6 
[Assembly 
was inadequate to the services to be rendered; and from informa- 
tion I have received, I am induced to think it is less than other 
States have paid for similar services. The persons employed must 
be from five to seven months in each year engaged in explorations, 
and it was anticipated that their personal expenses (no part of 
which was defrayed by the State,) would be considerable during 
this period; but these expenses thus far have exceeded their ex- 
pectations, and they have united in an application for an increase 
of their compensation. I have deemed it proper to present this 
subject to the consideration of the Legislature, for the purpose of 
receiving its direction thereon. 
In order to supply the literary institutions of the State with spe- 
cimens, as the law provides, the Secretary of State has directed 
eight suits of them to be procured. Many of these specimem , and 
among them some of the most interesting character, are to be ta- 
ken from places to which the approach by ordinary means ot con- 
veyance is impracticable. To procure and prepare this number 
of suits, and bring them to places from whence they can be trans- 
ported by the common methods, requires much manual labor. It 
has been suggested to me, that the employment of a common la- 
borer, or packman, in each district, for this purpose and some oth- 
ers, would greatly facilitate the execution of the survey, by re- 
lieving the geologists from the necessity of devoting their time and 
attention to objects no way demanding scientific acquirements. I 
have been in this respect, as well as all others, unwilling to adopt 
any arrangement which will be likely to increase the expenses be- 
yond the estimate presented to the Legislature, and shall not do so 
without an assurance that it will receive its approbation. 
It was in my opinion of great importance to the main objects of 
the work, that those who were engaged in it should confer toge- 
ther,, not only to receive each other's suggestions as to the best 
methods of prosecuting their labors, but to adopt some uniform 
plans for their proceedings. I also desired their advice as to the 
general directions to be given for their guidance. For this pur- 
pose, they were convened in this city in November last. Among 
the recommendations presented to me by the board, was that of 
selecting a proper person to be employed exclusively on that part 
of the work which relates to fossil remain^ As they assigned 
some of the reasons which induced them to adopt this recommen- 
dation, I take the liberty of presenting their views on this subject 
to the Legislature. 
