4 
[Assembly 
The amount paid out of the treasury for the service connected 
with and the publication of the Natural History of the State, to 
January, 1850, was $425,375.36. The causes of the expense ex- 
ceeding the original estimates were, that the original plan of 
publication was departed from, and an exceeding looseness about 
making and preserving of the contracts relating to certain parts 
of the work. Many of the contracts were verbal, and very 
loosely understood at that. So that disputes have arisen as to 
the obligations of the parties thereto. (See Assembly Doc. of 
1850, No. 9, pages 30 to 36.) 
In January, 1850, it was estimated that over $150,000 would 
be required to complete the publication of the Natural History 
of the State, in accordance with the estimates of the professors 
engaged in the work. (See Assembly Doc, 1850, No. 9, p. 39.) 
In the same document, page 63, Prof. Hall writes as follows : 
To complete the letter-press of the remainder of the work on 
Paleontology, and to make the necessary examinations and col- 
lections in the field, and investigations and comparisons prepar- 
atory to the publication of figures, is a labor sufficient for five 
years, and as much as can be done in that time, if the investiga- 
tions are properly made. I would willingly say in less time, 
but I have so often over-estimated my powers, and under-esti- 
mated the labor and time necessary for such investigations, that 
I am unwilling to set any less time. I may say, however, that 
the second volume is in press, and the printing will be finished 
by the first of January next. And the investigations for the 
THIRD VOLUME havc progrcsscd so far, that I confidently expect to 
have that volume finished by the spring of 1851." 
Again, at page 67, Prof. Hall says : " For volume three. The 
number of drawings finished for this volume is 866, exclusive of 
those heretofore made for wood engraving, which is 339." "There 
are in progress for the same volume about 400 figures, for which 
specimens have been studied and laid out, and the drawings 
commenced." 
" For volume 4. The number of drawings finished for this 
volume is 152, exclusive of 207 done for wood engraving." 
