The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-25
AMID FRESNO'S VINES,
Half Million Excursion
Reaches the Pretty
City.
HEARTY WELCOME GIVEN
Best of Wines Are Placed at
the Disposal of Delighted
Travellers.
TAKING IN ALL THE SIGHTS.
The People Do Themselves Proud
With Music, Banquet and
Speeches.
HEARTY WELCOME GIVEN
TAKING IN ALL THE SIGHTS

FRESNO, CAL, April 24.-Fresno has
been entertaining a party of the Half
million Club excursionists this afternoon
and evening. The handsome special ar
rived from the south at noon, but owing to
a misunderstanding as to when the visit
ors would reach this city, they were not
met at the depot until the COMMITTEES of
the Chamber of Commerce and Hundred
Thousand Club had been notified.
Those who welcomed the eXcursioniSts
were A. L. Hobb, William Glass, DR.. E. c..
Dunn, J. c. Nourse, S. S. Parsons and H.
O. Buker of the Hundred Thousand Club,
and A. r. Briggs, Louis Gundelfnger, c..
Il. Walters and o. ]. Woodward 10 the
Chamber of Commerce.
After an informal reception the travellers
were shown over the city. AT 1:30 they
were taken out to the large vineyards east
of town. At the Barton they were enter
tanned in the immense winery, where the
whole stock was at their disposal.
The visitors expressed themselves as de-
lighted with the country through which
they had passed and with Fresno's famous
vintage. After spending some time at the
Barton the party returned to town, arriv-
ing here at o'clock. They spent the re-
mainder of the afternoon in looking over
the city and becoming acquainted with the
leading men of Fresno.
The very best feeling was manifested,
and Fresno people heartily applauded the
purpose OF the Half-million Club to uuite
firmly the north and south. This evening
the committees of the Hundred Thousand
Club and the Chamber of Commerce gave
the excursionists musical and social en-
tertainment at the depot.
Arthur R. Briggs of the Fresno and San
Francisco Chambers of Commerce pre-
sided at the entertainment, which was
given at the hotel.
w. NJ. Bunker, chairman of the HALF
million Club. made strong address favor
ing State unity. His club, he said, was
not organized that the members might en-
Joy banquets, but that they might work
fer the good of the whole State.
The lack of harmony between the North
and the South had prevented progress and
now there must be unity. The Half-mil-
lion Club had begun its work by persuading
the cities near San Francisco to form i'm
provement societies and the scope of the
clubs operations is constantly enlarging.
Mr.. Briggs, speaking for Fresno, said
that this city, which is IN the geographical
center of the State, had never. entertained
any wish to have California dividee Presi-
dent Cline of the Pasadena Board of Trade
followed in a speech warmly commencing
the object of the Half Million Club in en-
deavoring to develop the whole State. Los
Angeles would never be so prosperous, he
said, as when San Francisco has 100000
citizens.
Other speakers followed, and at the close
of the formal exercises banquet was
served and music was furnished. The
remainder of the evening was passed in
visiting. AT late hour the excursionists
repaired to their cars and at midnight they
pulled out for the north. The sentiment of
the citizens of this city is that the visit
will be of great value in crystallizing the
movement for State unity.