Part Six: Chapter VII
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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The very efficiency of the Chamber of Commerce as an organized agency for promoting the development of San Diego makes it unnecessary to write its history with any degree of fullness. This is so because the great affairs with which it has been identified belong to the history of the city as a whole, and have therefore been dwelt upon elsewhere in these pages. During its existence of thirty-six years, the Chamber of Commerce has had an active and influential hand in all public efforts to increase transportation facilities by land and sea; in the promotion of all state and national legislation related to the material development of the Southwest; in all that has been attempted or accomplished in connection with harbor improvement and local coast defenses; and even in matters of such world-wide significance as the opening of Oriental trade and the construction of the Isthmian Canal.
Like most organizations of the kind, the Chamber of Commerce has had a somewhat uneven existence. It has seen days of growth, and days of decline. But latterly it has become so serviceable to the community, so strong in public confidence that membership is regarded as a duty of citizenship, while a call to office in the organization is considered a substantial honor. The history of the Chamber dates back to the beginning of 1870, when David Felsenheld called a preliminary meeting at his store on the corner of F and Sixth Streets, where the Express building now stands. Formal organization was effected on January 22d, Aaron Pauly being elected president; G. W. B. McDonald, vice-president; Joseph Nash, secretary; and A. E. Horton, treasurer. The constitution and by-laws were drawn up by a committee composed of G. W. B. McDonald, E. W. Morse, D. Choate, David Felsenheld, and Joseph Nash. The purpose of the organization was stated as follows in the preamble to the constitution:
The first important business transacted by the Chamber was the passage of a resolution instructing the secretary to communicate with W. B. Webb of New York in regard to the need of a competing steamship line between San Diego and San Francisco. As an inducement, Mr. Horton offered the free use of his new wharf at the foot of Fifth Street. While the offer was not accepted by them, the desired competition was obtained before the close of the year, the steamer William Taber being put in service between the two ports. Competition did not last, however, as the new line was soon absorbed by the Pacific Coast Steamship Company. On May 5, 1870, the first advertising matter was issued by the Chamber. It took the form of a pamphlet prepared by D. Choate and E. W. Morse, and entitled Climate, Resources, and Future Prospects of San Diego. The first memorial drafted was addressed to the state legislature. It urged the passage of a bill authorizing boards of supervisors to levy special taxes for the construction of roads and highways. One of the earliest and most successful enterprises with which the Chamber of Commerce became identified was the building of a turnpike to Yuma to accommodate the overland freight shipped from Arizona to tide-water. There was already a highway in use between San Pedro and Fort Ynma, but the haul was 120 miles longer. A turnpike company was formed for the purpose of forwarding the work. Aaron Pauly was elected president; H. H. Dougherty, secretary; 0. P. Galloway, superintendent of construction; and C. J. Fox, civil engineer. Subscription lists were opened and $10,000 pledged in a short time, the citizens appearing to realize from the start the vast importance of the project. Among the prominent names on this list were the following: John G. Capron, $1,000; T. J. Higgins, $100; E. W. Nottage, $100; Charles Gassen, $150; E. W. Morse, $100; George W. Hazzard, $100; J. M. Pierce, $100; Steiner and Klauber, $250; J. S. Mannasse, $200; A. Pauly, $100. It is interesting to note that the sum of $6,000 was raised in San Francisco for this purpose. The records of the Chamber reflect something of the excitement occasioned by the controversy over the tide-lands, and tell of a stormy meeting held January 21, 1871, when Editor Truman of the Bulletin appeared to press the charge made in his newspaper, to the effect that two of the city trustees had "packed" the Chamber in order to obtain its endorsement of a big land steal. Truman seems to have held his own, as resolutions were passed declaring that more care should be taken in admitting members. The Chamber was very active in connection with the movement for turning the San Diego River into False Bay, and its influence was strongly and persistently used in behalf of the Texas & Pacific during the whole period in which the town had hopes of Scott's ill-fated enterprise. Next to its work in behalf of railroad promotion, the constant activity of the Chamber in urging harbor improvement was probably its most important service. Despite the fact that the Bay of San Diego was at that time the only port on the coast of California outside of San Francisco, considerable difficulty was experienced in maintaining its position. After gaining recognition as a port of entry in 1872, we find in the minutes of March 4, 1880, notice of the appointment by President George W. Hazzard of a committee, consisting of Douglas Gunn, A. Klauber, and J. S. Gordon, to memorialize Congress relative to permitting San Diego to remain a port of entry. This effort was successful. After a long agitation of the subject of more frequent mail service between San Diego and northern points, there occurs in the record of a meeting, November 24, 1876, a resolution of thanks to Senator A. A. Sargent for having secured for San Diego a daily mail service. The matter of proper fortifications for the harbor was taken up at an early date by the Chamber of Commerce and never permitted to drop until adequate military protection had been provided. The defenseless condition of the harbor was emphasized with no uncertain force and endless repetition, communications and many memorials urging the necessary appropriations being sent to Congress. October 4, 1883, General Scofield wrote from Washington that a two-company post had been decided upon for San Diego, and this has since been maintained.
