people to honorably compete with other countries for premiums, in the hope that you may be able to partially remove what seems an insuperable inconvenience to all citizens of this State who may feel inclined to send to the "Universal Exposition," at Paris, such products of the industry and agriculture of this State as we may be entitled to, in a just apportionment in the temporary palace of the space assigned to the United States-that of preparing and sending to the Imperial Commission, by the Foreign Commission, the plan of the organization of their countrymen, drawn on a scale of 0.002 to the metre, before October 31, 1865. In behalf of those who are inclined to become exhibitors from this State, I respectfully request that the time for this purpose may be extended to the 31st of March, 1866. If it is desirable to encourage contributions from this part of the United States, it is believed that this modification in the general regulations by the Imperial Commissioners will be necessary. Every effort, however, will be made to bring the whole subject to the notice of the people of the State as promptly as possible through the public press. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, yours, SPRINGFIELD, ILL., September 28, 1865. Governor of Illinois. ILLINOIS STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, SECRETARY'S OFFICE, SPRINGFIELD, Feb. 17, 1866. On motion of Mr. Rosensteil, it was Resolved, That John P. Reynolds be, and he is hereby, appointed a delegate from this Society to attend and report upon the "Universal Exposition," to be held in the city of Paris, France, in the year 1867, and that Governor Oglesby be, and he is hereby, respectfully requested to appoint and commission the same gentleman as the representative of the State of Illinois, at the said Universal Exposition. Resolved, That President McConnell be, and he is hereby, appointed a committee to wait upon the Governor and make the request embodied in the foregoing resolution." A true copy from the records of the Illinois State Agricultural Society, at the meeting of the Board, held in this city, on the 15th February, 1866. A correct copy. JOHN P. REYNOLDS, Corresponding and Recording Secretary. Private Secretary. [Gov. Oglesby to Hon. John P. Reynolds.] STATE OF ILLINOIS, EXECUTIVE DEpartment, HON. JOHN P. REYNOLDS, Commissioner for the State of Illinois : MY DEAR SIR-I submit to you the following special instructions, referred to in the commission issued to you by the Secretary of State of this State, under my directions, which you will be good enough to observe, as near as may be: As it is designed to exhibit, on behalf of the State of Illinois, at the Universal Exposition, a series of specimens collected by the Geological Survey, illustrating as fully as possible the geology and mineralogy of this State, you are hereby authorized to take entire charge and control · of the same, subject only to the rules and regulations established for the Exposition; and to exchange or dispose of said series of specimens for the exclusive benefit of the scientific collection or public library of the State. You are also expected and instructed to make, in accordance with. prescribed rules, an examination of all subjects embraced in said Exposition, information in regard to which may be deemed of interest and value to the people of this State; and to make a full and complete report upon the same as may be practicable. Very respectfully, R. J. OGLESBY, Governor of Illinois. [Hon. John P. Reynolds to Gov. Oglesby.] ROOMS OF THE ILLINOIS STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, His Excellency, RICHARD J. OGLESBY, Governor, Springfield, Illinois: DEAR SIR-Believing you feel much interest in knowing what has been done, in pursuance of your expressed wishes and instructions, towards making up a collection illustrative of the natural resources of this State, and of the social condition of its people, for exhibition at the French Universal Exposition, to be held in Paris in 1867, I desire very briefly to state: Immediately on receiving from you my appointment and commission as the representative of this State, for that occasion, I addressed a circular to such citizens as were believed to feel the proper interest in a matter of this character, calling their attention to the same in detail, and respectfully requesting their co-operation. The response to that appeal, I am happy to state, has been such as was confidently expected -almost unanimously favorable-and the result thus far realized reaches beyond what was at first believed to be attainable. The large and valuable series of duplicate specimens of minerals and fossils, from the State Geological Survey, the State Geologist, in accordance with your instructions, has prepared in the most careful manner, having classified and labeled them with scientific accuracy. Early in the past summer the Commissioner of the Land Department of the Illinois Central Railroad Company placed the sum of $500 at my disposal, to be used in supplementing the state geological collection, especially in the department of useful minerals, building stone, potters' clays, etc.; and, accordingly, under the direction of the State Geologist, a gentleman was placed in the field, furnished with passes over almost every railroad line in the State, and spent between two and three months visiting the coal mines, stone quarries, potteries and beds of ores, wherever they occur, collecting samples of