The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-02-16
FREEMAKS VALED|CTORY
The Retiring Presidents Last
Official Act
AN ABLE ANNUAL ADDRESS
A Backward Glance at the Work OF
His Administration
Given Up-Perseverance VIII Be
Crowned With Success
To the Members of the Chamber of Com


and general encouragement prevailing in
nearly all sections of the Union, it is my
peculiar good fortune to be able on this
occasion to congratulate my fellow mem
bers of this Chamber of Commerce on the
prosperous year that has Just closed in
the city of Los Angeles. 1t is hard for
us, who have witnessed the extraordinary
amount OF building in progress, and have
seen new enterprises springing up on all
sides, to realize what an unhappy state of
affairs prevails in most other sections of
the Union. 1t is also hard to realize that
during the past twelve months Southern
California has been quietly and comfort
son, formerly an object of dread, but
now through the beneficent workings of
our irrigation systems, robbed of most of
its evil possibilities.
The new year opens with bright pros
poets. The orange growers are assured
of good crop and an eager market. The
grain yield will prove plentiful. Addi-
tions to the population of the city con-
tinue to come, for the most part, from a
desirable class, who build comfortable
homes and make responsible citizens. A
ride through the city reveals surprisingly
few houses to rent, which shows that the
construction of new buildings in the city
last year was not in excess of the demand.
The general condition of business, both
wholesale and retail, is brisk and health
full. While on the whole we have no COM
plant to offer on the year that has Just
passed, the outlook for the one just begin
ming certainly promises much better
things.
In my report year ago l spoke at
some length on the subject of good roads,
advising that the Chamber undertake
persistent campaign in the direction of
securing permanent and well-kept high
ways throughout the county. The Cham
her does not ALWAYS pYnect tn SI1ccapd in,
what it undertakes, but the failure in
this case was peculiarly discouraging, as
the opposition came from an unforeseen
source. The proposition which we ad-
vocated was to bond the whole county
for the construction Of system of high
ways. Road taxes are now paid by the
country districts alone, but interest on
county bonds must be paid by the city as
well. 1t was clearly shown that the in
crease of taxation, in any actually re-
suited, would fall almost entirely on the
city. No opposition to the plan was,
however, manifested in Los Angeles,
where without difficulty 5000 signatures to
a petition for better roads by this plan
were obtained. In the country districts,
the section receiving the greater part OF
the benefit, opposition at once developed,
which finally resulted in the filing of
The Chamber thereupon reluctantly
| abandoned the undertaking.
am emphatically of the opinion, how
ever, that the work should not be allowed
to rest here. A persistent agitation is now
is now in progress all over the Union OH
have shown in better road laws and i'm
| proved road building in a number of
| states. There is probably no state in the
Union where roads could be built at
| smaller original cost or permanently
maintained at less annual expense, THAI
in, Eol nd NJ tat II
roads are more needed for carting supplies
to market and for the use of tourists and
pleasure seekers. The Supervisors of the
county are disposed to do all in their pow
er to forward this movement, but they
must be upheld and encouraged by popu-
lar sympathy. hope soon to see the
good roads work actively resumed in the
Chamber in some practical form.
In this connection l desire to say that
my work in the Chamber and other pub
lie bodies, as well as experience in life
| generally, has convinced me of the value
Of agitation. The criticism is frequently
passed on organizations like the Chamber
Of Commerce that they spend good deal
| of time in talk and that they sometimes
pass resolutions, the latter act being often
| referred to as though it were little less
than misdemeanor. The resolutions of
public body are its carefully considered
and official expressions of opinion. The
| daily newspaper, which is a most valued
member of modern human society, ex-
| presses its opinion, or the opinion of it's
| individual editor, some 1865 times in the
course OF year on every conceivable. var
| iety of topics, and those opinions are
usually read and studied with interest.
| This being the case, the reason does not
| appear why substantial organization of
| business men and property owners should
not speak its mind II so disposed, nor
why its utterance should not command
rAAs
hand, that mere talk will not build rail-
| roads, nor protect harbors from being
monopolized, nor establish tourists ho-
tells, nor construct better highways. yet,
on the other hand, there are many in
stances i'll history where such ends have
! been accomplished without good deal of
| talk beforehand. The. Chamber Of Com
merce of Los Angeles certainly. does a
| good deal else besides holding -public
meetings to agitate for important reforms,
but the latter feature of its work is, never
theless, one that is not to be passed over
lightly.
| The Chamber has several times in the
course of the year addressed communca-
| tions, petitions and resolutions to the
| postal authorities at Washington askine
for better facilities for the handling OF
the local mail of Los Angeles CITY. II
appears that eternal persistence is the
price of anything obtained from the Ma
tional Government for this far-off corne +
OF the Union, and although our efforts
have been thus far only partially success
| full, for the postal accommodations are
even yet shamefully inadequate to the
needs of the city, the Chamber must con
tinue this crusade until better results
follow.
| In my last report spoke with approval
OF the formation of associations OF fruit
growers for the handling of the citrus
product by the growers themselves. and
declared my belief that if they were con.
Quoted on business principles they would
solve for the producer the great problem
of the profitable marketing of the fruit in
the East. 1t is gratifying to note the sue
cess OF these exchanges and the healthier
tone of the Eastern market under their
discreet management. This plan has
proven successful in other states and Will
undoubtedly gain a permanent foothold
here.
take pleasure in congratulating our
friends of the Merchants Association on
the happy manner in which the Fiesta
was observed last spring under their aus
pices and l have no doubt that the en-
tertainment this year will far exceed tna
last. This annual festival will not only
contribute to the material welfare of the
section by bringing many thousand tour
lists into the city, but will also promote
pleasant good fellowship and an effective
| esprit du corps among our people. IL
should receive hearty support from every
| citizen.
| The past year has marked an important
| epoch in the history of the chamber in