that very soon steps must be taken to erect a new capitol building; and we most respectfully, but urgently, suggest, in connection therewith, that the interests of this Society will not be overlooked; but that rooms, ample and sufficient, shall be provided to meet a want vastly more important than we have thus imperfectly set forth.

SECOND-TREE-PLANTING.

Each year demonstrates the necessity of increased attention to this subject. We need not advert to the fact that large portions of our State are destitute of timber-portions, too, of the richest character the great draw-back to their development being this destitution. Gradually, but surely, our population is pushing into these rich fields. Without some encouragement, such, too, as the State might legitimately extend, their efforts in subduing the soil and bringing it into a proper State of cultivation must be attended with many hardships and delays. We suggest, therefore, that a bounty be extended to all persons who shall plant and cultivate for three or more years five or more acres of timber; or shall, along the public highways, set out and grow trees for ornament and use. A small expenditure in this way will contribute very greatly to the beauty of our prairies, and beyond doubt invite settlement. Many counties, in our judgment, now almost without settlement, if this encouragement shall be extended, would soon be filled with a thriving and industrious population, and thus add largely to the wealth and revenue of the State. Without some aid of this nature these same regions must for years remain wild and unoccupied. Giving aid and encouragement, as we do every year to other objects, it seems to us that the highest pecuniary, socia! and moral consideration demand adequate assistance, in the direction proposed. Seconding and indorsing as we do, therefore, most cordially and fully the suggestions contained in the Report of the Secretary on this subject, and recurring again to what is said on the subject of a library and cabinet, we recommend the adoption of the following resolutions:

First-That we urge upon the General Assembly the propriety and necessity of providing suitable apartments for our library, casts of fruits, paintings of animals, &c., and extending to our efforts in this behalf the most liberal aid and encouragement.

Second-That the subject of tree - planting, in view of the extent of our prairies, and the need of some active aid in this direction, demands at the hands of the General Assembly immediate attention, and that the encouragement extended should be most liberal, and worthy the representatives of a State now at its majority, giv. ing every evidence of its future greatness und power. Respectfully submitted.

GEORGE G. WRIGHT,
S. F. SPOFFORD,
S. B. HEWITT, JR.,

On motion, the report was unanimously adopted.

Committee.

J. M. SHAFFER,

Secretary.

OF THE

BOARD OF CURATORS

OF THE

State Historical Society,

TO THE

GOVERNOR OF IOWA.

DECEMBER, 1867.

DES MOINES:

F. W. PALMER, STATE PRINTER.

REPORT.

To His Excellency, Wm. M. Stone, Governor of Iowa:

In compliance with the Act of the General Assembly taking cognizance of, and making appropriations to, the State Historical Society of Iowa, which requires of its Executive Board a biennial report of the condition and management of its affairs, and the modes of expenditure of the money received, the Board of Curators of the Society respectfully submit the following report:

MODES OF EXPENDITURE OF MONEY RECEIVED.

The Board has established relations of exchange with a large number of kindred Societies and Institutions in many of the States and Canada. The receipt of packages from these necessarily incurs considerable expense, as will be seen from appended vouchers.

The following is the list of the Societies and Institutions with which this Society is on terms of reciprocal intercourse and interchange of historic material:

Historical Society of Ohio.

American Antiquarian Society of Massachusetts.

Boston Numismatic Society of Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Historical Society.

New England Historical Society, of Massachusetts.

Historical Collections, Essex Institute, Salem, Massachusetts.

New York Historical Society.

American Ethnological Society, New York.

American Statistical Society, New York.

American Numismatic and Archaelogical Society, New York.

Long Island Historical Society.

Chicago Historical Society, Chicago, Illinois.

Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Minnesota Historical Society.

New Hampshire Historical Society.