Ko 124. 1 
7 
successive volume, cofumencing with the third, to the Secretary of 
State. This volume should contain the manuscript letter press ready 
for printing, and be accompanied with the very fossils described. 
Exceptions might be made as to rare and high priced ones, but even 
of these there should be plaster casts procured by him. The above 
sum corresponds with the amount put down for salaries by the As- 
sembly committee, (see Report, p. 176,) and if the Legislature will 
consider the time already employed, and the moneys already expend- 
ed, with the progress reported from time to time, the undersigned 
suppose that the proposition will be deemed a just, as well as a libe- 
ral one. 
We think it highly probable that more advantageous terms for 
the completion of the work could be obtained, but written con- 
tracts have been entered into for a portion of it, and the undersigned 
do not deem it consistent with the rights of parties or the solemnity 
of contracts, to recommend an abandonment of the existing ones. 
They trust, however, that the work may be completed with more 
promptness and with a greater regard to economy. The drawings 
have been paid for at one dollar and fifty cents each, under a verbal 
contract between Governor Young and the different professors. The 
undersigned regard the price as unreasonable. Indeed, the drawings 
are unnecessary, for a competent artist should be able with a sketch 
of his own to engrave from the fossil. Again, unnecessary profuse- 
ness in coloring has added not inconsiderably to the expense of the 
work One plate of insects has been colored ; forty-six plates are 
reported as still to be colored. Although the coloring adds to the 
beauty of the engraving, as a matter of science it might be dispensed 
with. This would cause a saving of nearly seven thousand dollars. 
The printing and binding are done under an existing contract, and' 
are now paid for at the rate of two dollars per volume. We doubt 
whether this can be done at a much lower rate, if the quality of the 
paper, the difficulties attendant on printing a scientific work, and the 
general artistic characters of the volumes as a whole be taken into 
account. 
Salaries of Dr^ Emmons and Professor HalL 
The salary of the former ceased according to law on the 1st of 
October, 1848, and that of the latter on the 1st of April, 1849. The 
Assembly committee of 1850, say on this subject: " It will require 
