during recent years located homes within their own boundaries. Under an act of Congress approved August 27th, 1888, it is provided "that all States or Territories which have established, or which shall hereafter establish State homes for disable soldiers or sailors of the United States who served in the war of the rebellion, or any previous war, who are disabled by age, disease or otherwise, and by reason of such disability are unable to earn a living, provided such disability was not incurred in service against the United States, shall be paid for every such disabled soldier or sailor who may be admitted and cared for in such home at the rate of one hundred dollars per annum." An apppropriation of $25,000 for a soldier's home has been made by the State of Idaho, to be obtained from the sale of the public lands given to the State by the Government for charitable purposes, instead of being taken directly out of the general revenue fund, the amount appropripriated being loared to the institution by the State, which takes a lien on the land in question for the amount advanced by the State: Besides the Union Soldiers are included members of the State National Guard, disabled while on duty, and for veterans of the Mexican war, all of whom must be bona fide residents of the State. In establishing such an institution it is desirable that a central location should be selected where the inmates can enjoy some of the advantages afforded by a large town. They are not supposed to be under the some strict surveillance as the inmates of other institutions. In view of the fact that the institution for the deaf, dumb and blind at Cheyenne is not in operation, I would suggest that it be occupied for this purpose, if the Legislature should deem it wise to establish such a home.

STATE LIBRARY.

The State Library contains about 15,000 volumes, exclusive of the public laws and documents of the State. Appropriations have been made from time to time for the purchase of valuable law books, and as the library is now constituted it may be said to be strictly a law library. The librarian reports that a large number of volumes are without shelf room and asks an appropriation for this purpose: also a small allowance for publishing a catalogue of the library.

REVISION OF THE LAWS.

In 1887 the Revised Statutes of Wyoming were adopted, the Legislature having provided for a thorough revision of the laws. Since that time the admission of Wyoming as a State and the adoption of a new Constitution, has wrought many changes in the Statutes. It is found very difficult in many cases to find out what the law is on a given subject. Owing to the limited number printed of the Statutes of

1888 and 1890, the editions have become exhausted and it will be necessary to reprint these laws. I recommend such a revision of the Statutes as will make them conform with the State Constitution and reconcile conflicting sections. When complete, the laws should be bound in a single, well arranged volume.

INSURANCE.

The report of the Auditor as ex-officio Insurance Commissioner, shows that $6,000,000 of life insurance is carried by citizens of the State upon which an annual premium of $133,000 is paid, while $3,000,000 are carried in the assessment companies. The forty-seven fire insurance companies represented in Wyoming wrote insurance in 1893 to the amount of $6,500,000, upon which $128,000 were paid as premiums. Losses amounting to $72,632, were incurred and losses to the amount of $59,000 were paid. Fees were paid to the State by insurance companies for the fiscal years 1893-1894, amounting to $3,995. The Insurance Commissioner recommends that assessment life and accident insurance companies be required to deposit United States, State or municipal bonds for the security of policy holders. I respectfully recommend that the laws governing insurance corporations be so amended as to allow insurance companies to be organized in this State with a paid up capjital of $100,000, and that foreign companies with a paid up capital of $200,000 be admitted to the State upon complying with the other existing laws. I further recommend that it be made unlawful for insurance companies doing business in Wyoming to enter into any compact to govern or control insurance rates.

A bill was submitted to the last Legislature in accordance with the recommendations of the Auditor, requiring that all foreign building associations doing business in the State be required to deposit Federal, State or municipal bonds in the sum of ten thousand dollars as a security to shareholders in such associations. The bill passed both houses but failed to become a law. I now recommend it to your favorable consideration.

LIVE STOCK COMMISSIONERS.

The live stock industry represents more than one-quarter of the entire wealth of the State, and in its early history overshadowed all other business enterprises. The greater portion of Wyoming is adapted to grazing, and stock raising will always hold an important place among the industries of the State. The Commissioners report that owing to the failure to secure the $12.000 appropriated by the last Legislature for live stock protection the Wyoming Stockgrower's Association were compelled to contribute the necessary funds for this pur

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pose; but that hundreds of stockmen in the State did not receive protection on account of a failure to pay the pro-rata. assessment required by the association. Live stock of all kinds during the past year are reported as having been free from disease. A careful inspection has been made of all cattle shipped into the State. The Commissioners recommend that the stock laws be amended by inflicting certain penalities for violations of the law, and that an act be passed requiring the State registration of all brands.

THE WORLD'S FAIR EXHIBIT.

