58 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



best possible use of this opportunity for accomplishin<^ a great good to 

 the people and the State, 3'et they had not a dollar at their dis])Osal with 

 which to print and publish a premium list, or to pay a pfemium Avith 

 when awarded. They could not, as public servants and conservators of 

 the interests of the society and State, see the propriety of adopting a 

 looser rule of action in managing its atfairs than they, as business men, 

 would apply in the conduct of their own private operations. They 

 therefore steadily refused to contract obligations or make promises they 

 had not the means and could not see the way to redeem. They finally 

 and reluctantly made an appeal to the people of the State and to the 

 citizens of Sacramento for assistance. The latter again responded to 

 the ap])eal, and furnished the necessary means ; but this came at too 

 late a day to answer the purposes for a successful general exhibition — 

 such as the interests of the State and the people demanded, and the 

 Board desired to n'lake. The premium list, which was ready for the 

 printer on the first day of March, and which should at that time have 

 been published and sent into nearly every family in the State, in oi'der 

 to wake up an interest and give those who might desire to exhibit time 

 to select and prepare their articles — was not, therefore, published until 

 late in August, only thirty days prior to the time for holding the Fair. 

 Under such circumstances, and in so short a time, it could not be expected 

 that a fair, exhibiting in a creditable manner the agricultural, the 

 mineral, and manufacturing interests of so great a State could be made. 

 The Board did not anticipate such an exhibition, and the result proved 

 a success, not only financially, but even in the character of the exhibition, 

 far beyond their most sanguine expectations, and convinces them that 

 under favorable circumstances, with means in their hands to commence 

 at the proper season, and to use in a proper and judicious manner, they 

 could make such an exhibition of the products of agriculture, of the 

 mines, of manufactures, and indeed of everything that goes to make a 

 State rich in resources and a people prosperous and happy, as cannot be 

 excelled or even equalled by any other State in the Union or the %vorld. 

 The Board deemed it proper to say thus much in explanation of the 

 course they have pursued in the management of the society and its 

 affairs, and to show that the seeming delay or neglect on their pai-t to 

 provide for the fullest benefits to all classes in the annual exhibitions 

 has been caused by circumstances over which they had no control, and 

 were as sensibly felt and regretted by themselves as they could be by 

 any of those whose interests and wishes have apparently been neglected. 



That like difficulties may not occur in the future, and for the juirpose 

 of encouraging the development of our varied resources, we trust the 

 Legislature will, in accordance with its former custom, and as we believe 

 the best interests of the State, make an annual appropriation to the 

 society for a term of years, upon such conditions as may be deemed 

 advisable, of a sum sufficient to pay liberal premiums for the production 

 and exhibition of worthy articles in every department of industi-j' in 

 the State. 



We believe the wisdom of this polic}^ is recognized by the universal 

 practice of every State in the Union, the enterprise and prosperity of 

 which is worthy of being cited as an example. Indeed, no lact is more 

 prominent in the history of the rise and progress of States and nations, 

 than that the Government that is most liberal in the encouragement of 

 the enterprise and industry of its people, universally becomes the most 

 prosperous and powerful, and its people the most civilized, enlightened, 

 and happy. 