Presidents of the Chamber of Commerce
In the same year a curious proposition was made to the Chamber of Commerce regarding the waters of that portion of the bay region known as False Bay. G. S. Pidgeion had invented a tide-power machine, capable of producing enormous horsepower from the inrush and outrush of the 12,000,000,000 cubic yards of water taken in and emptied from False Bay every eight hours. This power was to be distributed throughout the city for every known purpose. Messrs. Gunn, Marston, and Silliman were appointed an investigating committee. Their report was favorable to the enterprise, whereupon a mass meeting was called under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce. Horton Hall was crowded to the doors. Inventor Pidgeon explained his device at great length. He wanted $200,000 capital to start the enterprise, and prophesied that its inception would mean "the making of San Diego," inasmuch as his plant would supply power for factories of all kinds at a ridiculously low figure. The Chamber of Commerce appears to have been quite favorably impressed with the scheme, but whether expert mechanics and engineers reported the device faulty or whether the inventor himself gave up the enterprise is not recorded in the minutes of the Chamber. At any rate the Pidgeon Tide Power Company never materialized. With the growth of the city and the harbor, the need of better fortifications was recognized by the Chamber of Commerce. Considerable correspondence passed between the Chamber and the War Department relative to the allotment of land for this purpose. July 11, 1890, Senator W. M. Stewart received a communication from Secretary of War Proctor offering to accept all North Island as a gift to the government for fortification purposes. This letter was sent to the Chamber and the "offer" was promptly rejected. December 3d of that year resolutions were adopted instructing Congressman Bowers to urge greater fortifications in the neighborhood of Ballast Point at the entrance to the harbor. The Chamber also called attention to the fact that San Diego's location and strategic importance demanded the establishment of a 10-company post. Congressman Bowers found an able ally in the person of Senator Stanford. It was not until 1894, however, that an appropriation was finally secured for San Diego harbor defenses. Congress atoned for its delay by setting aside nearly half a million dollars, and the result is the Fort Rosecrans of today.
Long continued efforts were made by the Chamber, seconded by the whole people, to induce the great Japan steamship line, known as the Nippon Yusu Kaisha Company, to make San Diego its sole American terminus upon a guarantee of a shipment of at least 4,000 tons of freight per month through this port. No satisfactory arrangements were made, however, and the Japanese steamers never ran for any considerable length of time. The Pacific Mail Steamship Company also withdrew its steamers, although it had a contract with the government to touch at San Diego on every trip for freight, mail, and passengers. In the latter case the government seemed powerless to enforce its own contract. This state of affairs elicited much unfavorable comment from the press throughout this country. In 1896, when the agitation in favor of the creation of an artificial harbor at San Pedro began, the Chamber adopted an attitude of aggressive opposition. It was believed that an expenditure of many millions for such a purpose within 100 miles of a great natural harbor was wholly without justification, while involving a keen injustice to San Diego. Many leading newspapers, including the New York Times, supported the Chamber in its contention, but the San Pedro movement prevailed over all opposition. The efforts of the Chamber in behalf of a great naval drydock, of a coaling-station, and of a naval training school have been intelligent and persistent. More than once, representatives were sent to Washington in the interest of these measures, while the congressional delegation has been constantly urged to action. Much preliminary work has been done, and it seems to be only a question of a little time when final results will be achieved. The latest work undertaken by the Chamber in connection with the harbor is the dredging of the bar to an average depth of 30 feet for a width of 1,000 feet.
The annual reports submitted by the presidents of the Chamber of Commerce embody very good accounts of the city's commercial progress, but nearly everything of historical moment is mentioned elsewhere in these pages. It is interesting to note that the feverish prosperity of boom days brought nothing but depression to the Chamber of Commerce. It was reorganized after the boom and gradually acquired a stronger position than ever before. In 1890, under the able management of John Kastle, the Chamber was taken out of debt and placed upon a sound financial basis. In January, 1905, A. E. Horton, D. Choate, and E. W. Morse were elected honorary life members. Since then Mr. Choate and Mr. Morse have passed away. After its reorganization in 1889 the Chamber was domiciled in a ground-floor store-room in the Tremont House on Third Street between C and D. In 1891, it removed to the Grand Hotel, now the "Worth," on F Street between Third and Fourth. Afterwards (in 1895) the headquarters were moved to the Marshall-Higgins block, corner Fourth and C Streets, where they remained until March 1, 1898, when they removed to quarters on the ground floor of the Grant building, corner of Sixth and D Streets. They have recently been removed to the second floor of the same building, where they are now located, occupying the rooms left vacant by the removal of the Y. M. C. A. to its new building.
One of the most agreeable and useful functions of the Chamber is the entertainment of distinguished visitors, especially the representatives of foreign navies who frequently come to the port. In this way, the Chamber has doubtless done a great deal to secure the good will of influential men and interests for San Diego. Indeed, if the Chamber stood for nothing except the organized hospitality of the community—a hospitality extended alike to the most distinguished citizens of the world and to the humblest stranger who finds his way to San Diego—it would still rank among the most useful institutions. But it is much more than this. It has had a part in all good work which has been done for the city and county over a period of more than a generation, and has itself initiated very much of this good work. During a large portion of its history, the Chamber has been exceedingly fortunate in the kind of men enlisted in its service. It has been able to command not only the support, but the earnest devotion, of many of the strongest citizens, who have regarded it as the most important instrumentality in promoting local development. In later years, the office of secretary of the Chamber of Commerce has risen to great importance. The efficiency of the organization depends in large measure upon the energy, ability, and character of the man who fills this place. The Chamber has been fortunate in this respect during the period which had made the heaviest demands upon its resources. H. P. Wood, who served as secretary from 1899 to 1905, was a true builder of the organization and a successful promoter of its work. He was succeeded by James A. Jasper, whose intimate acquaintance with the people and the country, and long experience as journalist and county official, peculiarly fitted him for the place. He signalized his entrance to the office by arranging to pay off the debts of the organization. He was succeeded in January, 1907, by John Scott Mills. By no means the least important history of the organization is that contained in the following complete list of its officers:
[from William Ellsworth Smythe's History of San Diego, 1908, pp. 624-635]
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