Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-01-09

been perhaps the most important with
which the Chamber has been occupied.
Dur intercourse with people represent
ing every business and occupation in the
has taught us that our true
field of usefulness lies in bringing in the
means to stimulate business and furnish
labor to the unemployed, and bringing
in settlers for the soil and seekers for the
advantages our country offers.
We have been taught that right against
our doors, awaiting the means of trans
portstion, lie metals and minerals of
value and quantity sufficient to bring us
great wealth and prosperity as manu-
featuring center. With manufactures,
skilled labor finds employment aud
wages, new stimulus is given to trade,
and an enlarged market to the farmer.
The Utah railroad will give us access
to the best interior market for our pro-
ducts; new, and that the most desir-
able, avenue of travel to and from this
point, by which large and new class Of
visitors will come to our community. l
enlarge upon these matters little to
show that the Chamber is alive to their
Importance. Any one of them is of suf-
ficient magnitude to occupy the whole
time of this body if other things could be
neglected.
Our other work you all know. We
have urged the increase of acreage under
cultivation. We have urged the passage
of a semi.annual tax collection law, and
the repeal of the mortgage tax law; We
aided the adoption of the Reform School
bill and the location of the school here
we brought the President of the Carson
and Colorado railroad to Los Angeles
renewed the project of building that road
to Moiave, walked up Inyo county and
renewed trade relations with it. We did
much work in the interest of sugar beet
raising. We have done much to adver
tise this city and county, both independ-
emily and in connection with the State
Board of Trade, through old and new
"California on Wheels" and in the State
Board rooms.
We have labored assiduously to unite
all Southern California, commercially
and for advertising purposes, knowing
thas sin union there is strength" We
made such a demonstration of our arid
land and irrigation interests as to give
our Representative the Chairmanshir
of the new committee on that
subject, and to advertise our
country widely. We brought together
the syndicate and capital to carry the
grape crop. might 90 on indefinitely
but this will suffice to show that we have
not neglected the trust imposed upon us.
The Secretary's report will show what
little pecunisry burden we have been to the
community. We have entertained mum.
bers of distinguished guests, but it has
been mostly by means from our own
pockets. Many trips to San Francisco,
Sacramento and other places have been
made during the year, but the expense
has not been borne by the Chamber in
any case but once.
Now let us glance at the year before
US. The improvement of San Pedro
harbor and eventually of our other har-
bors is, like the poor, always with US.
There can be no cessation of work in
that direction. If anything is ever to be
there, it must be pushed
energetically and persistently. Our Rep.
General Vandever, must
have his hands upheld and every as
sistance possible furnished him. The
public building should not be lost sight
of. We must keep up the agitation
about the new railroads. The Board
of Supervisors, the City Council,
the people of San Pedro and the
people of the country are aroused, and
we may find we are able to do much to
influence the action of the mpanies
and hasten their advent here. We have
much work and some expense before us
in keeping up the exhibit in California
On Wheels" and in the State Board of
Trade; and if We advertise creditably we
nave much printing to do and at con-
siderable expense.
The statistics OF the county are not in
available shape. They should show in
detail the whole list of our products,
their quantity, character, value, where
raised, and as many other particulars as
possible. Our State agricultural report
is deficient as to county statistics, and
we should rectify the matter. The Cham
Der should watch new manufacturing
and other enterprises which eye sought
to be esta blished here by outsiders on
local capital. Many of them are based
on inventions or new ideas, untried or
failures elsewhere, and only operate till
tie capital is expended. They are often
gotten up to give somebody job or q
bonus. Suca schemes the community
should be warned against, while legit.
innate enterprises should be encouraged
on proof of their good character being
furnished.
The Chamber should prepare durine
the year, as far as possible, to suggest
such measures for action by the STATE
Legislature, at it's next session, as will
afford this community relief from the
operation of laws which are injurious OF
burdensome-like that which governs
the collection otItaxes, and the mortgage
tax law (Which p events the carrying
out of any needed or greatly advanta
geous public improvements or raising
money therefor, like the improvement O.
parks and streets and the building O
boulevards; and should discuss at eas
the advisability of asking for power L
ttter Inducements for valuable public en-
terprises. 1t is unnecessary to enumerat,
further. The duties of an institution
like this, set to guard the general com
mercial interests of a large community
are numberless and incessant. An in
stitution Of the kind of this Chamber O
Commerce works directly or indirectly
tor every man, woman and child in th,
community. No other organization is &C
thoroughly engaged in the effort t.
ameliorate the physical condition of the
people as thia. 1t lsbors to pro
vide wages for the working man anC
trade for the merchant. It provides
more relief for the needy than anything
else can possibly do for the money. NJ
charitable institution can approach it liz
| thn Y1f it ;o e. H. &.