Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-02-17
Reform In Agricultural Exhibitions

The Bulletin of the 18th copies Judge
Thompson's letter to Gov. Downey, on
the agricultural society business, ac-
companying it with the following
forcible and well-timed remarks: y
The leading feature in so-called agri-
cultural fairs has been the speed pro-
gramme, with its attendent immorali-
ties of betting and pool-selling. The
promotion of agriculture, or anything
appertaining to it outside of the breed
ing and development of blooded stock,
has received but little attention from
the managers Of the various associa-
lions under whose auspices these fairs
are gotten up, and obtained but Sec
ond or third-rate place in the exhibi-
TONS The mechanic arts have Jared
no better. What attention these de-
partments have received has been pro-
ductive of good, but the sphere of their
usefulness has been too contracted,
and their growth has not correspondent
with that of the speed programmes.
There has, consequently, been strong
tendency in agricultural fairs as con-
Quoted in this State, to cultivate the
baneful spirit Of gambling, and the
necessity of a complete revolution be-
ing effected in their management has
been gradually gaining strength. The
State has unwittingly aggravated the
evil by extending aid to these associa-
tions under the belief that it was be-
ing expended for the purposes for
which it was invariably represented to
be required--the promotion of agricul-
tural and mechanical industries.
But, judging from the steps recently
taken by the farmers in the southern
counties, new era in the manage
ment of agricultural associations is
about to set in. The Indifferent treat
nient the farming community have
received at the hands Of the managers
of the Southern District Agricultural
Association, whose headquarters Is in
Los Angeles, in the various exhibit
tions that have been given, has been
the means of stimulating them into
the formation of rival organization
which shall be devoted solely to the
advancement of agriculture and the
mechanic arts. The headquarters of
the new association Is at Los NietOs,
in the very center of the principal
farming district in Los Angeles Coun-
ty, and is conveniently located to Los
Angeles, Anaheim, Ell Monte, and
San Bernardino. It's managers are
practical farmers, who are evidently
in earnest in their efforts to purge ag-
ricultural fairs of their most democrat
izing elements Its cardinal princi-
pies are that betting, pOol-selling, and
The sale of intoxicating beverages are
prejudicial to the best interests of it's
stockholders and patrons, and demon
aliZing in their effects upon the COM
rnunity at large, and should be strict
ly prohibited on its grounds. The
movement has caused considerable
alarm among the managers of the
Southern District Agricultural Asso-
citation, and overtureS have been re-
peatedly made to the managers of the
new organization with the view of a
consolidation-even going so far as to
offer the farmers controlling interest
in the association-but they have
most signally failed, and there is not
the least hope of any such consolida-
tIon being effected.
The only mistake in this is the loca-
ton, Los Angeles being the head
quarters of the Grangers Exposition
instead OF Los Nietos. The Bulletin
adds:
The dawn of reformation in the
management Of agricultural associa-
tions certainly breaks In very unex-
pected quarter, but it is not any the
less welcome on that account