The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-09-17
THE CLOSING FAIR.

The State Fair which closes tonight
has been a success in five distinct de-
partments; the collection of fine horned
stock, demonstrating the advance breed
ers have made in fine stock-raising in the
last fifteen or twenty years; in fine horses
and fast horses shown, there never hav-
ing been better exhibition in the State
of blood-horses, from the speedy horse to
the animal Of all work; in county ex-
hibits Of the horticultural industry; in
the collection of the works of home
artists, there never having been a gallery
shown at the fair of greater all-around
excellence and so free from works of
small and no merit; in the novel features
of the mining and the historical sections.
The first has been Of profound interest to
those who have been unable to visit
mining sections, and has very well repre-
sented the methods employed in extract
ing precious metals from the earth's de-
posits; the latter has brought into one
common exposition counties that have
never before been represented in the
State Fair, and has served high and
useful purpose in illustrating the advance
civilization has made in this State from
the Spanish and missionary and pioneer
eras up through the mining and pro-
ductive and transportation periods to the
educational, rapid transit and industrial
era of the present day.
All in all, therefore, this has been the
most broadly representative State Fair
ever held in California. It has taken the
State Agricultural Society into a new
groove, and has made more of the State
acquainted with it than ever before. It
has, however, raised one very interesting
question that viii not little try the State
Board of Agriculture in the coming year,
Since the mining and historical features
cannot be repeated at once, what others
shall take their place in 1898? For it is
conceded by all who have thought upon
the subject that in the conduct of State
expositions there is constant demand by
the public for novelty. Confined to stock
exhibition and sampling of products,
worthy and important as such showings
are, these fairs will decline The demand
Of the age is, as experience teaches, for
novelty, for the curious, the attractive
and the entertaining. The public does
not demand the elimination of any stand
ard features; it wants to witness the re-
suits of stock-breeding, of agriculture.
horticulture and viticulture, as hereto
fore; it wishes the usual announcement
to be given to art, mechanics, invention
and productions from the soil. But cou-
pied with these the fairs must present an
nually new and novel attractive features:
and to produce these is the one chief
cause of worry and embarrassment
among managers. Such is the testimony
of Boards of Management at the East,
and it is being repeated in California.
young as are her schemes of annual fairs.
The subject, therefore, would seem to
suggest the absolute necessity for enlist
ing in these fairs more of new blood.
more of young business and inventive
men with the older and experienced
managers; young and pushing men who
have the strength and ambition to strike
out in new directions and to aid in old
ones, and who are possessed of the hope
and vitality of youth, are fired by new
ideas, and are in closer contact with the
progressive sentiments and business and
social activities of the new days.
The old and tried workers in the expo
sition field fully understand the need for
this kind of aid, and, far from considering
the suggestion of its enlistment to be a
reproach, will hail it as in direct accord
with their desires and hopes. We need
to enlist in our State, district, municipal
and other fairs, more Of the educator, the
scientific, the mechanic and the COM
mercial classes. Harness these with the
experienced men who founded and have
built up our system Of fairs and have
been foremost in stock development and
agricultural promotion, and we will keep
our fairs abreast with the spirit of the
age. and give their direction the vitality
that must be constantly resupplied to