318 



Transactions of the 



f)ier, lunl make the Ininlons of life lighter. To the farmer it increases 

 lis knowledge, makes liiin conversant with the wants of the country, 

 and enhancis tlie value of his projierty. There is an old Frencii 

 prttverl) that aptly illustrates the henelit that the farmer receives 

 iVoiu this source: "The more intelli^a-ncc and knowledge the man 

 possesses, the more his land is worth per acre." 



In the Stat(! of (Jeorgia, in ci^htci'n hundred and forty-six, a gen- 

 tleman i>urchased a large tiact of land, and discussing some ways of 

 making it availahle with some friends, some one suggested that he 

 locate and start a State Agricultural Society. Eight prominent men 

 of the State signetl a call for a grand State Agricultural l'\iir. Three 

 of them were present at the meeting.* Seventy dollars were awarded 

 for premiums. The fair was held in an old blacksmith shop at a 

 cross-road. The exhibits consisted of half a dozen (juilts, a load of 

 pumpkins, sweet jtotatoes, and a jackass. Jn eighteen hundred and 

 seventy-six the State Fair of Georgia awarded thirty thousand dol- 

 lars in premiums, thus showing the interest that has been taken 

 and the advacenunt that has been made in the last thirty years. 



The State l'\iir of California is earnestly striving for the best inter- 

 ests of the State. This district fair is under oidigations to our hon- 

 orable Kei)re.sentalive, Dr. IJeatn, and to Mr. JJoruek, President of the 

 State Society, for the State aid which we now receive. We are receiv- 

 ing many courtesies and suggestions from the State Society which 

 are of value to us. The terms of the State aid will exjiirc next year, 

 and we siiould prepare ourselves to maintain and i-arry on our fair 

 within ourselves. The importance of this district fair is little 

 understood. The time will come, and that within a few years, when 

 the States of California, Oregon, and Nevada will compi-te in an 

 inter-State contest lor the i)remiums and purses of the Tacilic Coast 

 on the soil of Siskiyou ('ounty. Our geographical situation, our 

 climate, and our accessibility to all the three States mentioned, make 

 us the natural center, and warrant me in this i)rediclion. We have 

 a bright future in store. All our So(;iety recjuires is proper manage- 

 ment, and the cooperation of our citizens, to make it eminently suc- 

 cessful. 



Thanking you for your courteous attention, again I bid you wel- 

 come, hoping that the social, intellectual, and usct'ul information 

 acquired by your attendance here will anij»ly repay you for the time 

 and money expended. 



