Ingersoll's Century History Santa Monica Bay Cities (Being Book Number Two of Ingersoll's Century Series of California Local History Annals), 1908, 1908a, 1900s
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[p. 163] Chapter II Laying the Foundations. 1870-1880.
" . . . in 1903 he [W.S. Vawter] was again elected city trustee and served until 1906.
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[p. 284] Public Institutions:
Board of Trade-Chamber of Commerce-Improvement Club-Board of Trade-Chamber of Commerce-Santa Monica Municipal League-Santa Monica Board of Trade
[p. 284] The Outlook of September 6th, 1901, announces: "Santa Monica is well on the road looking to be an efficient organization of business men and other representative citizens. The ball was started rolling last evening when a largely attended meeting was held in the town hall for the purpose of organizing a [p. 285] Board of Trade." . . . The question of bonds on civic improvement; of a sanitarium, and various subjects of public interest were brought before the public by the efforts of the Board of Trade; but it seems soon to have lost its grip.
July 9th, 1903, the ever hopeful scribe of the Outlook writes: "It would seem that the business men of Santa Monica have at last awakened to the necessity of doing something in the way of raising the standard of the amusements, improvements, etc., of this town, and that they mean to stay awake." A large and "enthusiastic" meeting of the business men was held to discuss the situation and it was agreed by all that something must be done at once, or Santa Monica would lose her prestige as a summer resort entirely. As many of those present had been members of the old Chamber of Commerce, it was decided to revive that organization . . . A committee to secure amusements and music for the summer season was appointed and secured funds for band concerts during the season. It was also arranged for dances and various attractions on the beach, but this seems to have been the extent of their efforts and nothing more is heard of the organization.
The next organization to "improve" the city of Santa Monica was the Municipal League. This was formed May 18th, 1904 . . . It proposed among other things, to prepare a pamphlet setting forth the advantages of Santa Monica, for distribution; also to prepare an exhibit for the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, but the only real accomplishment seems to have been a Fourth of July celebration and the securing of a band to play during the summer season.
June 1st, 1905, the Santa Monica Municipal League changed its name to become the Santa Monica Board of Trade . . . This organization has proved vital and has been an important factor in the rapid progress of the past two years. Among some of its achievements of the first year's real work were the issuing of 20,000 copies of a neat booklet advertising Santa Monica; the publishing of an advertisement of Santa Monica in the Pacific Monthly for six months; efficient aid in the securing of annexation of territory to the city, and in securing better lighting and other improvements for the municipality.
At the seond annual meeting, August 10th, 1906 . . .
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Much valuable work for the good of Santa Monica was accomplished during the new year of 1906-07. One of the most important moves was the effort made to secure free mail delivery and the promise finally secured that such delivery would be provided for as soon as arrangements could be completed. Attention of the department was also drawn to the inadequate accomodations furnished the Santa Monica postoffice and the result has been the securing of new and ample quarters. Another important step was the action of the board, in recommending that Santa Monica merchants withdraw their business from the L.A.P. road until that company granted a five-cent fare within the city limits. Largely through the action of this body, the fine system of lighting Ocean avenue was adopted. But the most important work of the organization was in connection with the sewer problem. It secured and presented the plan of disposal which has finally been adopted and which it is confidently believed will settle for all time this troublesome subject which has disturbed the peace of mind of the community for many years.
[p. 286] At the third annual meeting held in October, 1907, Mr. Hull declined to be re-elected, and J.J. Seymour was chosen as president, R. Fogel was elected vice-president, and W.K. Cowan, treasurer.
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