14 



REPORT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE CON- 



CERXING THE STATE NATURAL HISTORY 



MUSEUM. 



A\'hereas, The Illinois State ]\Iuseum of Natural History in 

 its more than fifty years of existence has become the repository 

 of many thousand valuable scientific objects, and 



Whereas, The present housing of these objects is inadequate, 

 unsightly and dangerous, since they are crowded, exposed to 

 dust, and in danger of fire, and 



\\'hereas. The museum should preserve and exhibit materials 

 showing the work of many State scientific departments, such 

 as the Geological Survey, Soil Survey, Water Survey, Labora- 

 tory of Natural History, Highway Commission, etc., and 

 should preserve the records of vanishing animals and plants 

 and exhibit the oils, coals, clays, cements, fluxes, abrasives, 

 metals and other minerals of the State which, though abun- 

 dant, are absolutely limited and capable of exhaustion, and 



Whereas, The museum thus makes a forcible and concrete 

 appeal for the conservation of our natural resources, and is an 

 institution of great importance, both from an educational and 

 a practical point of view ; be it 



Resolved, By the Illinois State Academy of Science that 

 an institution of such scientific and commercial importance 

 should be adequately cared for by the State and that commodi- 

 ous quarters should be provided for it as soon as practicable 

 in a new building in Springfield ; and be it further 



Resolved, That the Illinois State Academy of Science 

 hereby expresses its earnest wish that the present State 

 Legislature should take steps to provide such a building 

 for the museum, either alone or with other appropriate State 

 Departments. 



Stephen A. Forbes, 

 A. R. Crook, 

 J. C. Hessler, 

 March 1st, 1909. Signed for the Committee. 



