I therefore recommend that he be permanently located in connection with the board of health, and that requests for his services be directed to that department. It is probable no additional clerk hire would be occasioned, and the needs of the public would be much better served.

FISH AND GAME WARDEN.

The report of the fish and game warden is worthy of your perusal, and his recommendations should receive consideration. Formerly the state expended considerable money in the propagation of different species of game fish. This has been largely superseded by a resort to natural sources of supply. There is a large number of bayous along the Mississippi river, which fill at certain seasons of the year, and as the water recedes the outlets are closed and the bayous are left swarming with game fish, from a pound or more in weight to the smallest fry. The state warden has, during the last few years, seined from these bayous an estimate of 4,000,000 of these fish, which have been transported in a car constructed for the purpose, and placed in various streams, lakes, and ponds in different parts of the state. Many of these were large enough to take the hook. The supply is inexhaustible, and affords a much cheaper and a more effective method of stocking the waters of the state than propagating in the old way. The fish, if not seined out, perish during the winter, and notwithstanding the large number taken tons of them decay every spring on the banks of these bayous. Additional facilities for transporting these fish ought to be provided, and the biennial appropriation should be increased sufficiently to save to the state a considerable portion of this annual loss, the value of which it is impossible to estimate. The railroads, or at least many of them, generously offer free transportation for these fish when they are enroute for waters along their respective lines

In view of the fact that the supply of these fish is so extensive, I think it would be safe to lodge with the fish and game warden authority to dispose of any surplus not required for our waters to other states, or to private individuals, thereby preserving a large quantity of wholesome food and at the same time affording some slight revenue.

Some modification of our laws for the protection of both fish and game ought also to be made. At present there is no provision for any compensation or salary for deputy wardens and they are without authority to make arrests. I recommend that these deputies receive in full for their services an amount equal to one-half of the fines imposed under prosecutions instituted by them; and I suggest, also, the wisdom of clothing both the warden and his deputies with the authority of peace officers while in discharge of their official duties. The deputies, I think, should be required to give bond and make report of their doings to the warden. An amount equal to one-half of the fines imposed under prosecutions instituted at the instance of the warden himself might, also, I think, safely go to swell the sum of the appropriation for his office, to be used under his discretion and accounted for.

For the better preservation of the quail, in this state, I recommend that their destruction by any method be prohibited at all times when there is snow on the ground. Such a provision added to the present law would protect these choice birds from wholesale slaughter. I further recommend that the sale of quail during the closed season be prohibited, as absolutely essential to the enforcement of the present law.

Some of our adjoining states exact a license fee from nonresident hunters. This has resulted in some of our citizens, who own land in adjoining states, being arrested and fined for shooting upon their own inclosures, even during the open season, and simply because they were nonresidents; while, at the same time, any person was permitted to hunt, without restriction, anywhere in Iowa. I recommend that the game within this state be protected against nonresident hunters by the imposition of penalties similar to those which confront our citizens when they seek shooting grounds beyond state lines.

I further recommend that seining from that portion of the Mississippi river under Iowa jurisdiction be prohibited at all seasons. Sister states have protected the fish in the waters. to the eastward of the center of the channel by similar legisla tion, and a spirit of reciprocity would seem to dictate a like course by the legislature of this state.

MONUMENTS.

On the 6th and 7th of April, 1862, a tremendous battle was fought near the Tennessee river, at a log church that was called

the Shiloh meeting-house. At that time Iowa had fifteen infantry regiments at the front. Eleven of these participated in this battle; and it is generally conceded that the Iowa troops, by their heroic stand at what the rebels called "The Hornets' Nest," saved the federal army from destruction and overthrow. The severity of this battle may be judged of by the fact that the Union army lost, in killed, wounded and missing, 13,047 men, of which 2,409 were from this state, 33 per cent of the combined Iowa forces participating. General Beauregard marched 40,000 men into that battle on the 6th, but returned to the encounter on the morning of the 7th with his remnant of 20,000. So says Grant in his Memoirs. The government has purchased this battle field for a national military park; and officially appointed representatives of the several Iowa organizations that took part in the engagement have located the position of their respective regiments.

