^(-CALIFORNIA-*-
>tat? Agrintltural j^oagtg
Office, Agricultural Pavilion.
oirectorsi
BENJAMIN F. RUSH, President.
JAMES WHITAKER, Vice-President
F. H. BURKE, WILLIAM LAND,
H. P. STABLER, C. W. PAINE,
H. A. JASTRO, L. J. ROSE, JR.,
THOMAS  FOX, J. W. WILSON,
E. W. HOWARD, GEO. W. KINGSBURY.
J. A. FILCHER, Secretary. L. R. MILLER, Asst. Sec y
PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT.
SACRAMENTO, CAL..
May 16, 1906.
Colonel Henry F. Posoh,
Portland, Oregon. My Dear Colonel
I received fron you this morning, three boxes of Medals by express and a good, wholesouled letter under date of the 14th.        I have written to our handyman in Ran Francisco to come here and bring the list of awards with him, and as soon as he arrives he will start in and distribute the Medals.     We have been receiving a lot of Gold Medal Awards from Rt. Louis, and I find it very difficult to dispose of those awarded to Ran Francisco exhibitors, as their present addresses are unknown.       Consequently, we are holding on to the Medals in such cases until we learn where the parties ..re, and will have to do the s^ae in the case of the Portland Medal.s.
Portland, certainly did nobler in its relief work for the Ran Pnuicisco sufferers. Indeed, the whole world practically rose to the occasion, and I assure you that the generous response for aid from all quarters of America and from the civilized world generally, has deeply touched the hearts of every true Californian, and caus-ed tu&ea to feel that we have incurred a new obligation which life will not he long enough to pera it us to pay.
This great calamity has demonstrated that in time of dire distress, the better natures become aroused and cause a phase of humanity not commonly credited, but which, nevertheless, is pleas-
H •  i*i. D •    2.
ing to contemplate.     TTo, Ran Francisco will not be rebuilt to its former proportions in your days and mine, but it will be rebuilt and in years to cone will be a bigger, better and more beautiful city than it ever was.       Everything,virtually was wiped out, except the indomitable spirit of the people, and that spirit being alive and stirred with new life, will cause the City to rise rapidly from its ashes in finer proportions than ever.     Already there is great activity amid the scenes of desolation, and as soon as the Insurance Companies begin to pay their claims and the banks are in a position to distribute the money, I anticipate that the desolated district will be the scene of the most strenuous activity of any spot on the American Continent, and so many having suffered beyond recovery of new life will afford opportunities out of which many others will rise with greater might and more prominence than would have otherwise been possible.
The great wealth of the State's material resources is not affected.       The productive industries remain untouched,and California, though sorely stricken,is rich in the endowments of nature and natures products.
Convey to your family my sincere regards.       Accept the thanks of the Commission for your promptness in sending the Medals and for the very many other courtesies received at your hands, and believe me,
Yours very truly,
G. Recretary.