Los Angeles herald., 1908-02-18
GLAD HAND
TO MINING
DISTRICTS
CHAMBER OF MINES TO REACH
OUT FOR TRADE
First Annual Dinner of Young organ"
ization Finds 1t Brimful OF
Enthusiasm and High
Purposes

That the purpose of the Los Angeles
chamber of mines is one that relates
directly to the future of the city was
the monotone of the first annual din
ner and installation of officers of that
organization at Levy's last night. Inc
twofold purpose, to stimulate trade
with the great mineral regions and TO
protect the legitimate mining enter
prises, was declared laudable, unselI-
ish one which tended to increase pros
perity, prestige and population.
The chamber of mines is a yearllng
among the many public spirited ones OF
the city. Organically it is without
purse or scrip being in the Language
of its constitution, without capital
stock and for the public good" The
retiring president Gen. j. r. Mathews,
made it plain that the purpose inter-
ested every citizen, for it means the
diversion of the mining trade to this
city, the support of good and the os-
tracism of bad mining businesses and
the establishment of new industries
incidental to mining. To carry out the
purposes he said the organization was
entitled to a membership of 1000, and
that the effort of the directors during.
the coming year would be to promote
that membership. Then the chamber
could better secure needed legislation,
could expand to larger quarters and
provide an educating and comprehen-
sive display of minerals, could make it's
registration for mining enterprises
necessity to those that would prosper
and could by its excursions to the min
ing districts, as was shown by the
Nevada trip last year, increase the
trade His peroration was prophetic
of what united effort will bring:
For a Greater City
"I am personally gratified in the sue
cess of the chamber, as it has grown
out of and passed the experimental
stage to that of live commercial body
of nearly five hundred members, the
success of which is not alone due to
the energy and tact displayed by the
directors, but the unstinted loyalty and
support of the far-seeing business men
of Los Angeles, who have so faithfully
Endorsed the chamber of commerce.
the Merchants and Manufacturers
association anc the chamber of mines
these in their sphers representing the
three greatest factors in the advance
ment of commercial growth and pros
perity, viz. agriculture, manufacture
and mining. After this, with tho
building OF smelters and iron foun-
dries, the opening of the San Pedro
harbor Cloth inner and outer) and the
completion of the Panama canal, to-
gether with our matchless climate, 1t
needs but slight stretch of the inlagi-
nation to tell us that in the near flu
ture the greatest commercial center on
this coast will be the city of Los An
geles."
The report of Secretary George w.
Arndt amplified the presidents. It re-
lated the history of the organization
and told of the thought it had given to
legislation that would modernize the
California mining laws for the protec-
ton of the investor. federal legisla-
ton for the disposal of the oil and as
phaltum lands, the establishment of a
bureau of mines and the establishment
here of testing and experimental sta
ton, and others. Its correspondence
bureau had answered $500 inquiries
concerning mining companies, which
had given the chamber a chance
to speak for the honest enterprises of
the southwest The elimination of the
mining fraud Was a matter of great
concern to the directors and the per-
lection of the registration system and
its thorough understanding by the pub
lie would be a boon. The chamber did
not intend to pass on the value of min
ing stocks. but merely to inquire into
the integrity of enterprises and certify
to such as were found based on real
business foundation.
Permanent Exposition
Mr. Arndt was particularly urgent az
to the good that would be done by d
permanent exposition by the chamber
Of minerals, mining supplies and ma
chinery and the erection of a smelter
here. He said the chamber had assur-
ances that the 1909 meeting of the
American mining congress would be
held here and that the chamber should
prepare for it.
About two hundred were at the BAN
quet board and during the evening
sixteen responses. largely of an infor-
NAL character, were made. Mayor
Harper declared the influence of tho
chamber on the future of Los Angeles
was important. The start had been
made and it must be continued by the
most carefully managed missionary
work in the field. and this concerned
not alone those interested in mining,
but every industry.
President stiIson Speaks
The new president Fielding j. Still
son, when introduced answered the
question what can the chamber do to
make Los Angeles the mining center
OF the southwest?"
First, he said, the commercial houses
must work industriously for the min
ing trade, and he reminded the guests
how great the influence of the Com
stock lode had been on the fortunes of
San Francisco. Second. 1t must fur
nish protection to the investor in min
ing stocks by driving out the dishonest
promotions. 1t is criminal, he de-
clared, for companies under the cloak
of legal interpretations to take advan-
tage of the legitimate industry of min
ing, an industry that in this country is
second only to agriculture.
Mr.. Stilson thought the easiest way
to accomplish currency reform was by
digging into the ground and getting the
true basis of all currency out and that
the industry. carefully and honestly
managed, would do this.
Many Other Speakers
other responses were made by w. D.
stephens, president of the chamber of
commerce; o. e. Parish. president of
the realty board; Col Tim Spellacy, an
oil operator; Judge L. v. Root OF
Needles, who predicted that the desers
region of California would yet produce
more than "all your tourists and or
chards'; L. F.. Parsons, assistant Sec
rotary of the Los Angeles stock ex-
change; e. A. Hayes of Prescott, Ari-
IONA, who said the wealth of that
great region was only awaiting the
hand of Los Angeles; G. III. Piummer.
-.