20 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



should be made by contributions from every industry and every sec- 

 tion of the State, and exhibitors should be made to feel that they are 

 contributing not only to the evidences of the State's prosperity, but 

 to the common fund of practical information for the people. When 

 this improved condition of feeling between the Society and the people 

 representing the material industries of the State shall have been 

 brought about, there will no longer be any question of the success of 

 the one or the other. 



We have indicated above the different modes by which we believe 

 great improvements may be made in these respects. 



First — A complete revision of the premium lists — adapting them 

 to the present stage of development of all the industries of the State. 



Second — By correspondence, by traveling agents or committees, and 

 bj^ publications, bringing the Society into communication and closer- 

 relations with every industrial class in every section of the State, 

 and laying before them its objects and aims, and its means of con- 

 tributing to the fund of information specially needed by each to- 

 enable them to surmount difficulties in the way 'of desired success. 



Third — By opening up correspondence with other States and coun- 

 tries, assisting our breeders of good stock and producers in all agri- 

 cultural, horticultural, vinicultural, and manufacturing departments 

 to find foreign markets for their surplus productions not needed at 

 home, and in various w^ays making the Society a live and useful 

 industrial institution. 



The framers of the new Constitution provided in that instrument 

 that the Legislature should not appropriate money from the State 

 treasury to any corporation, association, or society existing under 

 the laws of the State, not exclusively under State control and man- 

 agement. Under this provision, this Society, as at present organized 

 and managed, is deprived of any future assistance from the State in 

 the way of annual appropriations, and it becomes a question of con- 

 siderable importance to the Society, and to the industries it repre- 

 sents, whether the Society had better remain independent of State 

 control, and undertake to create its own means of existence and 

 assisting in the development of these industries, or place itself under 

 State control, and depend upon the Legislature, as in the past, for 

 appropriations. The Society has now a valuable property in its own 

 right, worth at least $75,000, consisting of its race-course and cattle 

 grounds and improvements, and personal property necessary for its 

 uses and management. It has a perpetual free lease of the Pavilion 

 for its exhibitions — the building, and lots upon which it stands, 

 belonging to Sacramento County. 



Past experience has shown that it has been very difficult for the 

 management to pay expenses with an annual appropriation of 15,000 . 

 from the State. If it were possible to create sufficient interest in the 

 Society and keep up necessary improvements, to increase its income 

 so as to meet its expenses, the Board believes that the objects of the 

 Society can be more fully attained by continuing the present mode^ 

 of independent management than by placing its management under 

 control of the State. 



The Society has now been in existence a quarter of a century, and 

 we believe that the question of politics has never been a factor in the 

 election of its officers, while it is well known that politics has had its 

 influence in the selection of the managers of all institutions by law 

 under State control. We should regret to see this influence introduced 



