The herald., 1896-08-23
The Billboard Advertising
Craze in Full Force
An Enterprising Firm-An I'm.
mense Business for the First
Months Showing

S'~S' S"iS Ah tiiS Ivy hdVC uCCii
wondering for what use the thousands
of feet of high board fences were to
be put to, but they are no longer in
doubt, for these fences are now COW
cred with the most artistic designs for
advertising the wares of the leading
firms doing business in this city.
Like all legitimate advertising, bill
board advertising has made a wonder.
full advancement in the direction of
the artistic and beautiful, and one
feature which has made this so pop
ular is the fact that the designer can
embody in his work methods and
striking conceptions that show their
business intent and purposes up in the
most attractive manner and arrest
and hold attention SO that "all who
have eyes may read"
Probably there is no city in the
United States that offers more advant-
ages or will show better results to bill
board advertisers than Los Angeles.
First, the city covers a large area
probably larger than any city of its
populatlon-and has also large num-
Der of vacant lots in the heart of the
city. 1t has one of the best systems
of electrical roads in the country, and
the weather is such that the cars are
built so that large portion of the
passengers ride on the outside, thus
having a splendid opportunity of view
ing and reading these artistic signs,
and the various firm names are indel-
IDLY impressed on ones mind and
memory and sooner or later bring
good returns to the advertisers.
One month ago a company was
formed in this city under the name Of
the Merchants Ad-Sign Co.. to do a
general advertising, sign and bill post
ing business in the city of Los Angeles
and Southern California. They secured
the most valuable lots for this pur.
pose on the most prominent streets in
this city; have erected high, tight
board fences, and their business for
the first month has far exceeded what
they anticipated. Their patrons already
number seventy-five of the most
prominent wholesale and retail dealers
in this city. 1t is the general remark
that their designs are the handsomest
and most attractive ever shown on this
coast, and they certainly are the work
of good and experienced artists.
This company was incorporated 4
few days ago, and w. B. Wiltshire,
who was for many years President Of
the Wiltshire Safe and Scale company,
was elected President; H. G. Wiltshire.
Vice President; F. Arnold, Secretary;
H. w. Hellman, Treasurer, and T. M.
Sterling, General Manager, who for
many years was manager of the Cali.
fornia Ad-Sign company of San Fran
cisco. He has had vast experience in
this line. With the energy always
displayed by these parties in all enter
prises they engage in, and with ample
capital at their back, they are bound
to push this business to the front, and
will give the Los Angeles merchants
chance they never had before to
advertise in this manner. Large con-
tracts have already been made with
many of the best concerns in this city.
Some of these contracts amount to from
$1,000 to $4,000 a year. They will
also do a general bill posting business,
and have secured contracts from the
leading theaters, and have also made
arrangements to carry on their busl.
ness in Pasadena, Santa Monica and
other places in Southern California.
They have just completed novel and
unique office of corrugated iron at o3o
South Broadway, and have secured a
large yard adjoining in which to paint
their signs, giving employment to
twelve painters AMI carpenters, and
are receiving orders faster than they
can execute them. The public is
invited to inspect their work at the
yard.