The herald., 1895-02-28
Finishing Touches Being Put on
the Citrus Fair
SCENES IN THE BIG PAVILION
The Exhibition Will Be Opened to the
Public This Evening
A Brief History Of Previous Citrus Fairs
Held In Los Angeles-The Present
Will Excel All Others

| in this or any other city or country.
| All day yesterday till late hour las
! night the large corps of workers at th
pavilion were busy as beavers getting tn
exhibits in place. The work will be re
sumed at an early hour this morning ant
not m oment wasted until the creates
orange show on earth is ready for publ,
inspection.
Those who have had peep at it in it
unfinished state say that it will surpass al
former exhibitions when completed ant
will be worth seeing not only once, bu
every day it is open.
The great electric tower which occupies
the center of the hall was illuminated
for the first time last night and the effect
was most beautiful.
Following is brief history of past and
present citrus fairs in this city:
Six years ago the State Legislature ap-
propriated $1,000 to pay for four citrus
fairs, two TO be held in the North and two
in the South.
Two years later and again four years
later. similar appropriation was
passed. The present tair at Hazard S
pavilion is the sixth of the series held
under the state appropriation in the
southern part OF the state.
The first was held in Hazards pavilion
in 1880, under the management OF Captain
L. Edward Gray, and a committee OF cit
rus fruit growers. Although the time for
preparation was very short, a beautiful
fair was held which was largely attended,
and profit of $4,000 was realized, which
sum went to pay for special citrus ex-
hibit at the World 5 Fair.
The next year the management of the
fair was in the hands of the Chamber OF
Commerce, and the undertaking was car
ried out on "A larger scale than was ever
before attempted in Southern California.
Buildings were constructed covered with
oranges, and very novel effects were pro-
duced. The fair was attended by some
thirty thousand people, and a profit of
about $1,000 was realized, which sum was
used to transport the fair to Chicago
A bout six weeks after the close of the
fair in Los Angeles, it was reopened in
ran for five weeks. Over 10000 people
visited it.
The next year the fair was again placed
in the hands of the Chamber of Com
merce, and was held in Hazard S Pavilion.
Although the decorations were more
beautiful than the year before, the method
of displaying the fruit did not suit the
people so well; and the consequence was
that the attendance was smaller than the
year before; nevertheless, the fair was a
financial success, and profit OF about
$1,000 was realized, and which money was
divided between the chamber and the ex-
hibitors.
The next year 1893 the fai :, was carried
ID Cotton, where the people had built a
pavilion especially for its accommodation.
The people of San Bernardino county
turned out well, but the exhibits were not
as general in their character as had been
the custom. nor were there enough people
found to patronize the fair to make it
success, and the report of the commission
ers showed that about one-third as much
was taken in at the door as was generally
received in Los Angeles, and deficit OF
seven or eight hundred dollars still stands
on their books.
The fair of 1894 was made feature of the
Fair at San Francisco, in re-
sponse to the general expressed desire OF
orange growers that they should not be
called upon to provide fruit for two fairs.
Although a smaller amount of fruit was
exhibited than was usual, it was never
theless displayed to great advantage, and
accom- plished good results i'll the way of
advertising the country.
The present fair is managed by an or
ganization of citrus fruit growers, whose
are taken almost exclusively
from the exchanges, and it is in point of
fact an exchange show. The active man
agement OF the undertaking is in the
hands OF the Chamber Of Commerce, and
the proceeds, if any, will be divided
equally between the Chamber of Com
merce and the exhibitors.
The outlook was never better for a very
large attendance at the fair. The fruit
with better taste than has prevailed on
some other occasions. 1t is not built up
in huge figure pieces but is shown in
symmetrical and unique designs on
tables laid out after the plan of the park.
AS there has been no fair in the city for
two years the attendance of city people
will probably be very large, and as the
the probability OF good returns to all the
growers, an unusual number of country
people will be attracted into the city by
the event.
While the display of the fruit for artistic
effect, and the entertainment of the
visitors is an object with the manage
ment the Judging of the fruit is based
most experienced and experts men in the
citrus fruit business have been selected
to serve as judges. 1t has been customary
heretofore to appoint large committees
and trust that some of them would turn
up for the work. The committees are
made considerably smaller this year. No
men are appointed except those who posi-
are especially employed are allowed a fair
for their services.
An analytical chemist is engaged who
will test the fruit in a scientific way and
render a correct Judgment as to its merits.
Each box of fruit is judged by regular
scale, and Oh percentage of 100 is docked
Il certain number of points for each form
of blemish or lack of merit.
AS the citrus product of the section in
creases competition for the honor of
pemiums at the citrus fair becomes keener
and closer, and more critical Judgment is
required.
The Judging begins as soon as the fair
opens, and awards will probably be made
four or five days later.
The opening exercises this evening will
be very brief, and but little time will be
wasted III the ceremonies. The doors will
open at 30 O'Clock, when there will be
several selections by the Cassasa band.
AT 8 80 O'Clock ex-President Dan Free
man of the Chamber of Commerce, who
will preside, will introduce H. II. Smith
Of Los Angeles, vice president of the Cit
rus Fair Association who, in the un-
lvoidable absence of the president, A. FL.
Naftzger, will welcome the visitors. Presi-
lent W. G. Patterson, of the Chamber of
Commerce will deliver short address on
behalf OF that organization, after which
Richard Gird, managing director, will
formally declare the fair open. A
concert by the Cassasa band
will fill in the balance of the evening.
The following additional entries were
received yesterday: Redlands Junction,
j. Nordhoff and Oai, Ventura county,
10; San Gabriel, u; Lime Kiln, Tulare
f.r y. a..