The record-union., 1892-04-28
COUNTY EXHIBITS.
Opposition to the Proposed IRE
hearsaI" in San Francisco.
The Worlds Fair Commission Charged
With Having Exceeded Its Power
The Counties Appealed to.

held yesterday afternoon to consider the
matter OF taking action looking to Sc
curing county exhibits at the State Fair
next September. There were present
Directors Cox, Hancock and Green, also
Mayor Comstock, Supervisors Greer and
Bates, Senator Dray, David Lubin, T. b.
HAL, e. ii. Cummings, w. o. Bowers,
Frank Miller, William Schaw, w. X.
Strong and w. Drury, members of the
Sacramento County Worlds Fair Asso-
citation. ID. w. Perkins, President Of the
Placer Association. was also present.
President Cox said the meeting had
been called for the purpose of consider
ing. the advisabiIity of taking some ac-
tion relative to the recent decision of the
State Worlds Fair Commission to have
the county exhibits intended for the State
exhibition at Chicago displayed at the
coming Fair of the Mechanics Institute
in San Francisco. At the meeting of the
Commission at which said action was
taken statements were made relative to
the sentiment of the State Board of Agri-
culture, which placed the latter in a false
light The Board of Agriculture long
ago contemplated having these county
exhibits displayed at the State Fair and
felt that they should be there placed, as
the State Fair is a State institution, and
State money is to be expended in premi-
uins for these exhibits.
Secretary Smith further explained that
the State Board Of Agriculture had first
suggested the proposed dress rehearsal"
of the county exhibits intended for the
Worlds Fair. II had intended TO offer
5000 for such exhibits, the State Worlds
Fair Commission to select those that it
desired to include in the State exhibit at
Chicago. The notice to the Directors Of
the State Board to meet with the Com
missioners was insufficient to get the
former together. The State Worlds Fair
Commissioners went ahead, however,
and took the action referred 10.
He read letter from Director Boggs of
the State Board Of Agriculture, stating
that at a meeting of the Worlds Fair
Commission he had objected TO the pro-
posed action by that body and held that
the State Fair was the proper place at
which to have the 'rehearsar held.
Mr.. Smith then read the following let
ter, written by himself to the Rural
Press, on the subject:
SACRAMENTO, April 2, 1892,
To The Editor: From press reports | note
that the Worlds Fair Commission have de-
cided to join with the Mechanics Institute
Fair, In San Francisco, this year for the pur-
pose OF encouraging a congregation Of agricult-
ural exhibits, from which to select Califor-
mas show OF products, as an inducement for
premiums. also notice that some of the
daily papers have designated the action as O.
,blow at the State Agricultural Society as
Fair" "' 'ne 0'"'e
This idea of getting together an exhibit of
agrlcultural products in 1892, TO be shown at
the Wofld S Columbian Exposition in 1893
originated with the State Agricultural So
clety, as viii be seen by our report TO the Gov
Srnor for SCI. In this report we offered the
worlds Fair Commission our assistance and
Inc beneht of our experience in collecting ar
rlcuItural exhibits, and invited correspond
ehce upon the subject. AS we are the direct
representatives of the State in matters of this
character, we desire in every way possible 10
lend our aid in the collecting of a representa-
tive exhibit OF agricultural products, and
being IN touch with this interest, deemed it an
az 4Nantage not TO be overlooked by the
worlds Fair Commits ion, who are using the
same funds as we are, and who should cater TO
SaIae extent TO the class of people they expect
reclprocation from, and use some of their
funds in such way as the producer may OBJ
tain a little direct benefit.
In our society we have a formulated plan
IN lact regular organized system for collect
ing ana exhibiting agricultural products by
eounlles, ior which is given cash awards to
our suggestion to the Worlds Fair Commits
sion was TO add about 50, 900 of the States
money TO lie used in conjunction with our
amount as premiums-the best use it could be
put to in the way of preliminary expenses as
by the time inexperienced men are sent
throughout the country to gather exhibits
twice, yes, three times this amount will be ex-
pended, and an inferior exhibit obtained and
we would perform all the work, and have il
Qlstlnctly understood with exhibitors that
their exhibits would be forwarded to the
Worlds Columbian Fair thereby giving the
commission the advantage Of showing a col
lection OF premium agricultural products,
Had our suggestion been received with favor
the additional inducement to the producers
would have been sufficient to warrant them in
spending a little time in getting together the
cream OF this years production which would
have given the commission larger variety
10 select from, that could in no other way be
as easily obtained.
Medals and diplomas as premiums are bet
ter fitted for industrial products than are thew
Tor agricultural exhibits, as the manufacturer
by ms display attracts trade; but the agricult-
ural exhibitor must have cash awards to
partly pay expenses of gathering packing and
handllng his productions. which cannot be re-
allzed upon IN any manner after exhibition
uses.
The exhibitor of agricultural products is
actuateo lour-hfths by public spirit, loyalty to
hls State and pride for his particular locality
IL Is not a question OF trade with him; hence
the state makes annual cash appropriations
10 assist the cultivator of the soil in showing
Calliornias capabilities, that the entire State
may be benefited thereby
No, the State Fair is in no way injured or
likely 10 be injured, by any action of the
Worlds Fair Commission. We offered mot
solleitedl them cooperation, and the benefit
OF the $4,000 cash premiums of the States
money offered through us, which, by the ad-
dition of some of the same money they conld
obtain more extensive and comprehensive
exhibit than by the plan they have adopted
We speak nom experience, which the com
mission may have more of after 1t is too late
10 make amends.
In our offer we were not actuated by any de-
sire 10 increase our resources, but only to en-
large the possibilities for q grand exhibit
which, of course, would inure to the benefit OF
the commission
As far as the State Fair is individually con-
cerned. we have no fear of the result as we
know the exhibitors OF agricultural products
viii be on balld as usual to contend in suff-
0faF NJ hers no ncl, do
make the State Fair a success.
Oar endeaNors Will be- as they have been in
the past, 10 enhance the value of California's
soil by encouraging the exhibition OF pro-
ducts, which during the existence of the Cali
iornia State Agricultural Society have been
made more prominent and attracted more
attention than any other plan yet devised
he money appropriated by the State is used
exclusively tor awards 10 the producers OF our
commonwealth, and the expenses ofconduct-
my the institution, together with permanent
Improvements necessary. comes entirely from
our own resources, and for the amount of ben
efit this institution is to California, il costs
less 10 maintain than the cheapest of the
many commissions supported entirely by the
State. EDWIN f. SMITH, Secretary.
After the publication of this letter the
Mechanics Institute changed its pro-
gratnme so as TO provide for cash premi-
ulns ior Such exhibits. 1t was then de-
termilnea that the Board of Agriculture
shOulu lahe some action in the matter.
II. W. PERKINS, who had attended the
meeting OF the Commissioners, said the
action OBJECTED to was taken after several
of those present had departed.
David Lubin also spoke of the action
taken az Ihe meeting referred to. The
matter OF having the dress rarade', at
the Mechanics Institute mas sprung after
many. of the. county delegates had de-
parted and when it had been understood
that no action would be taken. He held
that the State Worlds Fair Commission
had no legal rlght to have an exhibition
in San Francisco. but the th;r,n ...Ls-L