The record-union., 1899-09-13
A MUCH AIISREPRESENTED IN
STITUTION.


chiefly to horse racing. Assuming the
reports it has read to be correct, it
regrets that the State Board of Agri-
culture is doing nothing or little for
the furtherance of agriculture, horti-
culture, dairying and other rural in
dustries, and adds that "the time has
gone by when the people of the State
cared chiefly for horse gambling" AS
this quoted expression is a fair type of
much misconception indulged in for
many years, it may serve the cause of
truth to make reply, especially as the
complaint this time comes in g, tenta-
tive form, and is from a source so
reputable and intelligent.
Whatever the measure of good or i'll
of any human institution, it should be
taken from the ground work of truth.
IF State fairs are at all desirable; if
they compensate for the cost and the
output Of human energy essential to
their promotion; or if they make more
for evil than for good. or fail in prac-
warrant their conduct no just judg-
ment can be formed of them without
impartial ascertainment of the truth
concerning them. Men may differ wide
~ as to the wisdom of their promotion
or the measure of their beneficence, but
whatever the parting of opinions upon
the subject, as long as the mass of the
people believe them to have high social
and practical value and desire them TO
be conducted, they must be judged with
the same impartiality and fairness, and
upon the same plane Of ascertained
truth which we employ in any other OF
the affairs Of men where we seek to be
just.
If our esteemed contemporary would
learn exactly what the fair does, ii
should send a capable man to the an,
nual expositions to observe, and not
trust to the reports Of horse racing, and
assume that there is that and nothing
more. Regarding the speed contests.
however. it is to be noted as simple
fact without any philosophizing upon
it. that the people do care for the races.
This is certainly evidenced by the at
tendance upon them. There is no COM
pulsion in that respect. They flock to
them in Sacramento precisely as they
do at Oakland. San Francisco and else
where. and the press finds that interest
to so largely concern people who sup
port the press. that they daily from
home and abroad report the results OF
speed contests at no inconsiderable cost
for the service.
1t should be borne in mind that so
far as the State Fair is concerned, the
racing events not only cost the State
Board nothing, use none of the money
appropriated for premiums but return
to the Board the largest portion of it's
income, the State appropriation peing
devoted, as the law directs. wholly to
premiums. among which racing purses
are not and cannot be included In
common justice therefore the speed in
terests should be given fair credit.
which is to say that without them the
income Of the Board would be INSULT,
cient to maintain a State exposition
upon the scale contemplated and de,
sired.
Our contemporary would find, on ex-
animation, that the State Board of Ag-
riculture has done great deal for
State interests besides encouraging the
breeding of fine horses: which by the
way is recognized as an exceedingly
profitable industry for the State, and
one that promises for California what
the Blue Grass region has accomplish
ed for Kentucky.
It will be found that IL the fair is
not representative Of soil cultivation
interests in every county IN the state
it is assuredly not the fault of tie
State Board. since the premiums are
very liberal and the inducements, in
cluding free transportation to and from
the fair are all that could be asked
for, and are superior to those offered
in any other State in the Union.
The State Board of Agriculture al
its annual expositions has devoted IN
fact least attention TO the racing Of
horses, and most to other features. It
annually bids for display Of art work
by Californians and distributes more
money among our developing artists
TO their encouragement than any other
institution in the State It annually
bids for the latest and best information
and demonstration in dairying, and as
we write operative dairy exhibits are
on view and a dairy convention In ses-
sion at the fair. while a silo for keep
ing succulent food for COWS and other
stock is In operative exhibition.
It annually bids for full display of
the soil products of every county in the
State. We recall series of six sue
cessive years when from ten to twen-
ty counties exhibited in county groups.
Decline of that form of exhibiting is
probably due to the passing Of it's nov
city, and the heavy cost involved for
two things, but mainly to the indispo-
sition to form the necessary county or
pack. display and return them Never
theless, at each fair there is agricult-
ural exposition of grains, plants, de-
ciduous and other fruits. nuts and their