STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 21 



repairing instruments. And by having the printing done by the State 

 Office would require but $5,300 for the first year. 



After that an annual appropriation of about $4,000 would maintain and 

 give to the people of this State a first-class weather service. In case the 

 United States Government would furnish an offieer of the Chief Signal 

 Oflice, to take charge of the service, then $o,000 per year would be sufficient 

 amount for the service. This would cover the pay of an assistant to the 

 Signal Oiliceralso. The Government officer is not permitted to accept any 

 other position or pay for what service he would give, it has all been thus 

 far gratuitous on the part of Sergeant Barwick, nor would he accept any 

 remuneration; but is willing to lend all aid possible in the establishment 

 and maintenance of the State system. 



We merely give herein an outline of the work to be done, which is 

 respectfully submitted to your Excellency for consideration, with the hope 

 that you will earnestly impress upon the next Legislature the necessity of 

 the State having such service in every department that will give to our 

 citizens such aid towards improving the system of information on all 

 points relating to agriculture. 



We certainly need the service above referred to much more than do the 

 States of Michigan or Minnesota, whose climate during the winter period 

 is not very desirable to blazon to the world as one of salubrity or sunshine. 



QUARANTINE LAWS. 



We desire at this time to invite the attention of your Excellency to the 

 necessity of advising the passage of necessary quarantine restrictions by 

 the Legislature on all importations of live stock to this coast. 



The Department of Agriculture at Washington are asking the hearty 

 cooperation of each State in their efforts to suppress and extirpate pleuro- 

 pneumonia and other contagious diseases among domestic animals. It is 

 highly essential that the necessary safeguards should be thrown out to pre- 

 vent the importation of cattle afflicted with diseases that would spread 

 contagion among our vast herds of horned stock. The full text of the law 

 passed by several States, with the view of cooperating with the U. S. De- 

 partment of Agriculture in the suppression and extirpation of pleuro-pneu- 

 monia, will be found further oh in this report. 



OTHER MATTERS. 



In accordance with our usual custom to invite representative citizens 

 from abroad to visit the State Fair, we extended a cordial invitation to 

 the Veteran Firemen of New York to so arrange their contemplated visit 

 as to arrive in Sacramento during the progress of the State Fair. The 

 invitation was accepted, and the visit made by about two hundred and fifty 

 of the organization, which embraced many of the representative citizens 

 of New York, who came on this trip of recreation and pleasure to view 

 this land of plenty. 



The interesting exhibit of agricultural products presented to their view 

 was a most successful object lesson, and fully demonstrated the capability 

 of California to produce every variety of fruit, vegetables, and grain, and 

 from the expressions of surprise and gratification heard, we are positive 

 the display exceeded their expectations. 



The great benefit derived by the State by an opportunity of this kind is 

 incalculable, and if an excursion each year was arranged to arrive from 

 the East during the progress of the State Fair, much more could be ac- 



