The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-02-16

The Chamber has no debt of any de-
scription.
The dues show an average of about 1908
per month, and the membership during
625 members The present membership
is 800. The loss from non-payment Of
dues has not been so great as in preceding
years. Initiation fees show the election
of 1907 new members during the year, an
increase of sixty-nine over the number
elected in 1893. The item of rent fund is
the remnant of subscription made by
the property owners of Main street to pay
the rent Of the Chamber while it remained
in that locality. Since its removal to
Broadway the Chamber has not been sim
ilarly favored, although its presence on
this street has undoubtedly improved the
value of property in this vicinity. The
paid by Southern California counties for
exhibit space in the hall.
Among the expenditures, the item of
salaries and labor is considerably the
largest, as would naturally be the case in
an establishment working in the lines
now filled by the Chamber of Commerce.
The paid officers of the Chamber are sec
rotary and superintendent and the EN-.
ployees are a stenographer, a collector,
who assists in the office work. and two
custodians. Additional help is required
from time to time when the work gets be-
hind or an unusual amount of entertain
ing makes more service necessary. The
salary and labor account this year aver
ages $425 month. The charging of the
exhibit and the very decided Increase in
the amount of business carried on by the
Chamber since its removal to the new
quarters has compelled the employment of
more help, but it is, nevertheless
difficult to keep up with the work. An
average of 400 or 500 people day visiting
1, e III, TO- r.,
formation or printed matter to send to
Eastern friends, constant succession of
committee meetings, conventions, visits
of distinguished guests, the undertaking
of public work of all kinds the answering
of steady stream of letters of enquiry,
and the maintenance of the general bust
ness of the organization which its large
membership, now over 800 in number,
naturally complexities matters. All these
things mean work and very hard work for
the six helpers enumerated above.
The figure for miscellaneous includes
printing, keep of horse, lighting and heat,
Office supplies, postage, etc.
The item of building and furnishing re-
fers to the cost of moving the exhibit and
its installation in the new quarters; also
the furnishing of the new rooms of the
Chamber, the purchase of gas and electric
fixtures, stoves, ETC., in the new building
and the payment for certain permanent
improvements winch were matter OF
agreement when the lease was entered
into. 1t will be noted that the reserve
fund has been diminished by the amount
of $1362. 30 in the course of the year. This
money was used chiefly in the purchase
of furniture and in substantial additions
in the equipment of the Chamber. An
inventory taken February list shows the
furniture of the offices, committee rooms
and assembly rooms of the Chamber to be
worth $22lS.15, against $500 year ago.
The exhibit materials now owned by the
Chamber are shown by the inventory to
have cost $685. II and are now valued at
little less than that sum. The member
ship committee for 1895 promises 300 new
members during their term of office. If
this promise is fulfilled the next report of
your secretary will show the reserve fund
at it's former figure.
The monthly expenses of the Chamber
are in the neighborhood of $1,000, and the
income just about the same. To maintain
the organization at its present standard
calls for the continuous encouragement by
word and act of every member who is in
terested in the work and appreciates its
importance. At no time in its history has
the Chamber been in position to accom-
plish so much good for the section it rep
resents. No one eScert th"-@ --'uA.ilu -