152 Transactions of the 



Pacific Coast. It was commenced in eighteen hundred and fifty-five, 

 and has been in 'constant operation from that day to the present time. 

 Like the pioneers in all other manufacturing industries on this coast, I 

 have met with many discouragements, and have labored under many dis- 

 advantages. Not the least among these has been the sharp competition 

 of imported ready-made work, especially in the line of blank books of 

 every description. While eastern establishments work upou the plan of 

 a division of labor, each devoting its attention to only one special class 

 of work, the peculiar isolated condition of our State has been such that, 

 in order to secure work enough to keep my hands employed, I have been 

 compelled at great expense to provide machinery and skilled labor for 

 the accomplishment of all varieties of work, performed in other coun- 

 tries in several establishments. The high price of labor and material 

 here in early days was almost a complete bar to the success of my enter- 

 prise; but having once engaged in it, I determined to persevere as long- 

 as I could make it afford a livelihood. Even now I am unable to compete 

 with importers of blank books for general purposes, but am compelled to 

 depend for patronage upon those who require work of a special char- 

 acter, and can appreciate work of high merit, and are able and willing 

 to pay for it — such as banks, large mercantile establishments. State and 

 county ofiices, etc. A large portion of my exhibition was work of this 

 character, made to order. The material used in my establishment, such 

 as paper, leather, thread, glue, cloth, etc., was formerly all imported, but 

 I have alwaj T 8 made it a rule to purchase homemade articles whenever I 

 could find them; and I am happy to say that most of these materials are 

 now being manufactured here, and by giving encouragement to my enter- 

 prise by awarding to me the gold medal, your committee will also be 

 indirectly encouraging the manufacture of all the materials used by me. 



I could draw comparisons between my exhibition and those of other 

 parties in competition with me, but do not consider it necessary, or per- 

 haps proper to do so, as the committee are abundantly able to do that 

 for themselves. I will only say that next to the "art preservative" 

 mine may be classed as important, as its direct tendency is to preserve 

 in a neat and convenient form for the use of mankind the best thoughts 

 of our best and ablest men. 



All of which is most respectfully submitted in faith and hope. 



F. FOSTEE. 



FOURTH DEPARTMENT. 



STATEMENT OF ISAAC P. ALLEN, OF SACEAMENTO. 



To the Gold Medal Committee: 



The reasons why we should have a gold medal awarded us for display 

 during your last exhibition are, first, that there was no display of like 

 goods that at all approached our display in magnificence, taste in arrang- 

 ing, and quality of articles. They were all manufactured in the United 

 States. They equal if not surpass French goods of the same class, and 

 they are noted the world over for magnificence and "keeping " qualities. 



