The morning call., 1893-06-14
THE WINTER FAIR.
Another Attempt to Boom
the Idea.
THE ARGUMENTS ADVANCED.
The State Board of Trade Also Com
siders the Question of London
Exhibit and Sugar Cane.
THE ARGUMENTS ADVANCED.

Al regular meeting OF the State Board
of Trade yesterday afternoon the pre-
posed winter fair in San Francisco, to be
brought from Chicago, was made the first
subject OF discussion.
Eugene N. Gregory, Mayor of Sacra-
mento, presided. and among others pres
ent we're: Tyler Beach of San Jose, Cap
tain 81. A. Messenger Of Calaveras. S. II.
Cole of Fresno, ]. W. Davis of Porter
vile, G. n. Platt. VacaviIle, S. j. Stabler
w. h. Mills. n. w. Spaulding, General
Chapman of Red Bluff. L. q. McAfee and
Colonel J. P. Irish.
The various trade organizations had
beeninvited to be present and J. S. Chap
man and W. L. ScheDck formed a com nit
tee representing the board of trustees of
the Chamber of Commerce. No other
organization was represented.
The chief discussion of the prOpos ed
midwinter fair consisted of an address by
W. Il. Mills of the Southern Pacific Rail-
road He said he thought the proposition
worthy of consideration, although il was
certainly In very indefinite form. 1t was
not at present known what exhibits would
come or how they would be held here
when they did come.
One feature of the scheme would be it's
effect IN securing low return rates to this
coast, granted by the railroads in the hope
of engendering an increase in traffic
Again, the fair might be made the means
of permanently proving the park chi
cago by its fair had obtained ST. 500. 600 to
improve Jackson Park. If the city would
anticipate its annual appropriation OF
$4,000 or $4,000 on the park to the extent
of $4,000 for twenty years this would give
a nucleus of 100000 for a winter park
such as was an attraction in Glasgow and
else where.
The Mechanics Pavilion was a repul-
slYe scene for a fair, and Sacramento's
only attraction consisted of an annual ex-
hibition of the products of tive State.
and chiefly consisted of booksellers and tin
horn gam bieTs. Mr.. Mills calculated that
in one period of five years Ss0.000,O00 of
capital had been carried from the State
There was $500, 000.000 worth of property
in San Francisco, yet it was maintain ed
that S500.0O0 could not be raised.
Mr.. Mills rdiculed the lack of attrac-
tons in California, saying the Santa
Barbara flower show was the greatest,
and eulogized the inspiring spacious
ness" of the Salt Lake tabern acle. "In
this plodding age" said Mr.. Mills, ''we
sadly underrate the commercial value Of
beauty"
Finally Mr.. Mills spoke boldly in favor
OF failure rather than inaction. He even
thought the effort for commercial emanci-
patton was hurt by indifference. To try TO
hold the fair and fan would "energize the
natural Inertia OF the community"
Colonel j. ?. Irish read some ideas in
the same line. He cited the success OF the
South KeRsington exhibitions in London,
and thought the money used in holding
the fair would be spent here enefcially.
When the postofice came along il would
cost 81, SOC, 600 and people would have
both the postoffice and the money which
il cost. The fair would be the means of
San Francisco taking rank with Chicago
There ought to be difficulty in raising
tue money.
fGeneraI Chapman of Red Bluff, Vice
NTesldent of the Board, regretted that
more representative people were not pres
ent. He admitted that he did not see how
the board could focaliZe the work. He
thought the scheme could be made the pre-
text 10 attract young men 10 California to
locate permanently. The fair might be a
warmed-over proposition, but a hungry
man did not ask whether meal was
warmed-over or not. Ii represen tative
exhibition could be secured. and low
passenger rates, there might be some feasi-
bilIty in The scheme.
J. S. Chapman of the Chamber of CON-
merce read a letter giving the views of
members of that body. 1t expressed no
faith in the success OF the scheme, which
was characterized al side show" The
cost would be too great, aud 1t was alto
gether impracticable.
Colonel a. a. Andrews proposed scheme
of his whereby in forty-eig ht hours $780, 900
might be raised by selling coupons at 81
apiece. each admitting two persons to the
fair. The scheme involved the appoint
ment Of fifty-four comm iSsIoDeIs and the
erection of three buildings at $4,000 a
niece. and one at $3.50. 600 for a permanent
exhibit. The Colonel said he derived his
enthusiasm from the success of the old
New Orleans Fair. he proposed a mass
- Il
blacks would contribute: had offered to
subscribe $3.50, and immediately had offers
from twenty merchants TO do likewise. In
fact, if the fair we're given to him he would
make success or 1t.
NJ. Van Arman spoke of the success of
the Chicago fair He said the California
exhibit attracted more attention now than
any other. The next four months ought
to be utilized in employing intelligent
gentlemen there to give information about
California. He himself in one week had
secured 125 prospective immigrants TO the
State.
NV Spaulding said he had been drawn
into more hopeful view of the PROPOSE
lion. He had not been able to see its prac-
ticablity.
Mr. Sharp of Fresno thought that if the
leading representative merchants of San
Francisco laughed at the midwinter fail
the state wanted unrepresen tatiye men tc
take ii up.
C. n. McAfee of Kern County favored
Colonel Andrews idea of a mass-meeting
Mr.. Mills offered resolutions which were
adopted approving the idea of the fair. and
calling for the appointment of committee
to confer with the Mayor, with a view OF
carrying 1t out.
The committee appointed consisted of
Mayor Gregory of Sacramento, Sharp Of
Fresno, McAfee Of Kern. Shorh of Los
Angeles and Clayton Of San Jose. The
committee was given full power TO act.
At the motion of Colonel Andrews a
committee of himself, Mills and General
Chlpman was appointed to communicate
with Chicago to ascertain from The World s
Fair Commissioners what exhibits could
be relied upon.
letter from the Californians at Chicago
in favor of organizing a corporation to
carry out the mid inter fair was read
The board then considered several SUBJ
jects suggested by Congressman Caminetti.
among them being the establishment of n
food exhibit in London. for which $1,000
had been appropriated. and the securing
of site for experimenting on eane-sugar
growing in California.
II connection with the first subject il
was decided to invite Colonel G. j. Murphy,
United States Commissioner on the Euro
pean exhibit, to address the next meeting
of the board on the second Tuesday in
July.