie Hay
den, Vernon District, peaches, pears
versity. tomatoes Mrs. J. S. Bennett
Vernon, oil painting; floral decoration
were made by Miss McCreary, Mrs
Hutchinson, Mrs. w. S. Hurlbut, Mrs
Bennett, Mrs. John Bryson, Miss Hay
den, Mrs. S. A. Bronadon, Mrs. Cowles
The Ladies Annex held a regula
meeting yesterday, when the followin
new members were elected:
Mrs. r. H. F. Variel, Mrs. 0. h
Parks, Mrs. Jennie Howard. Mr.. Me-
rill spoke to the assembly of Admissio
day and suggested the selecting of youn
lady to represent Los Angeles in th
celebration. A committee on this hea
consisting of Mrs. Wilder, Mrs. Luther
Mrs. G. E. Hutchinson, Mrs. Worland
and Mrs. Bryson were appointed. Som
discussion was had on a plan Of tn
Annex to present to the public at
future day the operatta OF Fantasnac
Mrs. McComos read an address on tn
general nature and scope of women
work in the world