S5 



OPENING ADDRESS 



OF 



HONORABLE MARION BIGGS, PRESIDENT OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



DELIVERED AT THE TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL FAIR OF THE SOCIETY, 

 SACRAMENTO, SEPTEMBER EIGHTEENTH, EIGHTEEN HUN- 

 DRED AND SEVENTY-SEVEN. 



Twenty-eight years since, in eighteen hundred and forty-nine, Cal- 

 ifornia commenced to cut a prominent figure in the commerce of the 

 nation. That year the net imports of the nation amounted to one 

 hundred and thirty-four million seven hundred and sixty-eight 

 thousand five hundred and seventy-four dollars, and the exports of 

 domestic products amounted to one hundred and thirty-two million 

 six hundred and sixty-six thousand nine hundred and fifty-five dol- 

 lars. Excess of imports twenty-one million one hundred and one 

 thousand six hundred and nineteen dollars. Total amount of for- 

 eign commerce of the nation two hundred and sixty-seven million 

 four hundred and thirty-five thousand five hundred and twenty- 

 nine dollars. Last year the net imports of foreign goods amounted 

 to four hundred and fifty-five million four hundred and seven thou- 

 sand eight hundred and thirty-six dollars, an increase of nearly 

 three hundred per cent., while the exports of domestic produce 

 amounted to six hundred and forty-four million nine hundred and 

 fifty-six thousand four hundred and six dollars, an increase of about 

 four hundred per cent. Excess of exports over imports one hun- 

 dred and eighty-nine million five hundred and forty-eight thousand 

 five hundred and seventy dollars, which excess is greater than 

 either the exports or imports twenty-eight years ago, showing a 

 remarkable progress in production throughout the country. Total 

 value of foreign commerce of the nation in the year eighteen 

 hundred and seventy-six, one billion one hundred million three 

 hundred and sixty-four thousand two hundred and forty-two dol- 

 lars, an increase of eight hundred and thirty-two million nine hun- 

 dred and twenty-nine thousand seven hundred and thirteen dollars 

 over the foreign commerce of eighteen hundred and forty-nine. To 

 this increase California contributed directly through its own ports, last 

 year, one hundred and fifty million dollars, that being in round num- 

 bers the value of her direct exports and imports, and full fifty million 

 dollars through Eastern ports; in all, two hundred million dollars. 

 •So that nearly one-fourth of the increased foreign commerce of the 

 nation is due to California alone, while only a little over three-fourths 

 is due to the remaining thirty-seven States and the Territories. Cal- 

 ifornia contributed to the commerce of the country, last year, within 

 sixty-seven and a half millions of the entire commerce of the nation 

 when this State began its existence. Just think of it — the foreign 



