The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-15
Judge Carter Gives Greeting TO
the Guests on Behalf of
the City.
The Great Pavilion Crowded With
Exhibits of Fruits and
;. Flowers.

REMAINDER OF the week. her nagS are at
the top of the stats and flying a welcome
TO the whole State.
To-day the San Joaquin Valley Citrus
Fair opened here. 1t is really the first
affair of the kind that can be rightfully
dignIfied with the name of fair. Last win
.ter-though it would be more proper to
call that season here by some other name,
some name that carries with it the aroma
of oranges and orange blossoms, fruits and
howers-they had little exhibit here in
Armory Hall of citrus fruits just for
starter. 1t was exclusively a Fresno
County affair. No other county was in it.
This year they are nearly all in it and
doing themselves proud. Fresno decided
to make it San Joaquin Valley event,
and noteworthy one at that. She has sue
ceeded. The citrus fair is held with the
purpose of benehtting every county in
the valley, though King and Kern
counties have not as yet sent in exhibits.
The San Joaquin Valley wants to show
the shippers of California and the people
OF the whole earth that she can raise Just
as good oranges and lemons as Southern
California, which they say has been
looked upon as the place of supply for
such fruit, but shall be looked upon so no
more. Fresno and the valley counties
got up this fair to show that oranges, as
one instance, ripen and are ready for
market from six weeks to one month
earlier than they do south of Tehachapi
and that they are just as fine oranges as
are warmed by the sun and wet by the
dew in any cline.
Another object of the fair is to promote
"a spirit of unity and cooperation among
the counties of the valley. As an iIlustra-
ton of the profitable effect of such har-
mony and unity they point to the united
counties and fruit interests of the south
ern portion of the State.
The weather was fine. A more brilliant
or more invigorating day for the opening
of a fair could not have been made to or
der. Nature smiled not only on the
fields, the vineyards and the orchards of
the broad San Joaquin, but upon her prin-
cipaI event also.
e A large pavilion was especially erected
for the occasion. 1t is on 1 street, between
Kern and Tulare. is 160x14O feet in dimen-
sions, and mas %, 400 feet OF floor space
Over the main entrances on 1 street, ex-
tending nearly across the front of the
block letters, 'tErected for the San Joa-
quin Valley Citrus Fair"
Along the cornice of the front is a long
stretch of red. white and blue, while
above, on stats, floats Old Glory in num-
erous array, the row being dotted here
and there by remnants of green and yell
low, the colors of the fair-green for the
leaf and yellow for the orange. Palms
which grow so luxuriously in this section
are tackled in graceful arrangement along
the front and side of the pavilion.
But it is on the inside of the pavilion
that the decorations and the ornaments
and the vast array of fruits the more ex-
cites the admiration of the visitor. There.
amid the odor of oranges and flowers, pre-
served fruits and palms and in brilliant
glow of electric light the opening exer-
cises took place tonight.
Justy's band of thirteen pieces supplies
the music for the fair. The committee on
arrangements is huggiug itself with de-
light over Justy's statement that he has
secured several soloists once members of
Sousa's band 10 tickle the tympanums
and elevate the souls of the citrus ad mir
ing crowds during the week.
The opening piece tonight was the
march "Citrus Fair" composed by w.
Scott Haygood. The Apollo Club, vocal
organization, will also be among the
musical attractions of the week. The
committee intended to have some literary
exercises. too, but found that the sound
waves from the average amateur voice
would hardly extend from the band
stand beyond the second row of posts.
a good-sized audience attended the
opening night, fully as many ladies as
bain0 rTaqenf TnAno Stanton
L. Carter of Fresno consented to deliver
the opening address. He spoke from the
band-stand, which is the hub of the
pavilion, which all the displays confront.
e. L. Bernhard oficiated as master of
ceremonies. He made few Introductory
remarks. in which he briefly reviewed the
efforts of the committees to make the fair
a success and expressed the hope that this
exposition was q starting point for Others
of the future.
Then Judge Carter was introduced.
After extending welcome to the citizens
of the San Joaquin Valley, visitors and
friends, the Judge said:
mo passport is needed to traverse
Fresno's streets and no walls encompass
her borders, but every road and avenue is
oman and unobstructed for all to come and
He said the fair was designed not alone
to show the progress made IN this county,
biIt in the entire San Joaquin Nal6y as
we'll especially in the production OF citrus
fruits; to show the possibilities which for
SO many years had lain dormant and I'M
recognized; to stimulate and encourage
the expansion of these productions, which
were destined to add untold millions to
our wealth; to cultivate spirit of friendly
rivalry among citizens OF the various Sec
tons adapted to their successful growth.
THAT their production is no longer an
experiment, is proven by the golden
spiendors which now surround us, he
said. That this valley can successfully
compete with the far-famed southland OF
this State has already been demonstrated,
and it but remains for our people to avail
themselves of this plenteous source OF
wealth which natures generous bounty
has placed so easily within their reach 10
become one of the leading counties In the
production of these fruits. We are proud
of this fair city and the marvellous results
her citizens have accomplished IN a lew
short years. We believe that no more
favored spot can be found in this great
State. We believe we can truly say OF our
fair city, in the language OF one OF Cali
fornia's poets, whose brilliant son Is an
hOnored resident of Our CITY: