Los Angeles herald., 1890-10-26
A STEM-WINDER BEET.
BIG wATERMELoNs, SQUAsHES AND
OTHER TRIFLES,
With Which Major Truman Is Astonish-
ing the Chicagoans-The Chicago Ex-
hibit a Pronounced Success-What the
Manager Has to Say of the Matter.

Secretary Hanchette, OF the chamber
of commerce, is in receipt of an inter
esting letter from Manager Truman, con-
corning the permanent exhibit in Chi
cago. Following are few extracts:
l feel highly satisfied
with my visitors this week, and it was
long after dark tonight before l could
get away. | think / am in the best
place that could be had in the city-im-
mediately opposite the Lake Shore,
Michigan Southern and Rock Island,
and near the Sante Fe depot, adjoining
the board of trade, and only short dis
tance from the postoifice, the Grand Pa
cific and at least twenty restaurants and
hotels patronized by families and others
who do not, as a general thing, put up
at tirst-class> hotels. | got window
yesterday in a restaurant in the busiest
part of South Clark street-154 to 100
and have in it a big watermelon from
San Bernardino county, a monster
squash from Los Angeles county, a beet
that is a regular stem-winder from San
Diego county, and some onions, yams
and sweet potatoes from Orange, all
labelled and artistically grouped. The
restaurant is the largest i'll Chicago, and
feeds more people daily than any one in
the country, with one eXception-the
daily average being between 5000 and
1000. And it is estimated that at least
from $4,000 to 10000 people pass the
window every twenty-four hours, and
sometimes more. The next time the
owners get bills of fare printed they will
tell where our exhibit is. Now isn't
this nice thing. am going to work
this for all there is in it.
Il have glass put over all the dried
fruit that has been sent me and got
that small case of honey in good
shape. All of the fruits sent me in
stone jars and tin cans of sulphurized
water l have placed in glass, and
they are no Indifferent attraction.
The two longest stalks of corn lust
sent me, bundle of wild oats and
some corn in ear and big watermelon
l have in the board of trade room
nicely labeled and tied up with silk rib
bon. This is seen by at least thousand
people daily.
Very little fruit has decayed that
came in the second Car, and it is so
select and big it takes wonderfully.
San Diego leads at present, but all the
counties show up handsomely except
San Bernardino. / do all can for the
latter, but | can't do as I.want to by
that county without samples. Pasa-
dena and Pomona particularly show up
we'll, and | have nice displays
from Orange county scattered through
out the hall.
"a good many callers today were
women, many of them unaccompaned
by men. Most of them were wives of
men who had dropped in previously.
A good many Of the '49ers who reside in
Chicago come in daily and bring in
friends with them.
1T rained today, but had the biggest
attendance Of the week. l write most
OF my letters at home nights and have
the daytime to work and attend to
guests. l have one man at present, who
| lived in Southern California, who is as
faithful and industrious as can be. /
am looking for Dolan daily and hoping
good deal from him.
''The literature is eagerly taken.
hand it out personally so that it will not
be wasted and give none to boys. About
noon time good many urchins come
in, who belong to the Western Union,
but remembering | was once sometime
ago) boy myself, l let them look
around and watch them closely.
81 expect the car from Orange Mon
day and yours about the 25th."