San Joaquin Valley District Agricultural Society 615 



A tight board fence should be built along the road upon the north side 

 of the grounds. 



I would also recommend that the premiums and purses for the coming 

 year be increased at least fifty per cent, believing that such action will 

 awaken a new interest in the society, and produce a corresponding in- 

 crease in the receipts. 



Another matter that I consider of great importance to the society is, 

 that it should become a member of the National Turf Congress without 

 delay. By so doing it will be enabled to enforce a strict code of turf 

 rules that will effectually put a stop to any attempts at fraud in races. 



I desire to also submit for your consideration the following amend- 

 ments to the Constitution: 



Amend Section 1 of Article VI, by striking out the words "viva 

 voce," and inserting the word "ballot." 



Amend Section 2 of Article VI, by fixing the annual meeting for the 

 election of officers on the first Saturday in December of each year. 



My reasons for changing the time for the holding of the annual meet- 

 ing are, that as the law now stands, it is impossible for the acting Board, 

 during the time of the Fair, to make any exhibit of the transactions of 

 the society, or of the result of the year's work. Besides this, during 

 Fair week there are so many attractions elsewhere that it is difficult to 

 obtain a fair representation of the members of the society; whereas, by 

 making the amendment proposed, the managers will have time to close 

 up the business of the society, and surrender its affairs to their succes- 

 sors with a clear start. 



Amend Section 2 of Article XI so that the cost of life membership 

 shall be fifty instead of twenty-five dollars. 



As to the increase of the charge for life memberships recommended, I 

 would say that at the time the price was fixed at twenty-five dollars the 

 society had no property of its own, and as the actual unincumbered 

 property of the society has been increased during the last year nearly 

 eight thousand dollars, life membership tickets should be more valuable. 

 In fact, nearly all the persons to whom life memberships were issued 

 last year, have paid fifty dollars and upwards, and I believe the change 

 is necessary for the purpose of increasing the revenue of the society, 

 which is a matter of much importance. At this time nearly every 

 District Societ} 1 " in the State have fixed the charge at fifty dollars. 



I would further recommend that the following be added to the Con- 

 stitution: 



"Article 19. The annual Fairs of this Society shall be held in the 

 City of Stockton, San Joaquin County." 



It will be apparent to all that this amendment should be adopted, as 

 all the property of the society is situated at this place, and it is the only 

 locality in the district which affords the necessary facilities for holding 

 the annual exhibitions of the society. It is therefore proper that the 

 possibility of removing them from here should be guarded against at 

 once. I would say, in conclusion, that our thanks are due Hon. D. S. 

 Terry for legal services rendered the societ} 7 , for which he would 

 accept no remuneration; and that to J. A.Hosmer, Esq., for his able and 

 eloquent address upon the occasion of the last annual Fair, the society 

 is under lasting obligations. The members of the society, one and all, 

 have my thanks and those of my associates, for the uniform courtesy 

 shown and the valuable assistance rendered us. 



The amendments proposed by the President in his address were 

 adopted seriatim. 



