Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-09-09
The INDUSTRIAL ExHIRiTEoEs OF fHs
FUTURE

ME iEAE2 i2.&L 6&IAAElA-|A%S
FUTURg
The value OF making an annual exhibit |
ton Of agricultural and other products OF
industry, ingenuity and artistic skill Is
unquestionable. They deserve to be better
sustained by the public, and better patron
lied by exhibitors. Where every coneeiv-
able interest is to be benefited it should
not be SO difficult to make these annual ex-
hibitions successful. As it is, those only
who have had experience in the manage
ment of those exhibitions have anything
ike an adequate conception of the dead
lift required 10 make District or State
Fair a moderate success. Indeed. if in
many cases they are saved from the igno
miny of total failures, the management has
earned the highest gratitude. This would
certainly not BE- true il higher and better
conception OF the value of these exhibi.
tions obtained in the public mind. We are,
however, strongly inclined to the opinion
that in all this class of exhibition there
exists an underlying radical defect which
has In the past, and will continue in the
future, to operate as an obstacle in the way
Of their success. We believe that this
effectiveness attaches solely to the premiam
lists. An agricultural fair ia in lis
nature show. The exhibitors are
Joint stock company Of showmen the
visitors are the audience to be amused and
instructed, and the gate.money is the pro-
c.eds of the show-the financial fruits Of
the enterprise. As now conducted the
money offered in premiums is divided to
the best specimens of the things exhibited.
Things less meritorious than the best get
nothing. And yet do they not contribute
to the value and interest OF the show?
Are they not a part OF the attraction pro-
ducing the receipts Two years ago the
State Board of Agriculture took new
departure in single department. In first
and second premiums the aggregate
sum of S700 had been offered in
the department of fine arts. The Board
resoinded all premiums and instead thereof
placed the sum of 500 in the hands of an
artist with instructions to invite an ex-
hibition Of art works, and divide the
money among the exhibitors in proportion
to the value Of each exhibitors contribution
to the show. No work below certain
standard of merit was to be admitted, and
the awards of merit were to be expressed
in decorations not in sums Of money. The
result was the best art exhibition ever
made at the State Fair. Tie principle
is Just Us applicable to any other de-
partmert. Premiums aggregating $780,
600 are offered this year by the
State Board of Agriculture. That large
sum ought to attract splendid exhibition.
Judiciously used ii ia large enough to buy
good exhibition outright. But, as in all
agricultural fairs throughout the country,
this money will 80 toa small minority of
exhibitors. The same article can be
made to earn premium in many classes,
for the same animal or article may be "the
best" under many heads. The cash pre-
NUNS awarded to {" the best" will pay
the few successful exhibitors proft-the
many unsuccessful ones VIII contribute
quite as sigually to the success Of the ex-
hibition, as a whole, at loss to them
selves. There may be many exhibitors.
but there can be but one =" best" OF any
thing, And yet. it is the many articles
which makes the show. A fair of only
first premium things would be meager,
beggarly show. The average visitor who
pays gate money is not attracted merely
by the best things, but by the extent and
variety Of the exhibition. To the average
mind the difference between the first and
second premium horse or bull is not per.
ceptible, and is often matter OF sharp
debate as between experts. To express
superiority by the payment Of money is,
at best, but sordid, vulgar
form OF award, Merit should be
rewarded by decorations, diplomas, medals
and honorable mention but the money,
now the customary reward of merit, should
be distributed equitably among those who
contribute to the success and value Of the
exhibition. Thus all would be quite or
nearly reimbursed 1t would not be hand
some profit to the meritorious few and
total loss to the scarcely less meritorious
many. Eliminate this error, and fairs
would organize themselves. As in the
case of the art exhibition cited, the money
purchases good exhibition it assures the
visitor in good variety. For, be it re-
membered, that articles little less than
best are just as suggestive and instructive
as "the best. OF course, inferiority
should be excluded altogether. The edu-
catioual value Of exhibitions OF this kind
consists in the comparison OF high results
and presenting before the mind the best
standards. Let juries Of award determine
whether articles possess the grade of excel
lence emitting them to exhibition. In the
case already cited no difficulty was
found The announcement that moth
ing below a given standard OF merit
would be received prevented inferior
work from being offered altogether. In
short, the money offered in premiums by
every District and State Fair ever held
would have purchased far better exhibit
ton than has ever been seen in the State,
if it had been used to guarantee exhibitors
against loss instead of having been given only
to 1.-THE best" Upon this common sense
equity We believe the exhibitions Of the
future viii be based, and in that time
splendid exhibitions viii flow together as
easily as water runs down hill, and fer the
came reason-natural gravity.
THE SAN FRANCISCO ELECTION,