caster county, Lincoln; C. W. Allen, Merriman; W. H. Keeling, Falls City.

Elected.

Captain Chittenden, Sioux City, Iowa, elected an honorary member.

Mr. Sheldon reports for the committee on revision of the constitution and explains the principal changes.

Report received.

Mr. Sheldon: By permission of the President I will read a resolution I have as follows:

"This Society, with deep regret, records the death, January 9, 1902, at Florence, of Mr. W. F. Parker, a member of this Society, well and widely known as a lover of art, letters, and nature, as well as a man of high public spirit and moral purposes. Ordered that this testimonial to his worth be placed on the records of this Society, and that a copy thereof be transmitted by the Secretary to his family."

Carried.

Recognizing the importance of preserving the scanty remains of prehistoric civilization on this continent and of providing for the study of such under proper regulations, the Nebraska State Histórical Society commends to the favorable consideration of Congress the bill (house roll 6270) creating the Colorado Cliff Dwellers National Park.

The Secretary of this Society is hereby ordered to transmit a copy of this resolution to the senators and representatives of the state of Nebraska now in Congress and to the chairman of the committee on public lands and buildings.

Carried.

Mr. Gere presents the Treasurer's report.

President Morton: 'I will appoint Mr. A. Watkins, Mr. N. C. Brock, and Mr. Isaac Pollard to examine the report of the Treasurer just made. In the meantime the report is received and will be adopted after the examination.

Mr. Sawyer moved that the present officers be declared elected for the ensuing year. Seconded and carried.

Mr. Watkins: The committee has examined the account kept by the Treasurer and find it correct.

Adjourned.

TREASURER'S REPORT, 1902.

Hon. R. W. Furnas, President Nebraska State Historical

Society:

SIR-I have the honor to report the receipts and expenditures of the Society since the last annual meeting as follows: Balance in the state treasury of the

appropriation of 1901 on Janu

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

April, 1902.

Present, President Morton, Mr. Furnas, Mr. Gere, and H. W. Caldwell.

Reading of minutes of last meeting approved.

Presentation of estimates for coming year. Available for work in archeology, $1,000 for Mr. Blackman for remainder of the biennium.

The Secretary sends Mr. Sayer thanks of the Society for his maps of Nebraska.

The Secretary to get information from other historical societies in regard to buildings and prepare article for newspapers.

Carried.

Secretary authorized to continue to employ the help authorized at the last meeting.

Adjourned, subject to call by chairman.

H. W. CALDWELL, Secretary.

TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING, 1903.

Lincoln, Nebraska, January 13, 1903.

University Chapel.

The Historical Society was called to order by Vice-PresiIdent R. W. Furnas at 8:00 o'clock P.M.

The first paper was presented by Hon. R. W. Furnas, a tribute to Hon. J. Sterling Morton. This was followed by an extempore estimate of the life and work of Hon. J. Sterling Morton by Hon. George L. Miller, of Omaha.

In harmony with the program the next paper was given by Hon. Edward Rosewater on the topic, "Railroads in Nebraska Politics."

Mr. Caldwell moved that the remaining papers be deferred till the evening of January 14 in order that the members of the Society might visit the Society's collections and museum. Before a vote was cast on the motion the question of placing a memorial tablet on a tree in the California redwood forests in commemoration of Hon. J. Sterling Morton was discussed. A letter from Governor-elect Pardee of California to W. W. Cox was read favoring the plan:

"OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, DECEMBER 22, 1902. "Mr. W. W. Cox,

"Cortland, Nebraska :

"DEAR SIR-Your suggestion that a tree in one of the redwood groves of California should be named for the late Hon. J. Sterling Morton, of Nebraska, who originated the 'Arbor Day' celebrations, appears to me to be very appropriate; and I have no doubt that it can be carried out. If the Historical Society of Nebraska is willing to assume the expense of placing a bronze or marble tablet upon the tree, the people of California would be highly pleased by this exchange of inter-* state courtesies.

"You suggest that the tree should be chosen in the redwood forest near Santa Cruz; but I think the place might be a matter for further consideration. In the Mariposa grove of Big Trees there are many noble forest monarchs which have been named for distinguished persons, and as this grove is state property, it might be well to choose a tree there, to be named in honor of Mr. Morton.

"However, as I said before, this is a question which could very well be left for decision at a later day. All that I can say now is that the naming of a tree for the late Secretary of Agriculture would be very fit and pleasing, and I have no doubt that the arrangement could be carried out with satisfaction to all.

"Very truly yours,
"GEORGE C. PARDEE."

After explanations by Mr. Cox and some discussion a motion was made to appoint a committee of three with power to secure an appropriate tablet of bronze or other metal, and

have the same placed on some tree in the California forest to dedicate said tree to the memory of the founder of Arbor Day. The motion was seconded by Mr. Sheldon and carried. The chair appointed as such committee Mr. W. W. Cox, Dr. George L. Miller, and C. S. Harrison.

The Society then adjourned to 8:00 o'clock P.M. January 14, 1903.

Approved.

H. W. CALDWELL, Secretary.

R. W. FURNAS, Vice-President.

Lincoln, January 14, 1903.
University Chapel.

Meeting was called to order by acting President Furnas at 8:00 P.M.

In the absence of the author of the first paper of the evening, Mr. D. Y. Mears, of Chadron, his paper on the "Campaign against Crazy Horse and the Mule Reserves" was read in part by Mr. A. E. Sheldon, who also gave a brief history of Mr. Mears himself. Mr. Phil E. Chappel's article on "The Rise and Fall of Steamboating on the Missouri River" was, in the absence of the author, presented by Mr. Jay A. Barrett. At the last moment Col. H. M. Chittenden was ordered to the Yellowstone Park. His paper was, in his absence, read by Secretary Caldwell. His paper, "The Passing of a Romantic Business," was full of interesting matter.

Captain A. Overton, of Council Bluffs, gave a most interesting account of his "Recollections of the Missouri River, 1852-1902." Mr. Barrett then read a paper prepared by D. L. Keiser of Boonville, Missouri, on the "All-Water Route to the Rockies."

Other papers were presented by title and ordered filed with the Society to be printed in the future volumes. These papers were by Wm. J. Kennedy, of Omaha; Capt. James Kennedy, Kansas City, Missouri; Capt. S. T. Leaming, Decatur, Nebraska; Capt. W. H. Gould, Yankton, South Dakota. Mr.