The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-08-09
A LIBEL REFUTED.
TIL E CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND
LONDON JOURNAL.
Tho Investore' Review and Its Wild
Tale of Loss in the Fruit
Orchards of Southern
California.

The board Of directors of the chamber
OF commerce met yesterday afternoon.
There were present Directors Freeman,
Formsn, Patterson, King, Jones. Par
soma, Cline, Essen, Breed, Jevne, Cohn,
Lsnkershim, McGsrvin.
Frederick Stock and Andres Machado
were elected to membership in the
chamber.
The committee on statistics. by its
chairman, Director Patterson, offered
the following resolution, which was
adopted unanimously:
Whereas, The Investors Review, a
monthly journal published in London,
England, publishes in its issue OF July,
1894, in the shape OF letter from Cali
fornia, with editorial endorsement, un-
der the title of The Profitable Fruit
Farming Delusion. number OF false
statements and exaggerations regarding
the fruit growing business in this state.
asserting that the industry no longer
pays; that the fruit growers have never
IN sde more than living; that thous-
ands of tons OF fruit regularly rot on the
ground; that large areas of orchard are
orchards can be bought for less than half
what they cost that worse times are in
store for tie fruit growers; that many
fruit growers are abandoning their prop
critics, which they cannot dispose of at
any price that the fruit growing "delu-
sion" ia kept up in London by con-
spiracy on the part OF those who make
money out of settlers; that California
wine has ruined every one connected
with it; that full bearing orchards can
be purchased Of the banks for one-tiith
of what they cost, and more to the same
effect, and
+ Whereas, 1t is we'll known and ad.
mitted by all reputable citizens of Cali
| forniR that theae statements are either
absolutely untrue or outrageously exag-
gerated; that the fruit growing indus-
| try in California is becoming more and
more staple industry from year to year,
| the exports to the east amounting to
something like 20. 900 carloads annually ;
that new orchards are being planted
every season throughout the state to the
| extent of thousands OF acres that there
are few, if any, agricultural industries
| in the world which pay 30 large profit
| to the farmer as fruit growing in Califor.
| MIA when intelligently and practically
conducted; that net profits OF from 500
| to 5000 and even more per acre are not
uncommon among growers of apricots.
prunes, peaches, pears, apples, straw
berries, olives, wslnuts, almonds, or
| anges, lemons and other fruits, while in
| almost every case where proper atten-
| ton has been given to the orchards they
have paid large interest on the amount
| invested, and
Whereas, Such false statements are
| likely to have an injurious effect upon
this state, by prejudicing the minds of
| the people against the more important
| industry of the state, an industry, which
f, in spite of its marvellous development is
! yet in it's infancy, the markets Of the
| world having as yet been scarcely reach
ed, therefore be it
Resolved, That the Los Angeles cham
Der of commerce denounces these state
ments in the article referred to as false
and misleading, bearing plain evidence
OF malice and wilful Misrepresentation,
| and that we offer to furnish the publish
or of the Investors Review with ample
and indubitable testimony to the effect
that be has been grossly deceived and
imposed upon by its correspondent.
The resignation OF j. DeBarth Shorb,
who for the last two years represented
the chamber If commerce in the state
board of trade, wac read and accepted.
The board then, on motion, adjourned.
For q Oond a hla yi "a ordar my Souona