Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-17
WHY LOS ANGELES is BEST
ADVERTISED CITY ON EARTH

greatness to former disaster. twenty
years ago Los Angeles had boom. 1t
was a daisy. 1t began in November,
1885, when the Santa Fe railroad was
completed, and lasted three years. Real
estate transfers rose from $1,000,00O in
January, 1886, to $11 1880, 1854 in July, 1887.
That was highwater mark. The banks
punctured the boom that time, and let
the wind out of 1t. General demoral-
ization followed as a matter of course.
Thousands lost all they had. Those
who We're able left the country, most of
those who were not added to the prev
alent gloom by prophecies of further
disaster. Out of the necessities of this
situation grew the chamber of COM
merce. Some powerful and effective
agency was needed to come forward
and convince the people that every
reasonable claim which had ever been
advanced for the future development
and prosperity of Southern California
was true, and would in time be full
filled, and that no greet disasters were
impending from the collapse of the in
flation, provided only the people went
soberly to work in the material lines
that the climate and soil presented for
their efforts. With this purpose in view
a number of far-seeing men got to-
gether in the fall of 1888 and formed
the organization which turned disaster
into victory.
The Los Angeles chamber of COM
merce is not a trading exchange, it is
not a merchants protective aSsocia-
tion, 1t is not a combination of ship
pers for mutual benefit, it is not an
organization of business men exclu-
sively. Its objects, as stated in it's by
laws, are "to foster and encourage
commerce, to stimulate home manufac-
lures, to assist in securing a market
for our products, induce immigra-
tion, and the subdivision, settlement
and cultivation of our lands, to assist
in the development of the material re-
sources OF the region, and generally to
promote the business interests of
Southern California" It's membership
is open to ANY reputable person, or
any business firm or corporation" the
admission fee is S. and the dues are 81
a month. With such latitude it is not
surprising that its membership in
cludes representatives of all classes,
professions and lines of business.
Lawyers, doctors, preachers, teachers,
writer's, engineers, farmers, as well as
manufacturers aid wholesale or retail
merchants are on its rolls.
There are now 215O members, larger
number, it is claimed, than any similar
organization in the United States can
show, relative population of cities being
considered. So much for the organiza-
tion and it's objects. Now let us see
how 1t has worked.
How Chamber of Commerce Works
While the chamber of commerce Is
primarily a business. organization, it
holds as one Of its cardinal principles
that all matters that relate TO the gen.
eral welfare of country are business
matters and that the business pros
perity of the individual is absolutely de-
pendent upon the general prosperity
and advancement Of the country as a
whole. 1t follows therefore that its
work covers a surprisingly wide range.
It's chief undertakings have been sum-
married as follows:
/. General Business Inetrests-Ques-
tions Of trade and transportation; in
quiry into new commercial opportuni-
ties.
2. Legislative Matters - Appropria-
tions needed; effects of tariff changes;
inquiry into proposed new laws.
3. Publication - General descriptive
pamphlets; collection of statistics;
pamphlets bearing on specific topics.
4. Advertising the Country-Circula-
tion of printed matter; advertising in
magazines; use of special devices.
5. Exhibits and Fairs-Citrus and
agricultural displays in Los Angeles;
the permanent display at the chamber;
participation in state and international
fairs.
G. Tntertainment-To congressional
and legislative committees; to men of
prominence; arranging for conven-
tions.
7. Manufacturing-Co of
new opportunities; supplying informa-
tion when desired.
g. Development of Commerce-Wor
for deep-water harbor; work in the in
terest Ce the Nicaragua canal.
8. Supplying Information About the
Country-Answering letters of inquiry;
issuing pamphlets on horticultural and
other matters; supplying material to
writer's.
10. Local Public improvements
Parks, boulevards, forests, etc.
1t will be seen that five of these lines
of endeavor are what is becoming
known as publicity, which is but an
other term for advertising. The first
important step taken by the chamber
of commerce in the way of practical
and effective publicity work was the
establishment of permanent exposi-
tion of Southern California products,
working on the theory already men,
toned that all that helps to build up
Southern California Is of direct value
to Los Angeles. This exposition has
grown until it has become one of the
great sights OF the city, one that few
visitors fail TO see, admire and be inn
pressed by. 1t Is located in the sec
ond floor of the chamber of commerce