The record-union., 1892-06-16
AND THE WORLDS
FAIR.

All question concerning the wisdom or
unwisdom of the method adopted for
California's exhibition at the Worlds
Fair can be put out of consideration. It
is settled, and beyond revocation, that
there are to be distinctive county exhib-
its with limited central or general State
exhibit; but the greater and the chief
feature is to be an array of county ex-
hibits
The State gave 100000 to State Com
mission to make separate and distinct
California exhibition. This sum has been
subdivided by the commission so as to
set aside distinct amounts for the cost of
the California building, transportation of
exhibits, salaries of employees, and the
necessities of the general exhibit, but
nothing of the 100000 can be given for
the collection and arrangement of the
county exhibits. The commission fur
nishes the building, pays for transporta-
ton, allots the space and leaves all else to
each of the counties so far as county ex-
hibits are concerned.
The Legislature, possibly with this
scheme of expositions in view, authorized
the several Boards of Supervisors to use
given sums of county money, not to aid
the State Commission, or be handled by
it, but to the collection and exhibition at
Chicago in the State building of the prod
ucts of each county. The authorization
amounts, in spirit, to mandate, and, If it
is not obeyed in any instance, that county
will not be represented in the county ex-
hibits in the California building at Chi
cago.
The question that presents itself there
fore to the people of Sacramento County
is, ''What viii the Supervisors of Sacra-
mento do in the premises ?" The general
desire is that Sacramento shall be promi-
nent, as is her due, among the counties
exhibiting; that the 1850 the Supervis-
ors are authorized to expend should be
appropriated at once, and that such action
ing raised from private means.
But few citizens, mistaken in iudg-
ment, have opposed the appeal to the
Supervisors to act, holding that out of the
100000 set aside by the State Sacrament
to's collection of exhibits will be pro-
vided-this, Notwithstanding the explicit,
emphatic statement of the State Commits
sion to the contrary.
Placer County long since set aside her
money and has already large part of
her exhibit in readiness. Fresno has put
aside her money and pledged herself to
supplement it by an equal amount from
the general county fund next year, and
her exhibits are already largely prepared.
Five or six other counties have done like
wise; the southern counties have been
especially active, one appropriating as a
first motion the sum of 10000.
Nothing has been accomplished in Sac
ramento County but delay. The berry
season has already passed and not a
single jar of the product has been pre-
served for the county exhibit. Apricots
and cherries have come and gone and
not pound of either has been prepared
for the exposition except a few jars for
which private enterprise has pledged it.
self. Other products, fruits and vege-
tables will have. escaped US before the
Supervisors will again assemble. Grains,
hops, and still other products will be gone
if action is deferred very much longer.
The need is, therefore, that the people
manifest at once determined spirit in
the matter in order to impress the author
tiles with the necessity for instant action.
The opponents of the county appropria-
ton are doubtless sincere, but are grew
ously mistaken in Judgment and i'll adj
wise the county board. If they prevail
Sacramento County will, so far as any
value of the fair to it is concerned, be left
entirely out of the Columbian Exposi-
ton. There is such sameness In her
production that Sacramento ought TO
have been first in the field in order to
make creditable display. Neighboring
counties that are mineral. horticultural
snl agricultural will be enabled 10 make