The herald., 1894-01-01
AN IMPORTANT ORGANIZATION,
The Board of Trade and Its
Scope.
Its Usefulness to the Business Inter
ests of the City.
A Brief History Of Its Formation and
the Mon Who Have Estabiished
II Upon solid
Basis.

BASIS.
The Los Angeles board OF trade was
incorporated March %. 1888, ito
develop trade and commerce, advance
and protect the interests of the city and
of the county of Los Angeles, to prevent
fraudulent settlements by dishonest
debtors. to investigate the affairs of in
solvent debtors, to unite and assist the
merchants Of said city and county in the
collection of debts other than in the
ordinary course OF business, and to
prescribe rules and regulations OF trade
and commerce for the government Of
the members of this corporation"
The board OF trade has always taken
leading part in forwarding matters of
public interest. To its efforts may be
attributed, in large measure, the sue
cess OF securing the establishment near
Santa Monica Of the branch of the Ma
tional home for disabled volunteer
soldiers. This home will before long be
made one Of the garden spots OF tho
world. and will add to the fame which
Los Angeles and Southern California
have already earned.
Repeated efforts were made by the
board to secure appropriations for gov
ernment building at Los Angeles, and
for the improvement of the harbor at
San Pedro. An appropriation of $500,
700 was finally made for the purpose OF
a site and erection OF government
building in this city and, although the
building is not all that we could wish,
it may at least be considered as begin
ming OF good things. which may ba
added to 80 soon as Uncle Sam can be
induced to open his heart and purse.
Small appropriations were, from time TO
time, made for the improvement OF San
Pedro harbor, but the work never pro-
gressed rapidly. However, with the as-
sislance of our new senator, our con-,
gressman, the Los AngeleH chamber Of
commerce and the citizens Of the county
at large, we may have hopen seeing
completed harbor at no distant date.
Many thousands of copies of reports
and pamphlets, descriptive OF this sec-
tion OF the country, have been published
and distributed by the board of trade.
Since the organization OF the Los An
geles chamber OF commerce, however,
matters OF this character have been taken
up by that body. 1t is needless to rs-
mark upon the good work which has
been done by the cham Der of commerce
in this and other directions, as it il 90
well known to the, poople. Letter are
continually received from pnrsies
throughout the east making inquirl
regarding Los Angeles and Southt a
California. Those are answered b. fel-
warding printed matter and by dirstt
communication.
The first secretary OF the board OF
trade was Mr.. John NJ. Davies, and he
continued in Office until 1885, when he
resigned to 90 into mercantile business,
He is an interchangeable worker, and took
leading part in organizing the board.
Mr.. Davies is now business manager of
the Los Angeles Evening Express.
When Mr.. Davies resigned Mr.. A. M.
Lawrence was elected to ill the vacancy,
and acted as secretary until the time OF
his death. March, 1888. Mr.. Lawrence
was one of the brightest young busi-
ness men in Los Angeles, and his death
was greatly lamented. Mr.. T. H. Ward
was elected to succeed Mr.. Lawrence.
and held Office until Novem Der, 1890,
when he resigned, having been elected
county clerk of this county. Mr.. Ward
has been resident of this state for the
past 80 years, and is well known both in
Southern and Northern California.
Mr.. Gregory Perkins, ir., the present
secretary, was elected to succeed Mr..
Ward. Mr.. Perkins has been connected
with the board OF trade for eight years
past, and has served under all Of his
predecessors in office.
The board of trade now directs its
efforts, particularly, to perform what
are its more legitimate functions, viz:
TO prevent fraudulent settlemente by
dishonest debtors; to investigase se the
affairs of ineolvent debtore: to unite and
assist the merchants OF said city and
county in the collection of debts other
than IN the ordinary course of business,
The existence OF rhe board OF trade has
a wholesome effect upon would-be dis
honest debtors, and is means OF saving
great deal of money to the jobbers and
wholesale dealers, not only by prevent.
ing dishonest failures and assietiug re-
tail dealers who may, for the lime being,
be in an unstable condition, but also by
expeditiously. and at minimum cost,
winding up the affairs OF insolvenr
debtors in California, Arizona aud New
Mexico.
The estimated total capital OF the
members of the board Of trade is about
$40, 900, 900.
Some Of the leading bu1iness men of
this city have served 40 president OF the
board of trads. rhs first ihcum bent
was Mr.. G. w. Gibson, an old-tinie busi-
ness man OF Los Angeles, who filled
the Office during the first two years of
the boards existence, 1893 and 1884
Mr.. Gideon was q prime mover in organ
izing the board, and much of its early
success is due to hs efforts. Mai.
George FL. Bonebrake. president Of tns
Los Angeles National bank. servad
aa president in 1885. In 1886
Maj, j.. l.. Stern, Of she
Wholesale and retail dry goods firm Of
Sterns Brothers. WAS elected president,
Mr.. Eugene German, president OF tia
German Fruit company, one Cl tia
oldest and most active members OF the
board, filed the Office for the nsxt two
years, 1887 and 1858 Mr. :. 4. I.ewia,
of the Hayden & Lewis company. ws
elected president IN 1889, having served
as director for three years pravio iEly.
Mr.. Geo. f. Dickson, OF Harrison u
Dickson, was chosen president IL 1899.
For the past two years, 1891 and 1882.
Mr.. w. G. Patterson, OF w. q ratter-