THE ALMOND COW, LIFE SIZE, CALIFORNIA EXHIBIT, SEATTLE, 1909
MATERIAL ON HAND.
There was certain office furniture which it was deemed unwise to sacrifice, and some permanent exhibition material that is worth more to the State for future expositions than any amount that could be realized from it at a forced sale. Consequently this material was returned and the furniture has been turned over to the State Agricultural Society and the exhibition material has been stored in a shed which we built for the purpose on the grounds of the State Agricultural Society. The latter consists of eight mineral show cases, a collection of California ores and mineral specimens, a large assortment of California woods, including burls and rare specimens, a lot of framed and unframed pictures of California scenes and industries, and about 500 glass jars, most of which are filled with seeds, cereals, sugar or processed fruits. The furniture returned at 50 cents on the dollar, the usual selling price at an Exposition of good material, is worth $75.00, the showcases $425.00, exhibit material, estimated at half what it would cost to collect it, $2,000.00, and the glass jars $1,000.00. This totals a heritage to the State from the Seattle Exposition of $3,500.00. This will be available and worth even more than the sum stated whenever the State desires to make another exhibition.
BENEFITS TO CALIFORNIA.
Summing up the benefits of an exhibit is a good deal like a merchant trying to estimate the good derived from a sign over his door. Occasionally a patron may say, “I saw your sign and came in,” and occasionally a party may say, “I saw your exhibit and it prompted me to come to California.” The money dropped from travelers alone who passed through this State going to or returning from the Exposition, has probably recompensed California for its outlay, but this is only the beginning of the harvest. Many people from the eastern and central States who visited the Exposition with a view of ascertaining in which part of the Northwest it would be best to settle, changed their minds after seeing the exhibits made by the different States and came on to California. Besides, thousands of others already settled, after inspecting the exhibits made by this State, openly declared that if they ever moved again they would land in California. The tons of literature on this State carried away by visitors to supplement and strengthen their impressions, both impressions and literature to be disseminated among their neighbors, will have an effect that cannot be estimated, but which must inevitably bear fruit for California for many years to come. Then again, the seeing of our splendid products naturally excites a desire to try them, and the increased demand for our fruits, oil, wines, etc., growing out of such a display, is far-reaching. But more than all this, the greater intercourse, the better acquaintance, the more friendly feeling between the people of the different sections of the country, and particularly of the west, and more particularly between the people of this State and Washington, or Oregon and Washington, if you please, is bound to lead to a better understanding in regard to trade relations and result in commercial benefits that cannot be estimated. That the participation of California was wise there is no doubt, and that the benefits received and to be received will be many fold greater than the cost is as certain as the future. The follow-up letters that have already come to your Representatives from people of the Northwest and other sections who saw and inspected our exhibit, is further proof that an interest in this State has been awakened among them that will not soon die out.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
We are under obligations to so many that it would be tedious to enumerate them. The higher officials of the Exposition, President J. E. Chilberg, Director-General I. A. Nadeau and Director of Exhibits H. E. Dosch, showed us every courtesy and manifested a desire to do all they could to facilitate our work; while from the other departments, and even from the subordinates in all departments, a request from California was promptly considered and always conceded when not inconsistent with the Exposition rules. There were differences at first, as is always the case, but on a better understanding these were adjusted to the satisfaction of all concerned.
WALNUT ELEPHANT, LIFE SIZE, CALIFORNIA EXHIBIT, SEATTLE, 1909
The Southern Pacific Company and the Northern Pacific Company carried our freight at a one-way rate, and their respective agents were prompt and accommodating, setting a new mark for railroad efficiency at Expositions. The Southern Pacific Passenger Department also loaned us some very fine pictures of California scenes which were valuable not only as wall decorations but as object lessons on certain features of our State. To the Golden Gate Park officials of San Francisco, and also the officials of the Stockton State Hospital, we are under obligations for liberal contributions of ornamental plants and shrubs for the decoration of the California building and grounds. Mr. R. M. Teague of San Dimas and the Fancher Creek Nursery of Fresno, also contributed liberally of their choicest stock, for which we owe them a debt of gratitude. The same is true of J. Dietrich, Howard & Smith, Elysian Park and Edward H. Rust, all of Los Angeles, and of the Orange County Nursery & Land Co., of Fullerton.