The government has also established a national military park and cemetery on the grounds where the important battle of Chattanooga was fought, in which ten Iowa regiments took an active part, and where nearly 400 members of these organizations were either killed or wounded. The positions of these several regiments have also been located and temporarily marked by a commission appointed for the purpose.

Other states have erected, or have in process of construction, appropriate monuments both at Shiloh and Chattanooga, commemorative of the bravery and heroism of their soldiery. Iowa should speedily do the same. In these heroic times, the sentiment of the state will, I think, indorse as liberal appropriations as have been made by other states.

In this connection, it may not be out of place to urge upon. your attention the fact that the government has also made provision for a national park at Vicksburg, and the ground embraced within that memorable siege and battle field is being purchased. I recommend that a commission be authorized to locate the position of the thirty-one regiments from Iowa which sustained the honor of the state, and the integrity of the nation, in that decisive conflict, and that an appropriation be made sufficient to pay their actual expenses, to the end that at the proper time suitable memorials may be there erected also.

HISTORICAL DEPARTMENT.

The executive council and the curator of the historical department of the state, in obedience to provision made therefor by the Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh General Assemblies, purchased, during the period, a site and have erected thereon a memorial, historical, and art building. The lots selected are directly northeast of the capitol square. The building is fireproof, constructed of limestone from the quarries of this state, with a base course at the frost line of Iowa granite, and finished and ornamented with Iowa marble. It is so built that it can be readily enlarged whenever required to meet the growing demands of the department. The contracts were conservative, and it was confidently expected the building could be completed within the appropriation, but unexpected delays necessitated the continued employment of the superintendent beyond the period at first contemplated. This increase, together with the expenses of laying the corner-stone and some other minor matters and slight internal changes, will call for an expenditure exceeding the appropriation by from $200 to $500. In addition, it has been recommended that a portion of the rooms be painted and decorated, which will cost $1,000 or $1,5.0. I recommend an appropriation of $2,500, or so much thereof as may be necessary to complete the structure in a desirable and presentable manner. The building will be ready for occupation within a very brief time, when the curator. will vacate the rooms he now occupies in the basement of the capitol, and take possession of this new structure, where he will be able to display his interesting collection in such manner as to be of service to the public, and where it will invite valuable donations from both public and private sources. It is probable that some furniture, cases, etc., will be needed, for which, and to cover the cost of removing the collection, I recommend a small appropriation. There should also be a limited addition to the annual allowance for help in the department.

PURCHASE OF MORE GROUND FOR THE STATE.

When the present capitol was built, it was believed to be as commodious as the needs of the state would ever require. It has now been occupied sixteen years, and several of the departments are seriously congested. An arsenal is needed for the accommodation of the adjutant-general's department.

Storage of quartermaster supplies is now provided in a building rented for the purpose. It was found necessary to locate the board of control in committee rooms back of the senate chamber, which cannot well be spared from their designed use during the session of the general assembly. A warehouse, for the storage and proper distribution and reshipment of supplies for the various institutions under the management of the board of control, is much needed, and should be provided at an early date. A new building for the memorial, historical, and art department has been erected, and partitions and changes in various offices have been found imperative to make room for the several departments connected with the state government. Evidently additional buildings will be needed in the near future, and these, when erected, should be fireproof, and of substantial and presentable architecture, and should be so located as to improve and add dignity to the present capitol.

I recommend that the two blocks directly north of the capitol grounds be immediately purchased, or obtained under condemnation proceedings. Nothing will be saved by delay, and the erection of substantial buildings by the owners upon this property may materially add to the expense. Location of public buildings is a matter of prime importance, and I think it will be conceded that these two blocks are very desirable. No location is too good for Iowa, and' none but the best should be considered.

FREE SCHOOL LIBRARIES.

'As directed by joint resolution of the Twenty-seventh General Assembly, the superintendent of public instruction has carefully investigated the question of free school libraries. His conclusions will be found in the biennial report of his office, to which your attention is respectfully directed.

The question involved is of great importance. The young are quite liable to fall into the harmful habit of reading everything of a light, trivial, and frivolous character that comes within their reach, or the somewhat greater danger of reading nothing. The fact that one may read too much, or that the character of his reading may not be of the best, should not deter you from making such provision as in your judgment will place an abundance of good literature in easy access of all the people of this commonwealth.