The herald., 1897-02-13
An Outline of the Work During
the Past Year
NEW PRESIDENTS ADDRESS
The Policy to Be Pursued During the
Comisg Two Years
The Secretafy's Report Shows That Plnances
Are In Very Good Shape
Cash Balance to til. Credit Of the OrganIza-
tlon-Rsport Of the Superintendent.
Details Of tbs Work-tioteIs and
Manufactures


The annual meeting of the chamber OF
commerce was held in the clubroom yes
terday afternoon. There was something
over the average of members in atten-
dance. Shortly after 3 o'clock the meet
ing was called to order by President w
c. Patterson, who delivered his fare
well, address, as follows:
MR.. PATTERSON'S ADDRESS.
To the Members of the Chamber OF
Commerce: Within reasonable limits,
can only present very brief general
review of the work of the chamber dur
ing the past year. Detailed information
is embodied in the reports Of the secre-
tary. superintendent Of exhibits and the
various committees.
In the grand work which the chamber
of commerce considers it's function tc
perform for Southern California. the
last year has not been discouraging.
Los Angeles seems to have been only
on the rim of the great zone of financial
depression which has prevailed within
the United States. While she has suf-
fered somewhat. there has been no such
stringency as has prevailed east of the
Rocky mountains.
The seasonable rains assure good crops
and all indications point to prosperous
year. There is no reason to doubt that
Southern California is only in her in
fancy as to the development of her vari-
Gus and varied resources, and that she
offers to the investor and the capitalist
as favorable opportunities as any other
section of the United States.
The imminent expenditure of two or
three millions of dollars for deepwater
harbor, and the almost positive assur-
aEce that the Salt Lake railroad will be
speedily built. promise an additional i'm
petus to our growth and prosperity.
Touching the question of immigration
I would allude. however, to the fact to
which called attention in my inaugural
address. and which has been repeatedly
emphasized in the official publications
of the chamber, viz, that this Is not an
inviting field for persons who must de-
pend entirely upon salaried positions for
their living. Our alluring climate has
drawn hence such large numbers Of per-
soEs without means who have come hop
ing to escape the rigors of eastern Win
ters or to improve the health Of them
selves or their families, that there are
not half enough desirable places to alb
sorb the supply.
Membership.-Them membership of the
chamber, notwithstanding the dcpres-
sion of the times, has been we'll main-
tanned. While 1t embraces very large
proportion of our best business and
professional people, there are yet some
who have neglected to become members.
Every good citizen should esteem 1t not
only a privilege, but an absolute duty
to support, by his membership at least,
an institution which Is doing so much
for the development of this section OF
the country.
Death Of Director Ford.-Tt fell to the
lot OF the board during the year to lose
by death one of it's most efficient direc-
tors, Mr.. c. w. r. Ford.
His never-failing public spirit, his un-
selfish regard for others-in short, his
unqualified nobility of character and up
right life-rendered him especially at
tractive to his associates and made his
loss to- them the more irreconcilable.
Griffith Park-One of the most import
ant events in the history Of Los Angeles
was the gift to the city by Mr.. G. j. Grif-
fifth of a great park of some 5000 acres.
His munificence was appreciated by
the entire populace, and his name has
been forever perpetuated.
The chamber very fittingly created
him it's first honorary life member.
The exhibit-The permanent exhibit
has not only been maintained but great
ly improved. Touching upon this point
/ would call attention to the interesting
report of Mr.. Virgins, the superintend-
ent of exhibits.
La Fiesta-La Fiesta so successfully
inaugurated some three years ago. has
become permanent feature. 1t was or
ignally projected and the first two car
nivals successfully carried through by
the Merchants association. Last yeal
there was formed from the three hodies
board of trade, Merchants and Manu-
facturerS' association, and the
chamber of commerce-a separ-
ate organization, called the "Ls
Fiesta association" The festiva
of last year, under the new organi-
zation was a tremendous success, ant
La Fiesta for 1897 promises to be an i'm.
provement upon its predecessors.
These annual festivities are beneficial
to our own people as a source of recrea.
tion and relaxation, and they also serve
In a valuable degree to call attention OF
people of other states and other lands tt
our marvellous and attractive country
Home Products Exposition-I am glat
to state that the Home Products ex.
POSITION, conducted unQer tne auspices
Of our sister organization, the Merchants
and Manufacturers association, was ir
every way a marked success. Its effect
In calling attention to the products O,
our own state must be beneficial and
far-reaching.
World and Other Fairs-The result o,
our exhibits at the Columbian exhibition
the Midwinter fair at San Francisco an6
the Atlanta exposition, have been esti.
mated as having increased the popula.
tion of Los Angeles county by not les.
than $4,000 with consequent accession
of capital
With such encouragement 1t behooves
the chamber and our people to promptly
take steps looking to adequate exhibits
at the Transmississippi exposition al
Omaha, the Interstate exposition al
Nashville, the Worlds horticultural ex.
hibition at Hamburg. and the Worlds
exposition at Paris in 1900 Efforts are
being made to secure appropriation
from the legislature in aid Of these prof.
ects with excellent prospects Of success
Oriental Steamships-Within the yeal
at least three projects have been eug-
9A0tn6 lo01rine "a 4ha Ant = ~ sh,,1ent <,