The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-03-01
WILL PROBABLY
HOLD A FIESTA
Citizens Of Los Ang eles
Are Disposed to
Reconsider.
Nearly Sufficient Money Has
-. Been Guaranteed to Meet
the Expenses.
A Carnival Week Likely, Despite the
Niggardfy Attitude of the
Railroads.
Special Dispatch TO The Call.

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 2S.-The Fiesta
de Los Angeles for the year 1898, the
annual festival in which all Southern
California, and more particularly the
citizens OF Los Angeles, have taken
great pride and pleasure In the past,
will probably be held, despite the fact
that the two great railroad companies
entering the city have by the policy
they have tsursued endeavored to defeat
it.
=. The fiesta has become a feature in
this section of the State, and during the
several years it has been held in the
past it has always been a success 1t
has. generally speaking, been handled
and managed with business tact ana
sagacity, and has caused the city to be
advertised throughout the effete East
in a way which has certainly been pro-
>ductive of most satisfactory results to
all who. have the true interests OF
Southern California at heart.
1t is "a spring festival and week is
given. over TO the entertainment and
pleasure OF thousands of guests who
came TO the city for recreation and en-
iovment. Every day of the week is
generally covered in the programme
by a special feature in the way of an
attraction Naturally the crowds that
come to attend the fiesta are class
of gay and blithsQme merry-makers.
They come to have good time, within
the bounds of order and decency. They
are neither long faced, sad appearing
nor sanctimonious. For this reason
some of the more religiously inclined
=. "a Fiesta
favor.
But from a business standpoint the
annual holding of the fiesta at the
opening of spring has certainly been of
incalulable benefit to Los Angeles. 1t
has brought the interior merchant TO
the city and the wholesale dealer has
had an opportunity to extend the cour-
tesies to his customers. The great
masses have awaited themselves of the
opportunity during the visit to the
fiesta to either renew or open up for the
first business relations with. the retail
merchant.
The Eastern VISITORS many of whom
are still here in April have always en-
ioyed the fiesta and have gone East to
tell of the great celebration and the
generally excellent manner in which
if was handled.
The Southern Pacific and the Santa
Fe railroads. both Of which extensively
cover Southern California, have always
profited largely by the fiestas. They
have carried hundreds of thousands of
people to and FROM the city and their
homes during the annual celebration
With the usual and customary liberal
ity Of great corporations that are the
most benefited by any public movement
both roads have in the past made. sub
scriptions, in extent about one-fourth
what they ought to have done, to as
sist in advertising and making the
preliminary arrangements for the week
Of fun.
This wear, though, the Santa Fe and
Southern Pacific companies, with that
rare public spirit fer which they are
beth noted, declined to subscribe one
dollar for the. fiesta. The Santa Fe had
Just passed to new management in
Southern California and the directing
spirit, Mr.. w. g, Nevin, absolutely re-
fused to consider the proposition of as
sisting In arranging for the spring fes-
tival.
The Southern Pacific Company so it
is stated, stood prepared to subscribe
$1,000 provided the Santa Fe put up a
like sum, and there were citizens ready
to subscribe S2500 provided the railroad
companies gave their usual subscrip-
lions. The street railway companies
made a subscription of $500 under like
ing people who signed for $4,000 uncon-
iitionally.
All told $4,000 was required to make
the fiesta an assured success, but the
dog in the Tnanger policy of the Santa
Fe road seemed to be in fair way to
block the whole proposition, until a few
DAYS ago, when under the leadership of
such men as T. X. Rule. c. S. Walton
and others it was decided that an effort
should be put forth to hold a fiesta de-
spite the Southern Pacific and Santa
Pc roads.
There was $4,000 Internationally sub
scribed. The citizens who had sub
scribed the $500 conditionally, and the
eet-railroad companies who had put
down $500, practically waived the con-
ditions surrounding their contributions.
This made $4,000 that had been Sc
cured, provided the remaining $4,000
could be raised.
The work of securing it has been IN
augurated with zest. nj. A. Hamburger,
one of the most enterprising merchants
in this part of the State, when he
learned of the condition matters were
in, doubled his subscription from $3.50
to $500, and from other sources sub
scriptions were obtained so that the
deficiency is now only about $4,000. with
every prospect of its being raised.
1t will be a great victory for the peo-
pie if a fiesta is held this year. IT
will show the Southern Pacific and
Santa Fe roads that despite their tight
and parsimonious policy, the people can
manage to worry along without them
and about anything they undertake.
OF course, If the required $4,000 is not
raised, then 1t will be taken as con-
elusive evidence that a fiesta is not
desired But it now looks as though
the money would be at hand and that
within a very short time. Fiesta de
Los Angeles win this year be the event
for the last week of April.
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OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Dim