and servants, and specifying in what manner and on what terms persons may be admitted to the Asylum as patients.

STATE PENITENTIARY.

I transmit herewith the report of the Inspectors of the State Penitentiary, and solicit your attention to the sugges tions it contains. The Penitentiary is established in one corner of the State, and the ground connected with it is. limited in extent and not well adapted to the purpose for which it is used.

I am not prepared to say that sound policy does not dictate a removal of the institution to some more central and accessible part of the State. Should it be deemed expedient to maintain the present as a permanent penitentiary, very considerable appropriations will be required to build an additional number of cells, a Hospital for the sick, and erect a substantial wall around the Prison yard. If, on the contrary, it is thought expedient to establish a Penitentiary in a more central position in the State, then the manner in which it shall be constructed, and the system upon which it shall be conducted, become subjects for very grave consideration.

Notwithstanding the very general prejudice that exists against it, many wise and good men, after a thorough investigation of the subject, are convinced that the solitary system, as practised in Pentonville in England, and in the Eastern Penitentiary in Pennsylvania, would be most conducive to the interest of the State and to the reformation of convicts. Before any permanent system of prison discipline shall be established, it is to be hoped that the subject will receive a most thorough examination.

1

The following statement will exhibit the receipts and expenditures of the Prison from the 24th of March, 1855, to the 30th of September, 1856.

RESOURCES.

Stock on hand March 24th, 1855, $ 989.46

Receipts from all sources to Sept.

Expenditures and liabilities for all

purposes from 24th March,

1855, to 30th Sept., 1856, $17,330.42

...

SWAMP AND OVERFLOWED LANDS.

In obedience to the Act of the last General Assembly, approved January 25th, 1855, authorizing the Governor to provide for the selection of the swamp and overflowed lands granted to the State by the Act of Congress 28th of September, 1850-immediately after the adjournment I addressed letters to the Judges of the counties in which these lands had been selected, urging them to cause it to be done at the earliest practicable moment, and that their lists should be returned to me, forthwith.

As the State had granted the lands to the counties in

which they lie respectively, I thought that the counties should incur the expense of making the selections and

returns.

Some of the Judges replied that there was no swamp or overflowed lands in their counties; some that there were no competent surveyors within their jurisdiction whom they could employ to do the work; some that they were not familiar with the duty or the forms to be observed, and that they must receive specific instructions; whilst others utterly refused to take any action in the premises.

Under these circumstances I employed competent persons to proceed to these counties, with a view to stimulate the Judges to enter upon their work, and to give to each a copy of all the necessary forms and instructions. By these means the swamp and overflowed lands have been selected in all the organized counties of the State, with the exception, perhaps, of Grundy, which has been organized within the past few weeks. The swamp lands within the unorganized counties can be easily selected from the plats in the office of the Surveyor General.

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

In pursuance of the Act of the last General Assembly, authorizing a geological survey of the State, I appointed Professor James Hall, of Albany, New York, State Geologist, and in conjunction with Mr. Hall, appointed Professor J. D. Whitney, of Massachusetts, State Chemist. These gentlemen prosecuted their survey during a portion of the years 1855 and 1856, and to their report, which will shortly be transmitted to you, I refer you for an account of their explorations and its results.

The high rank among scientific men enjoyed by each of these gentlemen gives ample assurance that the survey will be thorough, practical and creditable to the State.

The appropriation for the last two years was wholly inadequate, and at least double the amount will be required for the two succeeding years.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

Complete sets of standard weights and measures have been received from the Federal Government, and at the suggestion of Professor Bache, superintendent of weights and measures, I have caused to be erected a small building in the state house yard for their safe keeping.

The building was erected upon a plan furnished by Mr. Bache, is nearly fire proof and cost about $1,700.00.

The standards are quite expensive, of very difficult adjustment, and are peculiarly liable to injury. I thought it unwise to receive and store them in a warehouse where they would be liable to destruction by fire or dampness, when the government was ready to furnish a competent person to adjust them for use without expense to the state. It will be well to place these standards in the custody of some officer of state.

STATE UNIVERSITY.

It would seem that with a population in the state of half a million of souls, and a university fund of nearly two hundred thousand dollars, the time had arrived for a thorough and efficient organization of this institution. Such an organization, however, cannot be perfected and maintained without the proper accommodations for officers and students.

If it is the design of the General Assembly to surrender the capitol buildings at Iowa City, for university purposes, provision should be made to that effect at an early day. If such is not the intention, then I submit that it would be desirable to speedily furnish the necessary accommodations elsewhere or in some other manner.

STATE CAPITOL.

In compliance with the act of 25th of January, 1855, entitled "an act to re-locate the seat of government," I appointed commissioners for that purpose and they have discharged their duty. The site selected for the future capitol is on a gentle swell of land about three quarters of a mile east of Fort des Moines, and on the east side of the river. It commands a good prospect and seems to be well adapted to the purpose for which it has been selected.

REVISION OF SCHOOL LAWS.

In compliance with the provisions of the act of July 14th, 1856, Hon. Horace Mann, of Ohio; Hon. Amos Dean, President of the State University, and F. E. Bissell, Esq., of Dubuque, were appointed commissioners to revise the School Laws of the State. The commissioners are engaged in the discharge of their duties, and will be able to lay their report before you in a very few days.

REGISTRY LAW.

Almost every person residing in any of the large towns in the State acknowledges the imperative necessity for some law to protect the purity of the ballot box. That gross