Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-24
by an examination Of the entry and rremium books

confronted wi fact that but fifteen owners of
| Thoroughbred horses think 1t worth their while to
sho" tler STOCK at the state fair and that but IS
"a OF the I5,0uO owners of al classes of horses M
the state think enough OF their horses to place them
| N competition for the liberal premiums offered b.,
the Society. OF the 800 600 horses in The State a
| Al average quality anu value high as any other
sta can boast u, less than 800 were brought for
ward &c the Society lair Us representative animals
| ana Two jacks and two mules were the only repre-
| sentatives shown OF the 5000 animals of this class
| owned ~ this State. No other state in the Union
| ranks higher for Its many hrads of magnificent
| specimens and weib shoyt-hcrn cattle than does
| California and Yet at our State fairs les than a
dozen owners anu breeders are found in competition
| Tor premiums amounting in this departm ut alone
| to thousands OF dollars, and for the whole State
containing from sixty TO seventy thousand practical
farmers and nearly million of cattle Of a quality
| averaging higher than in any other state in the
| Union, there appears but twenty five eXiib
t'ors TO make up the grand cattle snow,
and that exhibition, thou in reality fine one con-
| sisted Of nnety-three head Of thoroughbred short
| horn, fiity-tive head Of Ademey and jersey :
| thirty three head Of DevOns and Ayreshires and
twelve head Of graded cattle and this when there
is not probably one in ten OF the OF horned
| cattle IN the state who has not more or les
| thoroughbred animals, and who is not engaged IA
breeding up his stock California boasts, and truly
too, of containing the largest pure blood spanish aud
French msriuO ilcks OF sheep in the United les,
and the number VI sheep owned within her borders Is
not less than $4,000 Of ngn grade sheep as any
other state contains and she produces annually not
| less than 10000 600 pounds Of WOOL and yet az a
| fair embracing the whole State we find but three
owners Of thoroughbred Spanish merino and but one
| owner Of French merin) sheep showing specimens
Of their Hooks, and but nin9 owners aud 24J sheep
| are represented in th= entire show, and not one
pound OF wool appeared on the entity books OF the
| Society
But leaving the stock department and turning our
attention to cultivated crops, iud, If possible,
stu greater indifference OF producers u bringing
! their produces TO the exhibitions of the Society.
California stands among the wheat growing States
..Ft Tho l|FH.t l.ff and 1f
wheat produced, her exports amounting to from SO,
100000 10 SIS 900 600 yearly, and 1875 the Board
offered $50 for best specimens OF four varieties OF
wheat, so for best specimen Of rye, and SO Tor
best specimens, each, OF oats, corn, barley and DUCK
wheat, and vet there at the fair but two eN-
hbiOrs Of wheat, one Of % :, one OF Indian corn,
one Of buckwheat and four OF Dariey--tweive sacks
OF grain all told The Board mention these facts,
not to complain of any past management but tn call
attention 10 the general indifference towards the
Society that has heretofore prevailed among stock
breeders and producers Of general agricultural
crops When we have found the real difficulties
that have heretofore stood in the way OF the conf
piete Of the fairs and the general usefulness
of the Society to the producing industries Of the
State it Will be better understood how to apply the
remedy.
The people in every department of industry must
be made to realize that the Society is extending TO
them helping hand, that it not only asks them to
bring up Tor exhibition samples of their best haldi
work and products for criticism and c'mparis IN,
but that il proposes to lead them into the discovery
and adoption of better and more economical pro
cesses OF manufacture and cultivation. The Society
must not present itself to them once yeir III the
capacity Of begar for favOrs in the way OF contri
buttons to the exhibition and to its receipts, in or
der that 1t may make creilta6le TAR ana pay eN-
penses but 1t must be to all the industrial classes
constant acquaintance and friend, holding out in
ducements to effort and suggesting experiments and
modes Of improvement. Ii shou keep up con
slant correspondence with all portions of the State
, gaining information from individuals and dis
tributing this Information to communities, spreading
among the the advanced ideas and practices
of the few. The Society should never be compelled
to ask favor Of patron for which it is not at all
times prepared in advance to return more than an
equivalent. Il should be practical educator to the
industrial classes OF the State. The competition
inspires should be Of friendly and honorable CHAR
acter seeking for the information that is to be
gained from The contest than OF the premiums that
| are to be won by the successful competitor. The
fairs should be made by contributions from every
industry and every section OF the State, and eN-
hibturs should be made to feel that they are con-
trbutng not only to the evidences OF the States
prosperity, but to the common fund OF practical
information for the people. When this improved
condition of feeling between the Society and the
people representing the material industries Of the
State shall have been brought about, there Will No
longer be any question Of the success OF the one or
the other.
