The record-union., 1897-03-03
FURTHER CONCERNING HOME
PRODUCT EXHIBITIONS.

The San Jose Mercury of Sunday
inauguration at an early day of work
to carry out what has already been
agreed upon, a Home Product Expo
sition, and advances it's insistence upon
the same line of argument that was
outlined in the Record Union" of yes
terday 1t adds:
The residents of Santa Clara County
having determined that it would be
preferable to put their best endeavors
into an autumn fair this year instead
of devoting them toward the promotion
OF carnival of flowers, they should not
permit the time to slip by without per-
fecting in ample season the preliminary
arrangements for an exhibition that
shall exceed anything of the kind ever
held in California. 1t is not too soon
to begin preparations now for the fall
fair
The Carnival Of Roses last spring
was an object lesson of the grand re-
suits that it is possible to achieve
through the united efforts of the men
and women of Santa Clara County ir-
respective of location. If so much was
accomplished by the exhibition of the
flowers of our gardens, still greater and
more lasting good may confidently be
expected from an exposition of the va
ried, attractive and luscious fruits of
our orchards and the substantial and
valuable products of our farms.
The Mercury points out the success
of the Los Angeles Home Product Ex-
position of the past winter. the expe-
rience of Oakland upon similar lines,
and shows that so far from such an
exhibition being profitless cost to its
exhibitors, that it can be made, as was
the case in Los Angeles, a source of
profit, furnishing a fund for similar
work in another wear.
While our contemporary thinks that
1t was wise to agree upon the autumn
for the Santa Clara Exposition, here
in the heart of the Sacramento Valley
we should hold a Home Product Expo
sition at a much earlier date. We have
no reason to wait for autumn except
for fruits and grapes. These, however.
win be exhibited later at the District
and the State Fairs and the horticult-
ural shows. while in the forms in which
fruits. berries and the like products
are preserved they can be fully shown
at a spring exposition.
If anything at all is done we trust
that'it viii be a purely and distinctive
ly home product and manufacture ex-
position. 1t is for our home people
rather than strangers, and in that re-
spect differs from the ordinary fair.
The purpose must be to open the eyes
of our people TO the fact that a great
deal for which We send abroad is pro-
duced and manufactured as well or bet
ter at home. The Los Angeles "Ex-
press says on this topic:
The mere fact that an exhibition of
this character can be made a profitable
one evinces the interest that the people
of this section tahe in an institution Of
this character. il demonstrates that
the people of Los Angeles are interested
in ascertaining what is being made in
Los Angeles and have not only a Gu
rlosity but desire to follow up their
products that are manufactured in this
city. 1t is stated that since the exhi-
bition there has been an incentive Civ
en- to home products. People make
point OF asking for this or that article
that they saw at the exhibition. While
local pride prompts many to do this
irrespective of merit, the vast majority
are impelled by the meritorious char
acter of the articles made here. Given
equal advantage with the same pro-
duct made elsew nere the home article
is sure to come out ahead and receive
the greatest patronage.
Precisely the same result would fol-
low here. and as a natural consequence
we will retain in circulation at home
good deal of mon ~ now needlessly sent
abroad. and at the same time stimulate
home manufacture and production. and
thus materially help ourselves by help
ing those who live with US.
The classes of exhibits should en-
brace these, among others, for we do
not undertake to specify all: Manufac-