16 Forty-fourth Annual Report on the 



TH&j not have fully repealed all previous laws relating to this 

 object, and if still existing I would ask whether there may not 

 be obtained some small appropriation to be used in carrying 

 out the intention of the framers of the original law and its amend- 

 ments. While the law organizing the Museum in 1870 and the 

 subsequent one absorbing the department of Geology and Palaeon- 

 tology which had been continued under the original law, may 

 perhaps enable you to carry out to completion all the work 

 originally contemplated by these acts, I will venture to suggest 

 the inquiry whether it may not be well to recognize the term 

 "Geological and Natural History Survey" more especially 

 since the original distinctive title of " The State Museum of 

 Natural History" established by the law of 1870, has given 

 place to the title of "State Museum." I have been induced 

 to speak of this subject since my attention has been called to 

 the matter from several sources, prompted by a desire to see 

 the work of the Geological and Natural History Survey recognized 

 and continued ; and even by a proposition from a member of last 

 year's Assembly to organize a new Geological Survey of the 

 State, or reorganize the existing elements and carry out the 

 original plan of a complete work in all the departments of 

 science. 



While the Museum in its several departments is doing excellent 

 work and publishing valuable results, I have for a long time 

 hoped that some measures might be devised for reaching, more 

 directly the individual and collective interests of the people of 

 the state. 



If the State Museum, the Geological and Natural History Sur- 

 vey, and all the scientific investigations are to be merged in the 

 " University of the State of New Yorhj" then the University, its 

 scope, its plans, its means and appliances, whether of men, appa- 

 ratus or of buildings, should be commensurate with the needs 

 and demands of the nearly six millions of people inhabiting the 

 Empire State. 



Very respectfully 



Your obedient servant 



JAMES HALL 



Director of the State Museum. 



Albany, N. Y., December 3, 1890. 



