has been done and large exhibits of natural history specimens have been built up and housed in appropriate buildings, nothing thus far has been done in that line through the agency of the state. Gifts of natural history specimens have been tendered to the Society but in some instances they could not be accepted because of a lack of room. Recently through contributions of public spirited citizens the skeleton of a mammoth, found in Morrow County, Ohio, the only specimen of this kind now owned within the limits of the state, was purchased and presented to the Society. No room is available for the mounting of this skeleton. Arrangements will be made for putting it on exhibition when the new wing to the building is completed. Ohio has done a highly creditable work through this Society in collecting and placing on exhibition the archæological remains of the state. It is believed that through its department of natural history a most interesting exhibit will in time be collected at comparatively small expense. This department will connect the remote past with the living present. Ohio has an interesting fauna and flora and there should be a central collection accessible not only to the students of the University but to all citizens of the state who visit Columbus.

Among other appropriations by the General Assembly is one for a photostat outfit. While the archæological survey of the state has been systematically and consecutively carried on for years the collection of materials relating to its history has been seriously neglected. The only agency under state authority that has attempted much in this line through the past century has been the Ohio State Library. There the work was very intermittently done. In certain comparatively

brief periods of the history of that institution commendable progress was made and some rare collections were secured only, in some instances, to be lost or dissipated in after years. That institution still has valuable newspaper files and some books and papers of inestimable value to the student of state and local history, but many important items relating to Ohio and the Northwest Territory must be consulted in the libraries of other states or the Library of Congress at Washington. Some of these can never be acquired by the library of this Society or any other institution in Columbus. With the aid of the photostat, however, facsimiles of many rare documents, manuscripts and publications can be made which will answer all the purposes of originals. for those engaged in research work. Through the use of the photostat such documents already collected in Columbus may be reproduced at small cost and made available at all times to students in the library of the Society. Through this agency it is believed that in time valuable collections may be added to this library which will in a measure make amends for the failure to collect systematically the originals in the years that are gone.

The Logan Elm, located in a small park which now belongs to the Society, has been an object of increasing interest through recent years. A concern has been manifest for the prolongation of the life of this grand old tree with historic associations reaching back earlier than the Revolution. Reports have been current through the press of the decline of the Elm and the question has frequently been raised why something has not been done to prolong its life and restore it to healthy condition. The answer of the Society, which

has appreciated its responsibility for the care of the tree, has very properly been that it had no money available for expert examination and treatment. The General Assembly in response to the popular interest that centers in the Logan Elm has made ample provision for everything that can be done to prolong its life. In the meantime a preliminary examination by a tree ex

pert has been made possible through the prompt and generous attitude of one of our state senators and his fellow Knights Templar in the city of Circleville. We are pleased to be able to report that the vitality of the tree is said to be fair and with proper care its life may be indefinitely prolonged.

Under a law that has been on the statute books for about seventy-three

years, county commissioners are required to keep on file in bound form in the office of the county auditor two newspapers of opposite politics in each county. A survey shows that in many counties there are interesting files of newspapers that have been accumulated in accordance with the provisions of this law. In some of the counties these are seldom used and county officers would willingly transfer them elsewhere for safe-keeping and reference

use. In a number of the counties, we regret to say, these files have entirely disappeared through the flagrant failure of some official to comply with the law. The intimation has been made that perhaps they have been disposed of to make room for other records in the court house. The General Assembly has enacted a law making it pos

sible, where county commissioners so desire, to transfer these files of a date earlier than ten years from the time of transfer to the Ohio State Archæological and Historical Society. It is believed that this act will be of great service in the preservation of local history throughout the state. County authorities now will have a safe place to deposit their early files if they so desire and there will be no excuse for destroying them or keeping them

where they are inaccessible for reference purposes.

For the encouraging attitude of the General Assembly the Society is duly grateful. Among many members of both houses and state officials who manifested a friendly interest it is somewhat difficult to discriminate. Especial credit is due to Honorable J. F. Atwood, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and Honorable Harry D. Silver, Chairman of the