We have indicated above the different modes by
which we be ieve great improvements may be made
in these respects.
First-A complete revision OF the premium lists
adapting them to the present stage of development
of all the industries Of the State.
Secondly correspondence, b. travelling agents
or committees, and by publications, bringing the
Society into communication and closer relations
with every industrial class in every section OF the
State, and laying before them its objects and aims
and its OF contributing to the fund OF infor-
nation specially needed by each to enable them to
surInount difficulties in the way Of desired success
Thirdly opening up correspondence with other
States and counties, assisting our breeders Of good
stock, and producers in all agricultural, horticul
!
to find foreign markets for their urplus Productions
not needed at home ana in various ways making
the Society live and useful industrial institution
The trainers OF the new Constitution provided in
that instrument that the Legislature should not
appropriate money from the State Treasury to any
corporation association or society existing under
the laws of the State, not exclusively under State
control and management Under this provision this
Society, at present organized and managed is de
prved Of any future assistance from the state in the
way Of annual appropriations, and 1t becomes a
question Of considerable importance to the Society,
and to the indus ries it represents, whether the So
cetY had better remain Independent OF State control
and undertake to create its means OF existence
and assisting in the development OF these industries
or place itself under State control and depend upon
the Legislature, in the past, for appropriate s.
The Society has n valuable properly in its own
right, worth at least SO, 900, consisting of its race
course and cattle grounds and Improvements, and
personal properly necessary for its uses and manage
ment. II has perpetual free lease of the Pavilion
for its eXhihtionsthe building and lots upon which
it stands belonging to Sacramento county.
| Past experience has shown that il has been very
| difficult for the management to pay expenses
with an annual appropriation OF 5000 from the
State. If it possible 10 create sufficient inter-
et in the Society and keep up necessary improve
ments to increase its income as to meet its
! expenses, the Board believes that the objects
| of thu Society be more fully attained by
continuing the present mode Of independent manage
ment than by placing its management under coH-
/ troll of the State.
The society has now been in existence quarter
of and holt hot +ba Of
politics has been factor in the election of its
officers while it is well known that politics has had
its influence IN the selection Of the managers OF all
institutions by law under state control. We should
regret to see this influence introduced into the
! agement OF an institution which has to deal only
with the industries of the State.
Ii the Society clear Of de5t the Board is OF
the opinion that it be conducted TO pay its
own way, and at the same time increase Its useful
ness.
But without aid from some source, to assist in
the discharge OF the debt the Board is not willing
to guarantee the OF the Society independent
of assistance and control. The Board have been in
vestigatnC legal and other questions arising out OF
the prohibitions of the Constitution, but have not
yet fully agreed upon of action and would
recommend that committee of members OF |
the Society and legal gentlemen be appointed |
10 advise and act with the Board in refer |
ence to the constitutional ana other ques- !
tons arising out of the prohibitions referred to.
The Board would call attention to the fact that |
the Central Pacific Railroad Company have always
been bringing to and returning from the fairs, free
OF charge, all animals and articles for exhibition,
not only the Central Pacific road, but over /
all their other roads and steamboat routes, /
which such service is not required by |
the condition If their charter. For this ber- |
ay towards the Society and exhibitors the Board !
tender to the company their sincere Acknowledge
meut. The same Acknowledgements are due Wells,
Fargo & Co.'S Express Company for their great ser
vices TO the Society and its patrons in the III
rec ton. - -. - .sc4ssol EVs6sD
In closing their report the Board congratuates |
all
industries, and especially those most closely 4
connected with the industries Of the arm and upon
the favorable prospects of the immediate future ,
H. NJ. LARUE, President.
l. n. HoAG Secretary.
AU TEo NJ SALE