STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 191 



proposed to be donated to the Society. The gentlemen proposing to 

 donate it had formed an association styled the " Sacramento Park 

 Association." The deed was made by this association to the Presi- 

 dent of the State Agricultural Society, in trust, for the use of the 

 Society, as a show ground, horticultural garden, etc., upon condition 

 that if tlie Society shall fail at any time to so use the ground for the 

 space of one year, the property shall revert to the members of the 

 Park Association, and the Agricultural Society shall have no further 

 interest therein. 



When the transfer of the ground had been completed, the Legisla- 

 ture then in session appropriated the sum of $15,000 for the purpose 

 of aiding tlie Society to make the necessary improvements to adapt 

 the grounds to the uses contemplated. The streets were closed by 

 the proper authorities, the grounds inclosed by a substantial brick 

 wall, stables and stalls to the number of 401 built, a grand stand 

 erected, a good half-mile track laid out and completed, and all the 

 necessary fixtures and improvements built to constitute a first class 

 show ground for all classes of stock. 



The improvements were made under the direction of the Board of 

 Managers, and at a cost of over $25,000. They were completed before 

 the opening of the eighth annual fair, which commenced on the 16th 

 of September, 1861; and the stock show was held on the Society's own 

 grounds for the hrst time. In the center of these grounds the Board of 

 Managers had erected a flag-staff or pole ISO feet high. At ten o'clock 

 on the morning of the 16th, Jerome C Davis, President, raised an 

 American flag forty-two feet in length on this staff as a signal of the 

 opening of the fair therein. As the flag floated upon the breeze, the 

 brass band for the Society greeted it with the "Star Spangled 

 Banner," and the people gave three hearty cheers. This was all the 

 ceremony of dedication. 



The opening address was delivered by Hon. J. A. Banks, of San 

 Francisco, in the Pavilion, on the evening of the 17th. Governor 

 Nye, of Nevada, had been expected to deliver this address, but failed 

 to arrive in time, and Mr. Banks consented to take the place at a late 

 hour. 



The annual address was delivered by Hon. C. C. DeLong, of 

 Marysville. He dwelt upon the difficulties and discouragements the 

 Society had had to meet and overcome, the influence for good it 

 had exerted on the industries of the State, and closed with an elegant 

 apostrophe to the State : , 



0)1. California! Our home! Proud mistress of the Paoific, sitting by the Golden Gate, 

 through wliich shall pass the commerce of the world, paying tribute at thy i'eet! How magnifi- 

 cent is thy present greatness — how glorious seeuis thy futui-e ! Within thy peaceful valleys 

 Ceres waves her yellow hair and sows lior bounteous gilts. Mammon hokls court upon thy 

 mountains, and is a courtier at thy throne. The rosy-oheeked god, Bacchus, revels in thy vine- 

 clad hills. Fortune, from every mounlain top, waves her wand to all the nations of the earth. 

 Sweet Peace, pure-browed Libei-ty, and star-eyed Hope, guide thy car of empire on its course. 

 Thy standard sheet, the starry flag of Freedom, beneatli whose glancing folds Freedom's valor 

 snatched tliee, a virgin, from the arms of savageness, and took thee to herself, a blooming liride. 

 Thank God that tho\i art true to that mighty destiny already wrouglit 'neath the auspices of 

 that flag, and so mayst thou ever continue until upon its folds sliall glance no star as bright as 

 thine in all that makes a nation great. 



On Wednesday, Governor Nye having arrived in the city, addressed 

 the audience in the evening. He gave California farmers some good 

 advice and paid them some very flattering compliments. Of the 

 stock show he remarked: 



