Georgetown weekly news., 1854-10-19
State Agricultural Fair.


since it opened 1t was, however, partially
ecIpsed for day or two by the announce
ment of the astounding events of the Meiggs
forgeries and the wreck of the Yankee
Blade.
The State Agricultural Society is in its
infancy; its charter was obtained from the
last Legislature, and the first list of prizes
awarded at the first exhibition under the
charter is now published.
For first regular exhibition at State
Fair, it is one to which the State may just
ly refer with pride and pleasure. AS far as
we know, no exhibition at all comparable
in extent, variety, and excellence, has been
got up by so young State since the for
nation of our Government.
The room was fitted up with an elegance
and taste, which rendered it attractive in a
high degree. The walls were decorated
with notices, flags paintings, including spe
cimens by San Francisco artists. The ta-
bles were admirably arranged, and loaded
with specimens of fruits of every variety
grown in the climate, which were as large
and luscious as can be produced in the u
Mon. In the floral department the varieties
were as endless as their beauties are indie
scribable.
For mammoth vegetables, California
stands second to no country known to civ
ilized man. Some of the specimens on eX-
hibition were enormous. So with the cereal
grains; as successful producer Of as fine
wheat as grows, California, i'll very few
years, will stand without rival.
The exhibition of stock, without being
very extensive presented some of each kind
which would have compared favorably with
those which carry off premiums at cattle
shows on the Atlantic side, and served to
show the perfection to which all kinds of
stock is capable of attaining in this une
qualled climate.
Sundry articles manufactured in San
Francisco were also included, which exhib-
tied skill in the makers of higher order
than would have been anticipated by any
one on the Pacific side. Some of the spe-
cimens of needle work were excellently we'll
executed, and attracted large share of at
tention. But this is the pioneer exhibition
Of the State organization, and in that char
acter. commands wonder and admiration
Wonder, that such an exhibition could be
got up in State but little over four years
in existence-and admiration of that soil
and climate which produces in such abun-
dance all the necessaries and Injuries de-
manded for his sustenance and comfort by
man as civilized being. 1t is but the be-
ginning of the end.
Those of us whose lives are spared to wit
ness the State Fair in 1864, will look back
| to that of 1854 as the germ-as the pioneer
far, remarkable then for its specimens and
varieties, but compared with Fair in 1864,
the mere shadow of that which was to fol-
low.
Ten years in the future, viii find Califor-
MIA with her million and a half to two mil
lions Of inhabitants; her territory crossed in
various directions by railroads; her COM
merce with lines of steamships embracing
the islands of the Pacific and the continent
Of Asia with San Francisco as the point
from which it will radiate; her mines then
more extensive and productive than at pres
ent; her wheat flour equal to the best in the
world, and in quantities largely beyond the
consumption of her people. Corn and rice
will then be grown in rank abundance; the
grape will be cultivated throughout the
State; and peaches, pears and apples, will
be produced in such quantities, that people
will hardly consider them worth gathering.
Stock of all kinds will be raised in great
perfection and in immense numbers and
wool will have become almost staple com
modify. Millions Of feet of lumber, and
tons of granite and marble will then be sent
| bo 70 tHo
farmers in the valleys will then have obtain
ed good titles to their land, and have built
fine residences for their families thousands
of bitches for mining purposes will cross the
the hills and valleys in every direction, and
upon many of them there will be found
manufactures Of nearly every article needed
in the State. Possibly by that time San
Francisco will have established character
for Just administration of the law, and for
honesty and fair dealings, commercially, fl
nancially and politically; possibly by that
time our State Government may be in the
hands of men who will administer it without
fear, favor or affection, unintiuenced by
fraud, bribery or peculation; possibly by
that time the people will have resolved to
elect men to the legislature who are capable
and honest, without reference to their party
associations; possibly by that time the Pa
cific Railroad ought to have been compile
ted, in the estimation of Californians, and
possibly by that time the people will have
concluded that it would have been compile
ted by 1864, if they had voted III 1852 for
some other man for President than Frank
lin Pierce. Certainly by that time Sacra-
mento will have grown to be a city of fifty
thousand inhabitants, with a magnificent
State Capitol and other State buildings;
with splendid churches and school houses,
water-works, gas-works, commodious hotels,
blocks of brick stores, railroads to the
mountains, hundreds of elegantly improved
private dwellings, granite paved streets, and
with her numerous and beautiful shade
trees. and flower gardens. Sacramento will