22 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



ANNUAL MEETING. 



The annual meeting of the State Agricultural Society was held at 

 Central Hall, January 20th, 1880. The purpose o£ the meeting was- 

 to elect a President and three Directors. The Directors whose terms 

 expired were L. U. Shippee, San Joaquin; W. P. Coleman, Sacra- 

 mento, and Dana Perkins, Placer. The retiring President, H. M. 

 Larue, presided. It being generally understood that there was little 

 contest for any of the positions to be filled, the meeting was not so 

 large as that of last year. The representation from abroad was, how- 

 ever, quite full. President Larue called to order, and stated the 

 objects of the meeting, and said the Directors to be elected would 

 serve three years, and the President one year. Mr. Larue briefly 

 reviewed his administration during the past year, in which he had 

 discharged the duties incumbent upon him to the utmost of his ability, 

 and believed that in the face of the obstacles which the Society had 

 to overcome the late fair was a success, and in proof of it he referred 

 to the records of the organization. The reading of the minutes of 

 the last annual meeting was, on motion prevailing, dispensed with. 

 The Secretary, I. N. Hoag, then read the annual report of the Board 

 of Directors in part, when, on motion of G. W. Hancock, a portion 

 of the report was passed and the reading confined to the financial 

 showings, and to that part referring to the relation of the Society to 

 the State under the Constitution. The report was adopted. 



L. J. Rose, of Los Angeles, addressed the meeting, saying the Society 

 would owe by the next fair some $10,000 old debt. It had been hoped 

 the State might aid in paying that debt, but counsel advises that it 

 cannot do so without taking control of the Society. The debt must 

 be cleared, and unless it is the Society will be greatly hampered and 

 crippled. The debt was contracted for improvements made two years 

 ago. If the debt is paid he believed the Society fairs can be car- 

 ried on successfully and made self-supporting. He believed it a 

 m.atter calling for the aid of the citizens of Sacramento. The Board 

 had canvassed the matter and could not see what could be done 

 unless Sacramento came to the relief of the Society. He moved that 

 three members of the legal profession and five members of the 

 Society act with the Board and devise, consider, and report to the 

 Board ways and means, and generally to investigate the whole matter. 



C. M. Chase, of San Francisco, said an equally large debt of the 

 Society had been once cleared off" by selling life memberships in Sac- 

 ramento and in the State. Pie believed the debt could be cleared oS" 

 and the Society secured a prosperous future. 



Coleman Younger, of Santa Clara, knew the worth and value of the 

 Society to the State. Sacramento had always responded to the calls^ 

 of the Society. He believed she would do so again. She received 

 benefits by reason of the Society's location, and the improvements 

 made had been made in Sacramento. Unless Sacramento helped the 



