The record-union., 1895-02-16
VALUE OF ANNUAL STATE FAIRS.
Their Advantages Clearly and Briefly
Set Forth.
State Money All Distributed in Pre-
miums to Exhibitors-Facts the
People Seem to Forget.

The Assembly having seen fit, under
an apparent misunderstanding Of the
facts. to refuse the usual appropriation
for the State Fair, Secretary Smith of the
State Board of Agriculture makes the
following statement, correcting certain
false impressions that have been given
out regarding the uses to which the State
appropriations have been put, and ex-
planning some of the overlooked benefits
shat come from State Fairs. He says:
The State has appropriated since 1880
for the use of the State Agricultural So
ciety the sum of S277, 800 of which amount
$l92, l63 SO has been awarded in cash pre-
miums in the promotion of our resources,
500, 600 invested in the Agricultural Pa
vilion wherein to show our superior prod
ucts, thereby leaving about $4,000 for
care and insurance of 100000 worth of
State property for fifteen yeara. Is not
that good showing?
The exhibitor receiving his $40, $50,
$40 or $50 in premiums is encouraged, his
theory of breeding stock or growing fruit,
cereals, ETC., is straightway confirmed,
and he increases his plant. The char
acter of exhibits to be found each year at
the California State Fair--the greatest ex-
hibit held this side of the Mississippi
Rivers a standing advertisement of
CALIFORNIA; productive capabilities.
Five hundred individual exhibitors
took advantage of the fair of 1894 to show
to the world what we can do, and what
we are doing right along.
1t is not, as has been charged, a local
institution. Less than 80 per cent of the
awards are taken by Sacramento exhib-
itors. In round numbers the cash
awards of 1894 were $4,000, and the total
awards of State money to Sacramento
County growers and merchants was
but SIS, 500.
The State Fair is the annual mart for
the purchase and sale of improved breeds
of livestock. 1t is here the new blood is
bought to improve herds. Fully $4,000
worth OF stock change hands here annu-
ally. Is not the breeder helped out in
the maintenance of this institution?
Surely the great breeding farms of Cali
fornia more than pay in taxes the entire
amount of appropriation given this
worthy institution.
To cripple this institution would be to
return to ante-progress days. No State
is without its annual exhibition of agri-
cultural products, and can the greatest
producing State in the Union afford to do
without hers? Shame on any one that
would throttle the broadcast opportunity
to show our productive capabilities.
To not have a State Fair is like doing
away with all modern conveniences for
self-help and self-comfort. Aren't we
all proud of our State when we read of
her produce excelling the world at the
great equine contests throughout this
Union? We are first in livestock, first
in fruit and first in general agriculture.
we beat the great States of illinois,
Iowa, New York, and in fact the world
in 1894, in the butter-producing qualities
of a single cow.
We had milk test at the State Fair
last year, whereat one of the contestants
pure-bred jersey COW, produced over
do,
Where can such feed that forces this
kind of yields De found but in California :?
This one achievement alone is worth
more to our State than double the amount
Of appropriation asked as aid for this
useful institution for the two years to
come.
1t is an important agent in promoting
California's resources. 1t has existed and
worked for the interests of the State for
the past forty years.
This State should be replete with cream
cries. We should be furnishing the great
Northwest with all the butter there used,
and we will if our dairy qualities con-
tinue to improve at the same ratio in the
next four years as they have in a like
period just passed.
Capital viii come; the overcrowded
East and West will discover our I'M
developed resources if our own citizens
do not.
4NO dppIOpIldllUu rs dShGu LOT SALARIES.
office rent. clerk hire or any expenses in
cidental to the institution other than a
small amount of the general appropria-
ton for care of the property.
There is here maintained the year
round a bureau of statistics that is used
in disseminating information regarding
the productive qualities of the State. Not
one cent is asked for this, and it is clearly
shown by records on file in the Com
troller's office that 10 per cent. of the
State appropriation is given in premiums.