The record-union., 1897-08-06
THE COMING STATE EXHIBIT.
ITS IMPORTANCE TO HOME
MERCHANTS.
Attractive Pavilion Features-In-
terview With Secretary
Smith.

ST have already booked applications
for over 100 stalls for exhibit horses,
nearly 200 for cattle, and 105 pens for
swine at the park, and twenty
spaces for new and novel Pavilion eX-
hibits. So the outlook for the State
Fair this year has a most ausplcious
glare" said Secretary Smith of the
State Board Of Agriculture in reply to
the question, How about the State
Fair this -year?''
But at the same time" continued
Mr.. Smith, the Sacramento merchants
and manufacturers should show their
appreciation Of these State exhibitions,
that thousands come miles to see, by
representative exhibits fully setting
forth their capabilities as supply
agents"
Then Mr.. Smith warmed up for his
native town. Sacramento is one of
the best business towns in this State, .
he declared No matter where 1 go
throughout the State, this acknOwledg-
ment is made. When outsiders admit
this It must be SO. They say to me,
DO you know that you have a great
business town? It's the best outside
of San Francisco: but your business
community need to ginger I'D and make
yourselves known and felt l confess
that we do not realize our position.
To go into history, do you know that
in the earlier days of this State Sac
ramentO established her business rep
utation in a large territory covering the
northern, eastern and central part of
this State, and throughout the entire
State of Nevada, and this trade she
has maintained up to the present day,
as purchasers know full we'll they can
be supplied here cheaper than any
where, and it is from this same terri
tory that a very large proportion of the
visitors attend the State Fair. It is
therefore a most logical reason that
the merchants and manufacturers of
this city should see that the State Fair
exhibits embrace a full complement OF
their stock and wares, arranged in an
attractive manner, where customers and
visitors generally may meet the mer-
chant and confer on matters of interest
To both. Sacramento has many manu-
featuring institutions that would be
largely the gamer by an annual eX-
hibit at the State Fair.
The public would see and fully un-
derstand the conditions that surround
goods thus presented in a working ex-
hibit''
Continuing. Mr. Smith said: Just
consider what we are doing in the way
of manufacturing. There is the har-
ness and saddlery business, the broom
factory, extensive soap works, tin and
iron workers, furniture factories, wheel
wrights. the meat packers, the clothing
and extract concenns-au could and
should show to the country and Wis
itors in a practical way this city's ca
liabilities in the manufacturing of sale
goods.
Then, again, take the large whole
salergs. They have specialties, which,
taken with the livestock exhibits, would
send a hum of industry throughout the
immense Pavilion that would do credit
10 a town Of 100000 population. The
attractiveness of an exhibition of this
kind is just what the people make it,
and should be confined to legitimate
exhibits.
The State Agricultural Society long
since taboOed the special feature nul-
sance that generally attracts attention
from exhibits, and the State Fair is
now conducted solely in the interest OF
the exhibitors 1t is their annual ad-
vertising opportunity, and is co-opera-
tive in the highest degree. The State
Agricultural Society seeks only to cover
expenses from receipts, hence it is not
an institution of gain, rather one OF
loss. The management want the ex-
hibitors to reap the full benefits,
and often incur expenses that
could be foregone but for this fact. II
is an agency employed for purpose
and receives less credit than similar
institutions that are maintained wholly
for gain.
There have been fOrty-three exhibit
tons" said Mr. Smith, held in as
many years by this society, and We
would feel amply repaid for all the
work we have done as a society, in
keeping the fair in Sacramento, to see
an exhibition this year that would sur
pass in variety and volume any of our
previous fairs, and we have had a few
that would have been creditable to a
much larger community"
The arrangement of the Pavilion. as
shown US by the plan in the Secretary 5
office, shows quite a change from FORM
CT years. and if carried out viii be most
attractive.
The front wing. containing the main
entrance will be occupied this year by