State Agricultural Society. 169 



encouragement — being the largest manufacturer of silk hats in this 

 State and on the Pacific Coast. 



Yours, most respectfully, 



J. C, MEUSSDORFFER. 

 By John F. Slater, 



Business Manager. 



FOURTH DEPARTMENT. 



Placerville, December 15th, 1874. 

 Mr. R. Beck, Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture: 



Dear Sir: 1 herewith send you my claims for the gold medal in the 

 Fourth Department, first and second classes. 



First — That it is strictly a California invention, and that home inven- 

 tions should be awarded premiums in preference to Eastern manufac- 

 turers. 



Second — That it is the first and only lamp suitable for lighting mining 

 claims, for which the miners have long stood in need of. 



Third — I claim it on the ground that most of the articles in this de- 

 partment were of Eastern manufacture that were awarded a premium, 

 or that they were some old invention; therefore, I think, all new and 

 meritorious improvements or inventions should take the preference, 

 thereby to stimulate improvements on this coast. 



Eespeetfully yours, 



C. B. BROWN. 



To the Committee on Gold Medals, State Fair, eighteen hundred and seventy- 

 four: 



Gentlemen: In presenting my claims for the gold medal, for making 

 a large and varied exhibition of manufactured articles, in the line of my 

 business, I would respectfully state that I devoted much valuable time 

 and incurred very heavy expense, in order to get in shape for the display 

 of the following articles, viz: 



One laurel and walnut trimmed bedstead. 



One dressing bureau, laurel and walnut. 



One washstand, laurel and walnut. 



One somino, laurel and walnut. 



One table, laurel and walnut. 



One wardrobe, laurel and walnut. 



One office desk, laurel and walnut. 



22 (agri-N 



