district. The spacious grounds were donated by the people of Huntington. The location on the foothills overlooking the Ohio is one of the most attractive in the State. The board of directors has wisely laid out, under the supervision of competent architects, an elaborate plan for grounds and buildings, so that the whole may be completed during a series of years, and so that in the end the completed buildings and grounds may represent the symmetry and harmony of one complete design. It is the first time in the history of the State that so much wisdom and foresight have been displayed in the plan of a public institution. It is a guarantee against the patchwork that has disfigured so many of the public buildings of the State. 12. The Geological Survey.-There was established in 1897 a State Geological and Economic Survey, under the direction of a commission composed of the Governor, the Treasurer, the President of the West Virginia University, the President of the State Board of Agriculture, and the Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station. The commission is required to employ a geologist of established reputation as superintendent, and such assistants and employes as may be deemed necessary. The survey has for its chief objects the following: An examination of the geology of the State with special reference to economic products; of the soils and their adaptability to crops; of the forest and timber lands, and their preservation from waste; of the physical features of the State and their practical bearing upon the occupations of the people and upon the industrial development and material prosperity of the several sections. It is required to prepare special reports, together with illustrations and maps, showing both in general and in detail, the geology and resources of the State. The commission began its work by appointing Dr. I. C. White as superintendent with the title of State Geologist, and by the selection of assistants and employes. It has published Volume I, of its proceedings, containing the report of the com mission, levels above tide, the variations of the magnetic compass and the establishment of true meridian lines in the several counties of the State, and much valuable information relating to the geology of petroleum and natural gas. The material for a second volume on coals by the State Geologist, with a bibliographic memoir, by Professor S. B. Brown, is practically in hand for publication, whenever funds are available. But the Legislature of 1899, by one vote, failed to make an appropriation for continuing the work. No State in the Union has more to gain from a geological and economic survey than West Virginia. The benefits would accrue to all: to the landholder both large and small, in the same proportion; to the merchant, the mechanic, the laborer; to the man with capital, and to the man with no capital, and to the man with no capital more than to the man with capital, because the latter is able to employ experts to gather information for him by which he profits at the expense of the ignorance of the man who can not get this information. 13. The Miners' Hospitals.-In 1899 the Legislature established three miners' hospitals, which have been located as follows: No. 1, at Welch in McDowell County; No. 2, at McKendree in Fayette County; and No. 3, at Fairmont in Marion County. Fifteen thousand dollars was appropriated for the purposes of each hospital. Each is under the management of a bi-partisan board, consisting of four members appointed for the term of four years, one of whom must be a competent physician, one a miner and shipper of coal, and one a practical coal miner. The board may make and publish such rules, regulations, and by-laws, as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of the law creating the hospitals. Any person who has been injured on any railroad while a passenger or employe; any person "otherwise injured by a railroad train;" and any person injured or hurt in a coal mine or in the coal business, shall be admitted into the hospitals and treated free of charge. Other persons who may be injured or hurt, may be treated in the hospitals at the actual cost of treatment; but preference in admission for treatment must be given to the coal miner, the railroad employe, and the laborer hazardously employed, when injured in or about his employment. 14. The Historical and Antiquarian Society.-A society called the West Virginia Historical Society was organized at the University in Morgantown on September 30, 1869. It held fourteen annual meetings at Morgantown, the last one on June 11, 1884. The by-laws provided for the holding of an annual meeting at the place where the Legislature held its sessions. The society included in its membership about one hundred and fifty gentlemen representing all sections of the State. During the early years of its activity it collected many valuable papers and documents, some which were published in 1871 under the title of "Proceedings of the West Virginia Historical Society, Volume I. Part I.” these valuable sources remain unpublished. declined, and after the death of its last James Faulkner, Senior, ceased to meet. reaching Morgantown before the days of the railroad seems to be the only reason given for the suspension of work by the society. The remainder of On January 30, 1890, the West Virginia Historical and Antiquarian Society was organized at Charleston, and received a charter from the State. It has entrusted its work to an executive board and committees. It has a growing membership. It is to have a permanent home and ample room for its collections in the new Capitol Annex, when completed. With the financial support from the State which the objects of the society merit, it may become a great factor in the educational system of the State. The society has collected some valuable material, but so far it has undertaken no systematic publication of archives or local historical material, outside of a few papers and addresses. 15. The Humane Society. An act passed in 1899 estab lishes a state corporate board to be known as "The West Virginia Humane Society," for the protection of children and the helpless aged, and for the prevention of cruelty to animals. It is composed of "four reputable citizens," one from each of the Congressional districts, some of whom may be women. It possesses the usual powers pertaining to corporate bodies necessary to enable it to carry out the purposes of its creation. The chief object of the society is to better the condition of children under fourteen years of age, who are abandoned, neglected, or cruelly treated. It has power to invoke the aid of the courts in the enforcement of its lawful acts. The enactment of this law was secured through the personal influence of Mrs. John K. List of Wheeling. CHAPTER XXXIX. INSPECTION AND REGULATION OF BUSINESS IN THE STATE. In the last chapter we discussed those institutions whereby the State carries on certain lines of public business, including the schools, reformatories, hospitals, asylums, prisons, etc., and the societies which have state relations. In this we propose to treat of the inspection and regulation of certain other lines of business by the State, in which the public welfare is deeply concerned, carried on in the State by individuals, boards, or corporations. 1. Agriculture.-In 1891 the legislative committee of the State Grange prepared a bill, which was passed by the Legisture, creating the "State Board of Agriculture," consisting of one commissioner from each Congressional district and one from the State at large, bi-partisan in character, practical farmers, and serving for the term of four years. The members of the board receive from the State four dollars a day and actual traveling expenses in attending the meetings of the board. The board may appoint a secretary, who receives a salary not exceeding $1000, and traveling expenses. It is the duty of the board to devise means of advancing the agricultural interests of the State, and to promote the holding of farmers' institutes and other agricultural organizations. It publishes a monthly journal called the "Farm Reporter," and has charge of the publication of other literature relating to agriculture. The scope of its work is broad. In conjunction with the Agricultural Experiment Station it has done much work in behalf of the agriculture of the State, which deserves |