The record-union., 1899-04-02
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
PRESIDENT sPRECKEIS RE-
ELECTED YESTERDAY.
IF the Park is Sold, Other Prop
erty in This County VIII
be Purchased.

!
Directors of the State Agricultural So
ciety was held at the Pavilion yester-
day, there being present President
Spreckels. Directors Wilson, Hovey,
Cobb, Cox and Barrett
Peter J. Shields formally entered upon
his duties as Secretary, he having been
recently chosen. to succeed Edwin F.
Smith
A communication was received from
Devlin & Devlin, the attorneys repre-
senting the society in the matter of dis
posing of Agricultural Park, in this city,
to the effect that ON Wednesday next
Attorney Hatfield, acting for the citi-
zens of Sacramento County, would ap-
pear in court to make proof that the
county furnished, by taxation, a por-
ton of the purchase price of the prop
erty 1t is proposed to sell. They re-
quested instructions from the board as
to whether or not they were expected
to oppose such attempt at proof.
The law of 1897 permitting the Di-
rectors of the Agricultural Society to
dispose of Agricultural Park and pur-
chase another site for racetrack, was
amended by an Act of the late Legisla-
ture, so that when amy such sale is
| dDDllGQ
the purchase of other property in the
county, provided proof is made that the
county furnished any part of the orig
lnal purchase price. Secretary Shields
explained that on Wednesday next Sac
ramento County, through Attorney Hat
field, proposed to make such proof.
The Directors were unanimous in
their expression that in case the park
was sold other property in this county
should be purchased. President Spreck-
els called attention to the fact that the
old board had always favored expending
the proceeds of Agricultural Park, in
case it be sold, in other Sacramento
County property.
1t was finally agreed to instruct the
Secretary to notify Messrs. Devlin &
Devlin that the board was in accord
with Sacramento County, and would dc
whatever was necessary to assist in
making the necessary proof.
Secretary Shields was also instructed
in case it was necessary, to advance
the records of the board to show that
the county had paid part of the pur-
chase price of the park
The report of the experts appointed
to expert ex-Secretary Smiths books
from 1895 to 1898, inclusive, was read
1t showed that in the four years only
two mistakes had crept into the books
one in favor Of Smith, amounting to S3
and one in favor of the society, amount
ing to 81; so that the society was in
d'ebted to the retiring Secretary to the
amount of ST.
The bill presented by the experts for
their services, amounting to $1OO, was
approved and ordered paid.
OFFICERS ELECTED.
Nominations of candidates for Presi-
dent of the society for the ensuing year
being in order, Director Hovey named
A. B. Spreckels, and he was elected
by a unanimous vote.
Each of the Directors present had a
kind word to say for President Spreck-
els and his administration of affairs
\ and the latter responded, attributing all
his success to the efficiency of his CO.
workers. He said he hoped the fair
next summer would be the best held
for ten years.
Director ]. w. Wilson was reelected
Superintendent of the park, without op-
position, and Director w. P. Mathews
was reelected Superintendent of the
Pavilion
The board departed from usual Gus
tom and decided to elect a Vice Presi-
dent. That honor fell to Director Fred
Cox.
SPEED COMMITTEE.
President Spreckels appointed as
Speed Committee for the ensuing year
Directors Hovey, Henshaw, Macaey and
Secretary Shields. The committee was
instructed to arrange the speed pro-
gram for the State Fair, for harness
and running races on the same days.
the Directors agreeing that running
races prove better drawing cards than
trotting or pacing. By mixing them
up they expect to have a. uniform heavy
attendance at the track every day.
1t was agreed that the amounts of the
Futurity, Occidental and Stanford
stakes should remain the same as in
past years and the Secretary was in
structed to advertise for entries for
them at the proper time.
! President Spreckels announced that he
would appoint his standing committees
at future date, and the meeting ad-
| journed.
An authority states that a ton of dia.-
monds is worth $35,00O,OOO Remeqn-