are found and they should not be allowed to be lost to the State. Few 

 people are aware that only two states in the United States surpass Illi- 

 nois in mineral productions and that in the production of one mineral, 

 this State leads all others. Of this mineral, which is produced in such 

 great quantities and which often occurs in crystal groups of great 

 beauty, there are no adequate representatives in the museum. 



Besides being a fine store house of the typical and valuable natural 

 history objects of the State it should contain objects to round out and 

 complete the story told of our own natural history objects. For ex- 

 ample, when illustrating our chief source of mineral wealth it is desir- 

 able to show, not only peat and soft coal, but anthracite, graphite and 

 diamond as well. Though we have no ocean on our borders it is de- 

 sirable to show sea forms, shells, corals, sponges, sea fish, etc. Though 

 we have no volcanos, volcanic products are interesting and useful in a 

 study of the geology of our own State. Though tropical vegetation 

 is not typical of the State today, tropical woods should be shown for 

 commercial and historical reasons. Our coal deposits were formed 

 under tropical conditions. Though the buffalo and deer are no longer 

 found in the State, they at one time roamed our prairie, and even the 

 ancient relatives of the elephant and rhinoceros frequented the swamp 

 lands of this region. 



SECOND, A WORK SHOP. 



A museum is a comparatively useless institution without a work 

 shop in which the materials assembled can be put in the best condi- 

 tion for preservation and exhibition. Minerals and rocks are to be 

 tested and trimmed. Fossils are to be worked out of their contain- 

 ing rock, woods are to be sawed and polished. Animal life is to be 

 treated and mounted. Materials and rooms for labelling are neces- 

 sary. Such a work shop makes it possible for the museum to act in 

 the capacity of, 



THIRD, AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION. 



It is- not enough that the museum be full of material. Just as de- 

 sirable is it that the materials be so exhibited as to attact the attention 

 most readily, to be understood most easily, and to give the greatest 

 pleasure. The descriptions should be such as to be intelligible not only 

 to the man with scientific training, but to the beginner and the general 

 public as well. When any subject is illustrated it should form a 

 continued story and not appear as a disjointed series of facts. Classi- 

 fication and arrangement should be made in the most scientific and ar- 

 tistic manner. 



FOURTH, AN INSTITUTION FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE. 



By publication, public lectures, and the distribution of materials the 

 museum can greatly widen its circle of influence. Probably at the 

 present time there is less demand for publication than there is for 

 reaching the people of the State in a more concrete and practical 

 manner, namely, by bringing them in contact with museum material. 

 Acting in accordance with this plan, every high school in the State has 

 been asked if it would appreciate the reception of a small typical col- 



