Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-02
SOUTHERN CITRUS FAIR.
REASONS WHY IT SHOULD BE HELD AT
LOS ANGELES.
The Geographical Center of the Southern
Citrus Fruit-Growing Belt and Has
the Best Facilities.

Doard or Argentine with reference to the
location and date of the Southern Citrus
Fair" said II. Jay Hancheste, Secretary OF
the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce,
yesterday 10 RECORD UNION reporter. Il
came up here" he continued, sin the in
terest especially of Los Angeles, and gen.
orally in the interests of Ventura, San
Bernardino Santa Barbara and Orange
counties. Until a short time ago there
seemed to be no doubt that Los Angeles
would be selected rs the place for the
Southern Citrus Fair, but il transpired that
San Diego intended to make an effort to
obtain it. The utter absurdity of selecting
San Diego as the place for the holding of a
citrus fair seemed TO act as spur to actiy-
ity in all the other southern counties, and
upon the request of large number of
citrus fruitgrowers, the Los Angeles
Chamber of Commerce took the matter in
hand.
at was not because of any sectional feel
ing that the various counties named took a
stand against San Diego, for every one
would be rejoiced to see that enterprIsiug
city grow until it becomes the largest sea-
port on the coast but il was for the reason
that the southern citrus belt is from one to
two hundred miles away from San Diego.
For the interests of the citrus section the
fair might as well be held in Minnesota.
and perhaps it would Do more good there,
At any rate, that is what the cit. ..a-ornrress
believe. and l believe fair and impartial
study of the situation by the State Board
OF Agriculture will induce them to think
the same way.
II IS NOT MY purpose TO say anything
against the interests of San Diego. In fac,,
ii would not be policy 10 do so. Every
thing that helps San Diego helps the rest
of Southern California; but in this matter
there is q singular unanimity of opinion
that San Diego is not the place for
the Citrus Fair. In the first place,
the distance from the citrus orchards 10
San Diego is SO great that l doubt very
much whether quarter Of the section
would make an exhibit there. The freight
charges, the time lost in going there and
the fact that but one line of railroad could
reach that city from the citrus belt would
operate against the success of the fair.
in the case of Los Angeles the situation
is different. 1t is in Ibe geographical cen
ter Of the citrus-growing belt and it taps
the entire region with fourteen lines of
railroad. No part Of the citrus belt is at
distance of more than two or three hours
from Los Angeles, and the city itself is III
the heart of citrus growing district. In fact
there are to-day from twenty TO thirty orange
groves inside the city limits. This is an ad-
vantage for visitors can not only inspect
fruit at the fair, but can take a street-car
and see thousands of trees almost over
loaded with their golden fruit.
How is ii at San Diego? Even Charles
Dudley Warner in his articles in Harper's
Monthly calls attention to the lack OF or
chards and trees about San Diego. No
doubt they will be there in time, but hey
are not there yet, and to hold citrus fair
in locality where there are but few citrus
trees would be rather queer proceeding"
" Now word or two about Los Angeles.
According to the census just.taken Los An
geles is the second city IN size in the West.
It's streets are paved with biiuminous rock;
Its cable system IS next to the Market
street system in San Francisco. the best in
the United States il has hotel accommO-
datons for 10000 visitors it is the central
spot to which all visitors from the East
come when desiring to see the sights of
Southern California; it is the one place in
Southern California Yhere citrus fair will
pay expenses az g small admission fee, and
its pavilion, where the fair will be held, is
in the center of the city.
Entering Los Angeles are the following
lines Of railroad Santa Barbara branch Of
the S. 2. r. r, running through Santa
Barbara and Ventura counties; the S. 2.
northern line, running through the San
Fernando valley aud the counties to the
north the Glendale and Tropico road, tap
ping large area Of citrus orchards; the
Santa Fe line, through Pasadena, Duarte
and San Gabriel, 10 Pomona, San Bernar-
dino snd Riverside and thence East: the
San Gabriel Valley Rapid Transit, running
groves; the Yuma branch of the S. ?. r.
R, running through to Pomona, Colon,
Riverside and thence East; the Whittier
branch of the s. 2. r. + tapping the
Rivera, Norwalk and Whittier district; the
Santa Ana branch Of the Santa Fe Rail
road, running through Orange and Ana
helm, with connecting branch 10 South
Riverside and Riverside; the Santa Ana
branch of the s. 2. r. R. running almost
parallel to the Santa Fe, miles away
the San Pedro branch of the S. P. f. r 4,
connecting with Long Besch, to which e
branch line extends; the Redondo Beach
branch of the Santa Fe running through
the Vernon citrus belt; the Santa Monica
branch of the S. P. r. r., tapping
the University citrus district; the Ballena
HaTbor branch of the Santa Fe running
through a rich district; the Redondo Beach
Railroad line running through several
=
and the Cahuenga Valley line. With all
these lines, each entering from
different directions, it would be itard to
name the locality in the southern citrus
region which is not directly connected with
Los Angeles. To get to San Diego all
citrus fruit growers would have to ship by
two lines of cars 10 round about manner.
Another matter which should be taken
into consideration is the fact that while
San BernardinO county heads the list OF
citrus producing counties, Los Angeles
comes second, and last year shipped 1 225
carloads East. This year shipments
will reach SOS 275 boxes. San Bernsrlino
county while entitled probably to first
consideration because of the quantity Of
citrus fruit raised there, has recommended
Los geles as the place Tor the fair. Riv-
side passed a resolution to that effect at a
public meeting held week ago. San Ber-
nardIno has done the same thing, and if
the desires of the citrus fruit growers are
taken into consideration by the State
Board of Agriculture, Los Angeles will be
chosen as the place for the fair,
sc. II. Wells, one of the Directors Of the
Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles.
will be here tomorrow and will present
our claims before the State Board. Rich
ard Grid, the member from our part of the
State, will be unable to get here but he has
written from Ontario, urging the selection
of Los Angeles, and l have every reason
TO believe that | shall be able TO telegraph
to the five counties tomorrow night that
their wishes have been granted"