the University in Morgantown on September 30, 1869. It held fourteen annual meeting 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 of which were published in 1871 under the title of "Proceedings of the West Virginia Historical Society, Volume I. Part I." The remainder of these valuable sources remain unpublished. The organization declined, and after the death of its last president, Charles James Faulkner, Senior, ceased to meet. The difficulty in reaching Morgantown before the days of the railroad seems to be the only reason given for the suspension of the work by the society.

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 establishes 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 Legislature, creating the "State Board of Agriculture," consisting of seven commissioners, by-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

more liberal recognition of a financial character than it has heretofore received.

2. Banking. All banks organized under charters from the State are subject to the jurisdiction and control of the Board of Public Works. The Governor annually appoints an officer called the State Bank Examiner, who is authorized by law to make a full and minute examination into the condition and affairs of all state banks, after the same manner in which the United States bank examiners inspect the national banks. The office has existed since 1891. The state examination of banks has been somewhat tenderly made; it does not measure up to the searching investigations conducted by national bank examiners. Perhaps in time the State will carry into effect the most rigid inquiry into the condition of all financial institutions authorized by it to carry on business in the State. The examiner submits a general annual report to the Auditor, and special reports to the Board of Public Works in a case of insolvency or unsound condition. He receives an annual salary of $700, and a fee of fifteen dollars paid by each bank examined.

Dentistry. The law provides for a Board of Dental Examiners, consisting of five practicing dentists, appointed by the Governor for the term of four years. Every applicant desiring to practice dentistry in this State must pass an examination before the board, and receive from it a certificate of registration, for which a fee of two dollars for the certificate and a fee of ten dollars for the examination are charged. The law is deficient in some respects. This board is not required to do so, and has never voluntarily made any report to any central authority for the information of the public. The power of the State seems merely to have been lent to the profession to regulate the licensing of practioners by those already in practice, without rendering to the State any report of the acts of the board.

4. Education: State Board of Examiners.-A State Board of Examiners consists of four persons, one from each Congressional district, appointed by the State Superintendent of Free Schools for the term of four years. This board is required to meet at two different places, at least, in each Congressional district, in each year, for the purpose of holding examinations of appicants for state teachers' certificates. Two grades of certificates may be issued: first class certificates for twelve years, and second class certificates for six years. Each applicant pays a fee of five dollars; and the examiners receive five dollars a day for each day necessarily spent in conducting the examinations, including one day for consultation, and six cents a mile for traveling expenses, provided the fees received amount to so much. All certificates granted must be signed by the State Superintendent of Free Schools. The holder of a certificate is exempt from examination, during the life of the certificate, as a teacher in any primary free school of the State.

5. Game and Fish.—It is a matter of regret that the game of field and forest, and the fish of the streams, like the forests of the hills, mountains, and valleys, have been subjected to wanton destruction. Not until 1897 was an act passed providing for a game and fish warden in the State. He is appointed by the Governor for the term of four years, and may receives for his compensation the fines accruing from prosecutions to the amount of $1200 per year, and mileage, and, in addition, twenty per centum of all fines collected in excess of the last named amount; but no part of his salary may be paid out of the State Treasury. It is his duty to enforce the laws of the State for the preservation of fish and game, and for the protection and propagation of birds, game, and fish. To this end the warden is clothed with the most extensive powers of search, seizure, and prosecution. The law provides for local wardens in the counties whose duty it shall be to act in conjunction with the state warden