GEOLOGICAL AIsD IMATUllAL lilSTOKY SURVEYS. 359 



the university to take possession of the present Stute hall, as its 

 rooms should be vacated by the State officers who were to be accom- 

 modated in the neAv capitol. In pursuance of this provision several 

 of the rooms in the State hall were in 18S6 occupied by the stall of 

 the State geologist and paleontologist and by t5ie State botanist, 

 and the more valuable and typical portions of the paleontologic and 

 botanic collections removed thereto. It subsequently proved im- 

 practicable to acquire full possession of the State li.ill on acc()ui\t of 

 the reluctance of its occupants to remove to other quarters, but the 

 office of the State paleontologist and the larger part of the collec- 

 tions in paleontology have been in this building from that date to the 

 present. 



The following letter from Hall to Governor Cleveland is self- 

 explanatory : 



. Albany, May 20, ISSI 

 His Excellency Gkovek Cleveland, 



Governor of New York. 



Sir: I beg leave to offer you the explanation I had proposed to give when I 

 called upou your excellency in regard to the appropriation of $2,500 foi the 

 services of the State geologist, the expenses of working rooms, etc., and to do 

 this it is neces.sary to state the original cause of this agreement. 



In 1S55 I was chaiged with the duty of collecting fossils to be used in the 

 preparation of the paleontology of the State. At that time and previously the 

 wing of the mi'seuni building (the old Slate hall) was ;uid iiad been in use for 

 working rooms and laboratorj-. This building was demolished and the pres- 

 ent one erected in 1856 and 1S57. In the allotment of )'ooms in the new 

 building the entire wing was awarded to the agricultural society, leaving no 

 rooms for the geological work. After repeated applications to the proper officers 

 I was informed that there were no rooms to be had in the museum or ;i.ny other 

 public building and that it would be necessary to procure outside quarters. 



The collections, packed in boxes and stoned in a cellar, could not be used and 

 were of no value for the object intended. In 1S57 I began the erection of a brick 

 building on my own ground, and in the following year completed and fitted up 

 the same with drav.ors, libi'ary. and other facilities for carrying on the work 

 which I was required to do. As the collections accumulaled more room was re- 

 quired, itud later I erected another building* for their accommodation. 



During subsequent years some appropriations were made to cover the neces- 

 sary expense, but these were irregular and uncertain. In 1871 I applied for the 

 use and expenses of these buildings and for my own services, furnishing a memo- 

 randum of the several sources of expenditure. The subject was referred to 

 the lieutenant governor, comptroller, and secretary of state, who recoinr.iwuleil 

 an appropriation of $2,500 as a proper compensation for the duties and expenses 

 therein specified. 



A copy of this memorandum with the recommendation of the ofHcers is hore- 

 with appended. 



The appropriation of .$2,500 has been annually made since that time. In the 

 meantime the collections have continued to accumulate, more conveniences 



" Tlie brick building conais(s of a main part 80 by 42 feet and a wing for worldnj? 

 room and library of 28 by 30 feet. Tlio second building is of wood .SO by 4^) feet. The 

 eost of erection and fitting up these buildings has been more tban .>h1 0.000, while my 

 private library necessary for use in this work Is worth .$6,000. 



