Agricultural Society. 183 



ANNUAL ADDllKSS OF TlIK IMII-SIDKXT. 



Officeks and Memijeks of the Sax Joaquin Valf.ky Agri- 

 cultural Society: In accordance with a practice established by 

 my predecessors, it is proper that I should now give you a general 

 statenientof our principal transactions during the eighteenth year of 

 our organization. 



At the commencement of the present year we were in debt eighteen 

 hundred dollars. 



The season has been favorable. The fair was the most successful 

 one ever held by this Society, and from reports the most successful 

 one held this year on the Pacific Coast in all respects. 



Our formorindebtedness has been paid. "We have built fifty first- 

 class cattle stalls, ten new horse stalls, and a nuniln-r of new sheep 

 and hog pens. Shade trees have been planted. Nearly half a mile 

 offence was built new during the past season, of which four hundred 

 feet is a tight board fence eight feet high. A bulkhead was built on 

 the east end of the race track. 



For these and other permanent improvements we have paid out 

 over twelve hundred dollars, and still have nearly one thousand dol- 

 lars left in the treasury. 



Our track this year was in the best condition it ever was; ])robably 

 none b/3tter or so'fast, if any as good, exists in this State. For a great 

 part of this you may thank our Superintendent, Mr. Briggs. 



I congratulate you ujjon the present condition and future prospects 

 of the Society. After paying all indebtedness we will have a balance 

 of about six hundred dollars on hand. The State appropriation for 

 eighteen hundred and seventy-nine is fifteen hundred dollars, mak- 

 ing a total of about twenty-one hundred dollars in sight upon which 

 to base operations for coming years, and if the coming fair is as suc- 

 cessful, and we expect it will be a more successful one, we Avill have 

 upwards of four thousand dollars to invest in permanent improve- 

 ments. 



Tlie principal want of the Society at ]iresent is a suitable building 

 for exhibiting household work, works of art, and such products of 

 the soil and industry as are usually shown at a pavilion. 



As a Society, we have outgrown any building that at i)resent exists 

 in Stockton suitable for that purpose. The want was so evident this 

 year that serious thoughts were entertained of placing a temporary 

 building on Hunter Street Square at an expense of some twelve hun- 

 dred and fifty dollars, for use this year only. 



A building for that ])urpose should cover a space of at least one 

 hundred by two hundred feet. I recommend the erection of such a 

 structure without loss of time. Address yourselves to the attainment 

 of this object, for it is a matter of vital interest to your fairs for all 

 time to come. 



A permanent building, at least eighty by one hundred and sixty 

 feet, placed between the grand stand and tlie water tank at our park, 

 is ]ieeded for exhibiting machinery, etc. 

 24 



