334 BULLETIN 109, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



5. Should either of the present geologists decline acting, the governor is au- 

 thorized to employ some other person for the same purpose. 



6. This act shall take effect immediately. 



Under this act Professor Emmons's term of service expired on 

 October 1, 1848, and Professor Hall's on April 1, 1849, but neither 

 brought his work to completion within the time limits set. The chief 

 causes for this continual extension, in both time and expense, wera 

 thus stated in the report of the assembly committee for 1849-50 : 



Some of the causes are very obvious : 



1. The original plan of survey was very closely adhered to, and the. expense 

 of the survey was within the limit up to 1840. The estimate was exceeded in 

 respect to the time necessary for the field. One year and a half more proved 

 requisite. 



2. The whole original plan of publication was departed from, instead of 3 

 volumes octavo there are to be 20 volumes quarto. In 1842, when the quarto 

 size was determined on, it was supposed eight volumes would be the number. 



3. The addition from time to time of new departments to the work. Paleon- 

 tology and agriculture alone add eight volumes not originally contemplated. 



4. In the increase of illustrations and the amount of coloring will be found 

 the great cause of expense. To the former, including the atlas, was assigned 

 $13,000 by the original plan ; and of coloring, none was contemplated to be done, 

 except in the case of the maps, which it was supposed $5,000 would cover. 



There has been an exceeding looseness about the making and preservation of 

 contracts relating to certain parts of the work. By several of the governors 

 verbal contracts have been made and verbal directions given, about which their 

 successors could have no knowledge from the papers left in the State depart- 

 ments. The embarrassments under which successive governors have labored 

 from an ignorance of the acts of their predecessors is very apparent to anyone 

 who examines their certificates attached to the different warrants. Your com- 

 mittee believe it would be well if by law it was rendered requisite to the valid- 

 ity of every executory contract made with the State, that it should be in writing 

 Rud duly signed. There should, moreover, be a common and sole depository for 

 contracts made with the executive of the State. Of the contracts relating to 

 this work, some have been found in the executive department, some in the 

 comptroller's, and several nowhere. 



Very much of the difficulty that has attended the progress of the natural his- 

 tory, and much unnecessary expense has arisen from the absence of uniform 

 control. Governor succeeded governor, and after a few years had elapsed from 

 its commencement, no one of them could be expected to know, or could anyone 

 be familiar with the details of the past progress of so extended a work, wh'cb 

 would be necessary to enable him properly to direct its present and provide for 

 its future. Thus deviation after deviation occurred from the original plan. 

 Your committee are led to the belief that the control and direction of a work 

 of this kind would be more properly vested i.i some literary or scientific board 

 of a permanent character than was the executive overcharged with other busi- 

 ness and liable to frequent change.* 



In askins: for a further continuation this year it was estimated 

 that in all $150,000 would be needed. Hall thought to be able to 



1 Ppp rppni-f of t)>e select committee of tlie lesisla'ure of 1840 on the publicntion of 

 the Nntiiral FTistory of the State of Now York, made to the Icpfslature Jjinuary 22, 18.50, 

 for full details. Assembly document, 73d session, vol. 1. 



