State Agricultural Society. 13 



mento for the movement incanguratcd by them to provide auxiliary 

 entortainincnts to call the masses to the fair. The JCxecutive Com- 

 mittee raised and disbursed in the neighborhood of three thousand 

 dollars. Each and every member of that committee put aside per- 

 sonal interests and labored zealously for the success of the experiment. 

 The result was all that the most sanguine could ask. The movement 

 thus started was coi)ied by the citi/X'ns of lieno, Car.son, and many 

 other i)laces, giving in each instance, as it did here, general satisfac- 

 tion not only to those who contributed, but as well to those who 

 managed the details; in each case adding greatly to the enjoyment 

 of visitors, and still more to the general success of the exhibition. 



Through the exertions of this Society and the magnanimity of the 

 last Legislature we received an appropriation of five thousand dol- 

 lars for two year.8, every single dollar of which we are pledged to pay 

 in premiums, and premiums only. This appropriation enabled us 

 to increase the amounts of our premiums, and add many new ones 

 to our list. The competition these increased premiums caused, and 

 the beneficial effect they had, is shown by the largely increased num- 

 ber of animals and articles that were exhibited at our fair. 



Our fair of eighteen hundred and seventy-eight, both at the park 

 and pavilion, exceeded, in a marked degree, any former exhibition 

 of this Society, giving the most convincing proofs of the increased 

 interest taken by the exhibitors and contestants for i)remiums in 

 each and every department. It was pronounced by one and all to 

 be the most satisfactory and valuable one recorded in the history of 

 this Society, establishing, beyond the possibility of doubt, the pres- 

 ent value of our organization to all classes, fully indicating its use- 

 fulness in the future. 



The exhibits at the Pavilion were varied, and equal, if not superior, 

 to any made at previous fairs. At the park, the horses, cattle, sheep, 

 goats, and swine were all that could be asked in point of numbers 

 or breeding, and prove conclusively that the live stock of California, 

 though a young State, equals any on earth. 



The Fair was an entire success in each and every particular, giving 

 universal satisfaction to the exhibitors, visitors, and those who had 

 the management of its details. Our speed programme gave general 

 .satisfaction. The trials of speed and bottom were exciting, and never 

 excelled on this coast. The i)urses hung up were liberal, and, as a 

 consequence, brought many tine animals together to compete for 

 thom ; and although they were liberal, they proved a source of reve- 

 nue instead of a tlrain upon the Society's treasury, and formed one of 

 the leading attractions and sources of pleasure to the visitors during 

 the fair. 



The I^oard i)roposes, with the assistance of the peo]>le of the State, 

 to make the fair of eighteen hundred and seventy-nine a real expo- 

 sition of all the industries of the State. To this end a new and 

 comprehensive premium list will be ])repared and published at an 

 early date, embracing the i)roducts of every industry on the coast, 

 and offering liberal premiums for their exhibition. By correspond- 

 ence, circulars, and an extensive distribution of premium lists, we 

 expect to reach the representatives of each industry, and wake up in 

 them an earnest interest in their development, and secure a general 

 exhibition of samples of their respective products at the comin^ fair. 



We are able to report the following favorable financial condition 



