4S 



AiiutluT pluiSL' of this work is the study of the probh'uis in tliese records 

 wliieli liave been secnred in order to determine those conditions which arc 

 preventive of dependency, delinsiuency and degeneracy. Tlie charitable 

 institutions of our State have long been tlie admiration of tlie whole coun- 

 try. The great work of the State Board of Charities looking to the pre- 

 vention of crime will perhaps bring more lasting benefit to our people than 

 the institutions themselves over which this board lias control. The suc- 

 cessful efforts of this Ix^ird in bettering tlie condition of our people has 

 been seen especially in the enactment of the Child Labor Law, the Child 

 Saving Law. the Poor Relief Law, the Indeterminate Sentence and Pai'ole 

 Law, the Compulsory Education Law and the law for the custodial care 

 of feeble-minded women. It is evident, therefore, that in enacting the 

 laws providing for the State Board of Charities by the Legislature, in 1889, 

 Indiana took a great step forward, Vioth in a scientific direction and also 

 from an economic standpoint. There is no institution of our State more 

 worthy of support and encouragement tlinn the State Board of Charities, 

 and no one, if p^'operly supported, will do more for the honor and welfare 

 of our people. 



As a direct effect of the establishment of this Academy we may point 

 to the law regarding the protection of birds and game. Birds may be 

 taken for scientific purposes only l)y persons having permits througli the 

 Indiana Academy of Science. The bird law is well supplemented l»y the 

 game laAV enacted by the last Legislature. There still remain, however, 

 to be enacted some desiralile features of one of these laws, and th;it is, 

 the enactment of a provision for the taking of tish. The Commissioner of 

 Fish and Game has the oversight of fish and game protection, but" it 

 niiglit he well to have the law changed so as to liave this otticial in organic 

 connection with the Academ.^-. 



I have already alluded to some of the services of chemistry to the 

 State of Indiana in connection with the development of its geological re- 

 sources and also in its .services to the State Board of Health. The chief 

 Aalue, however, of the science of chemistry to the State of Indiana has 

 lieen in its application to our ngricultni-al industries. The enactment of the 

 Morrill Law, already referred to, in 18(12, resulted in th^ estal)lishnient of 

 Purdue University, an institution devoted to the study of agricultural and 

 mechanical arts and military science. The foundation thus provided was 

 generously increased by a gift of Mr. Purdue, and with the assistance of 

 citizens of Lafayette, a commodious home was secured for the institu- 



