State Agricultural Society. 151 



State Fair is based on the art of successfully imitating nature in wax 

 work. 



Respectfully, H. M. BEOOKS. 



STATEMENT OF MRS. C. COOK, OF SAN FRANCISCO. 



To the Gold Medal Committee: 



It having been desired that I should submit some of the reasons why 

 the gold medal of my class should be awarded to me, I will state that I 

 have, for at least seven years, made the best display of hair braids and 

 fine device and landscape. hair work of any one on this coast. This has 

 been allowed by the press and also b} r experts and critics. The articles 

 I exhibit are home manufacture. I therefore say, with full confidence. 

 that my manufacture is the means of keeping a much larger amount of 

 capital in the State than many larger ones of other characters, and I trust 

 will not receive a less degree of encouragement than I received in the 

 Eastern States before making California my home, more especially as since 

 that time I have made important improvements every year, and should 

 you appreciate my efforts sufficiently to encourage me, I propose to make 

 a still better display next j'ear. It is my intention to show the entire 

 process of manufacture, which will be very interesting and very attrac- 

 tive; this 3'ou will understand will benefit your institute and the State. 

 I also intend to display two excellent workstands of my own invention. 

 The3 r work well and easy, raising and lowering the braids as desired, 

 and being, I think, as near perfect for the purpose intended as possi- 

 ble. Trusting that you will give my application for the gold medal of 

 my class a favorable consideration, 



I am your obedient servant, C. COOK. 



STATEMENT OF F. FOSTER, OF SACRAMENTO. 



To the Gold Medal Committee for eighteen hundred and seventy: 



Gentlemen: Permit me to present to you the statement of my claim 

 to the gold medal for the most meritorious exhibition in the third depart- 

 ment, including textile fabrics, mill, and other manufactures. 



My exhibition consisted of samples of bookbinding, embracing blank 

 books in every style for general and special purposes, also printed books 

 in all varieties of covei*, and finished in all the various styles of work- 

 manship. The regular committee in this department awarded to my 

 exhibition a silver medal, being the highest premium paid to any exhib- 

 itor in the department. This award was made for the superior excellence 

 of the exhibition itself, and may be considered as a special recommen- 

 dation for the ffold medal, to the extent that that committee had the 

 means of judging. But as I am informed that your committee may, in 

 their discretion, and probably will, take into consideration all legitimate 

 circumstances connected with the claimant's business that may tend to 

 add merit to the exhibition, I venture to call your attention to the 

 following facts: Mine is the oldest bookbinding establishment on the 



