360 BULLETIN 109, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



for working rooms and for the arrangement of the specimens have been de- 

 manded and supplied, and the expenses have constantly increased. At the 

 same time increased duties have been imposed upon the State geologist, which 

 he has endeavored to perform to the best of Iiis ability. i 



It has been provided in the item of appropriation that whenever the collec- 

 tions shall be i-emoved no further rent of the buildings shall be paid, and any 

 unexpended balance shall be used to pay for the removal. The collections still 

 occupy the buildings, the expenses named in connection with their custody and 

 safe-keeping are incurred. The other duties specified in the memoranda, as 

 well as additional ones, especially in the requirement to make an annual 

 report on the condition of the work, are being performed as may be shown in 

 part by the recent publication of a volume of the paleontology, and the per- 

 formance of work pertaining to the other volumes can be shown if required. 



In my contract with the trustees of the State museum under the laws of 

 1SS3 for the authorship of the paleontology, it is provided that my conq)ensa- 

 tlon shall be from this appropriation and is not to be paid from the appropria- 

 tion for the publication of the paleontology. The same is true regarding the 

 payment for the original drawings on the work. 



It will not be practicable to fit up rooms in the State hall for the reception 

 of these collections during the present year, and in the meantime these build- 

 ings which I provided must remain occupied as heretofore and the necessnrv 

 expenses of their custody be incurred. In my first statement of the costs and 

 expenses pertaining to the care and custody of these collections, and the prepa- 

 ration of the work upon the paleontology, the estimates %vere all upon the most 

 economical scale, and I am quite sure that the collections can never be so well 

 and so economically cared for in any public building as they have beeu whilo 

 in my custody. 



In this arrangement with the State I have endeavored to perform my part 

 of the contract faithfully and conscientiously, and while the same conditions 

 and requirements continue I can see no reason why the State should annul the 

 existing arrangement. 



I have here endeavored to state, as concisely as possible, the principal facts 

 in this case. I shall be ready to give any further information which may be 

 required and I would feel very thankful if your excellency will make a thorough 

 inquiry into all the facts connected with this matter, and the conditions past 

 and present under which these collections have been accumulated and the 

 work carried on to its present state. 



I am, very respectful l.v, your obedient servant. 



(Signed) James Hall. 



In 1889 the State museum was made an integral part of the Uni- 

 versity of the State of New York, and the section of the law which 

 specially relates to the affairs of the museum says : 



All scientific specimens and collections, works of art, objects of histori** 

 interest and similar property appropriate to a general museum if owned by 

 the State and not placed in other custody by specific law shall constitute the 

 State museum, and one of its officers shall annually inspect all such property 

 not kept iu the State museum rooms and the annual report of the nuiseum to 

 the legislature shall include summaries of such property with its location and 

 any needed recommendation as to its safety or usefulness. 



Together with the other departments of the university, the museum 

 became a constitutional body in 1895, and in the revised university 



I 