their products. By correspondence and by personal interview at the state and county fairs, held during the past fall, a very full representation of the grains and other non-perishable agricultural and vineyard products of different sections has been secured. A competent botanist has added specimens representing about 1,000 species of our native plants, well preserved, arranged and labeled correctly, and in many cases accompanied with their fruits. The Chicago Academy of Science are now preparing as nearly a full suite of the birds of Illinois, as their extensive collection and resources will enable them to furnish. The game birds, most interesting, perhaps, to foreigners, will be tully represented in their contribution. There have been added some works of art and a few mechanical inventions of interest and value, but as exhibitors usually prefer to present such articles on their own private account, with a view to obtain prizes, no considerable effort has been made to include them in the state collection proper. Chiefly through the exertions of Hon. James H. Bowen, of Chicago, U. S. commissioner to the Paris exhibition, there have been added to the state collection many photographic views of buildings, public and private, the lake tunnel, and other objects of general interest in Chicago, and in other portions of the state. Of the various publications issued in this state, the following have been secured and will form part of the state collection: 50 copies of the State Geologist's Report; 50 copies of Report of Sup't of Public Instruction, with school records and blanks; 50 copies of Report of the Adjutant General; 50 copies of Report of the Chicago Board of Trade; 100 copies 5th volume Transactions State Agricultural Society; one copy of every serial now published in Chicago-it is hoped to add a copy of every one in the state; 40 maps of this State, from three different publishing houses. Thus much, Governor, has already been accomplished through the pride and patriotism of the people, without the slightest expenditure by or liability incurred on account of the State. Still more will be and is being done in the same direction, but of which I will not now make particular mention, with a single exception. Your excellency will readily see that such a contribution as this State will have at Paris, to effect the greatest good and produce the most favorable impression, should not be placed on exhibition in pieces, widely remote from each other; that its greatest value and highest interest will be secured only by keeping it together as a whole and preserving its identity as a collection from the State of Illinois. Strongly impressed with this fact, the Hon. James H. Bowen of Chicago, sometime since applied for space in the Champ de Mars, or that part of it designated as the Park in connection with the Exposition, for the purpose of erecting a "Western Farmer's Home," in which suitable provision should be made for the exhibition of the State collection. His application was allowed, and it is understood that Chicago architects and builders are now preparing the frame work of the home, and also of a western school house, to be erected near by. The latter will be supplied with furniture by a Chicago dealer. To carry to completion in a proper manner the enterprise referred to, and to place our collection on exhibition in a shape corresponding to its value, it will be necessary to expend a sum of money, the precise amount of which I can not of course state at present, but, for the entire needs of the commission, the maximum may be stated at $5,000. It is respectfully suggested that an appropriation of that amount by the State, for such a purpose, would be a measure of wise economy. Very respectfully, Your ob't servant, JOHN P. REYNOLDS, Commissioner for Illinois to the Paris Exposition, 1867. REPORT OF E. BOYDEN. To the General Assembly of the State of Illinois: In obedience to the provisions of an act entitled "An act to provide relief to the Illinois volunteer soldiers wounded at Murfreesboro and Vicksburg," passed by the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, and approved January 12, 1863, I beg leave to submit for your consideration the following separate report of my acts and doings as one of the commissioners appointed by said act: The total amount appropriated, ten thousand dollars, was, by agreement, equally divided between the members of the commission. The amount received by me, $3,333 33 in coin, which was converted into treasury notes, as follows: 66 Sold Ridgely & Co., Springfield, Ills., January 14, 1863, $2,666 66, at 139.. Total amount in currency.. .$3,706 66 426 66 584 00 .$4,717 32 Which sum was by me paid out and expended, in conformity with the provisions of said act, as follows, to wit: The number of Illinois soldiers who have, to a greater or less extent, been relieved with the moneys expended by me, number something over two thousand, as will be seen by the accompanying list, giving the names, company and regiment. On visiting the several hospitals, I could discover no methodthat would administer to their immediate relief so well as to furnish them with money, to enable them to purchase in the market such things as they should most need. Having determined upon this course, every hospital was visited, and the wants of every wounded Illinois soldier inquired after, either by myself or clerks. In all cases where they were found to be without money, they were supplied with |