The appropriation of $30,000 made by the First State Legislature enabled our commissioners to make a very creditable display of Wyoming's mineral and agricultural resources in 1833 at the World's Columbian Exposition. Wyoming's exhibit of coal, iron, petroleum, soda and ores of precious metals in the mineral department were of sufficient magnitude to attract the highest commendation of eminent authorities on these subjects.. Reference is made to several of their reports under the head of mining. While there has been no first awards made on any of the exhibits at the exposition, the judges concede that Wyoming was entitled to the first award of any State or nation on wheat, having the greatest number of points in its favor on this production. The commissioners exerted their utmost efforts to secure a fine collection and deserve high praise for the manner in which they exercised their trust. The exhibit was returned to Wyoming, but it is to be regretted that suitable rooms have not been provided in the Capitol building where this valuable collection can be kept intact, and additions made to it from time to time. Under no circumstances should these valuable specimens be stored away or allowed to be scattered and destroyed by fire as was the case with the exhibit made at New Orleans a few years ago. I recommend that a commission of State officers be appointed to see that the present valuable collection is properly looked after. Governor Warren in his message to the First State Legislature made a recommendation for the establishment of a museum, in which I heartily concur. Among other things he said: "Attention has been frequently called to the wonderful natural and mineral productions of Wyoming, and to the great value that a collection of specimens would possess both from a scientific and economical standpoint if gathered together in a museum. No part of the world has furnished such a vast number of fossils as the Rocky Mountains, but unfortunately in order to see these collections one has to go to the National Museum at Washington, or visit visit New York, Philadelphia, Yale or Princeton. These fossil riches have made Wyoming for years the collecting ground for Eastern geologists and scientists of the nation. A collection of such a na

ture would make an exhibit in which every citizen would take a just pride, and should the museum also be made to represent our mineral deposits and agricultural interests, it would prove of great practical benefit. Such a collection would be the means of attracting population and capital to Wyoming besides affording a valuable education to our people and elevating the taste and culture of the entire community."

MINING.

The mineral resources of Wyoming are perhaps second to no other Western State, but with the exception of coal they can hardly be said to have been developed. The total production of coal in short tons during the past year was 2,202,000 tons, having a market value of over $3,060,978. The output of coal in short tons is given in the counties as follows: Sweetwater, 1,287,704; Carbon, 323,408; Weston, 331,360; Uinta, 145,213; Sheridan, 31,850; Converse, 32,900. The production of coke in Cambria, Weston county, was 4,025

tons.

The coal area of the State exceeds 30,000 square miles, and is sufficient to supply a continent with fuel. The office of State Inspector of Coal Mines is an imporant one, and your attention is called to his valuable report for 1894. He reports 3,458 miners as employed in the coal mines of the State last year and if we are to judge by the fe wdifferences that have taken place between the miners and their employers, their relation must be very satisfactory. The rumber of fatal accidents reported during the year is thirteen. The mining laws as to proper ventilation and drainage have been complied with and the general condition of the mines throughout the State is reported to be good, and a disposition on the part of the companies not to evade the law. The Inspector calls attention to the insufficient protection afforded in the smaller mines of the State and the necessity of bringing such mines under the laws and regulations governing the larger mines.

The development of the gold and silver mines of the State has been stimulated during the past year by the investment of capital and the production of precious metals will no doubt be largely increased in the future. Contracts have been entered into for the shipment of large quantities of iron ore outside the State from the immense deposits found in the Hartville and Rawlins iron mining districts. It is only a question of time when these valuable ores will be utilized within the State by the erection of blast furnaces for smelting the product of the mines. The soda deposits of Wyoming are among the most wonderful of its natural productions and at the present time are being utilized in several portions of the State. The Chemical works at Laramie are producing large

quantities of soda for the market, and extensive works now under construction in Central Wyoming will soon be in operation for the treatment of native soda for Natrona county. In a report made by Hon. J. D. Weeks, one of the judges and experts of the World's Columbian Exposition, on the exhibit of double strength window glass rollers and the materials, the sand, lime and sulphate of soda or salt cake, from which the glass is made, he makes the following remarkable statement: "Wyoming is the only place in the United States where glass. is made, all the materials of which, including the soda, are natural products produced in the immediate vicinity of the works." He also pays high tribute to the purity and character of the glass made at Laramie.

The same judge in speaking of the crude petroleum exhibit says: "These oils are exceedingly interesting as indicating the wide range of territory, nearly two-thirds of the State, in which oils may be found. The oils are natural lubricators and also fuel oils." High praise is given to the various grades of coal produced in different portions of the State for its excellence for steam, gas and domestic purposes. Speaking of the coke produced by the Cambria Mining company, John A. Proctor, one of the experts and judges at Chicago, says: “Coke has been made of fair quality and it is believed by washing and disintergrating that a coke suitable. for the metalurgical requirements of the Black Hill district can be produced." The ton of tin ore from Nigger Hill mining district essaying over 60 per cent mettalic tin, received favorable commerdation, as also did the sandstone, granite, marble, oynx and many other varities of building and ornamental stone on exhibition.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK.

The scenic beauties of the National Park are of interest to all the world and add greatly to the fame of Wyoming. Thousands of people are annually attracted to this wonderland. but very few tourists enter the park except from the north or west sides bordering on Montana or Idaho. Wyoming derives no material benefit whatever from having the grandest park on earth within her borders, because means are provided for visiting it from this State. The attention of Congress and our members thereof should be called to the advis ability of constructing a wagon road from the head waters of the Wind River in Fremont county, to the park. Such a road would also assist in developing the Jackson's Lake and Teton country, a region scarcely less wonderful than the park itself, in addition to possessing great mineral and agricultural

resources.

THE BIG HORN HOT SPRINGS.

Upon the east bank of the Big Horn river, in the north