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MINUTES*

OF THE

SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING

OF THE

Ohio State Archæological and Historical

SOCIETY,

Held at Columbus, Ohio, February 24 and 25, 1892.

The Seventh Annual Meeting of the Ohio State Archæological and Historical Society opened at the Board of Trade on the evening of the 24th inst., with an address by Hon. Benjamin Butterworth, Secretary of the Columbian Exposition. There was a fair sized audience. Admittance was by invitation. Among the prominent people present were Governor Wm. McKinley, Hon. L. B. Wing, Representative W. H. Dicks, T. Ewing Miller, Hon. L. N. Bonham, Hon. J. H. Bingham, S. S. Rickly, Prof. J. A. Shawan, Prof. H. A. Thompson, E. L. Hinman, Gen. John Beatty, and others. In the absence of Mr. F. C. Sessions, President of the Society, Gen. R. Brinkerhoff, Vice President, presided. He made some introductory remarks regarding the Society, its organization, objects, etc.

The Society was formed with a view to preserving for the State the prehistoric relics, which were going beyond its borders. Ohio, he said, was the richest in prehistoric relics of any State in the Union. There were over 10,000 ancient mounds, many of which had been despoiled of their treasures. In the museums.

* The proceedings of the previous six annual meetings of the Society were published in Volumes I, II and III of the Society's publications— the last volume (III) of which appeared in 1891-reprinted in 1894.

of London, Paris, Berlin and other European cities were greater collections of prehistoric relics of Ohio than could be found in the State itself. Gen. Brinkerhoff lamented the failure of the Legislature to give the Society the recognition which its importance demanded. He hoped the General Assembly would provide a museum for its historical treasures. Other States of less historic prominence than Ohio had such museums. He knew of quite a number of private collections that were awaiting a suitable building to receive them. Gen. Brinkerhoff referred briefly to his proposition to erect a monument to Ohio's great men at the Columbian Exposition. The design, which had previously been described, consisted of a bronze statue of Cornelia, Mother of the Gracchi, representing Ohio, mounted on a granite pedestal, around the base of which would be grouped bronze figures of Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Garfield, Chase and Stanton.

Arrangements had been made to project on a screen a large number of views of the World's Fair buildings at Chicago, which it was expected Major Butterworth would describe in his address, but Mr. Butterworth had prepared to speak on a different line. The views, however, were exhibited. The stereoptican was manipulated by Mr. J. A. McDowell. The portraits of a number of Ohio men, Grant, Garfield, Sherman, McKinley, and others shown, excited considerable enthusiasm, as did also the picture of the Ohio Building at the World's Fair.

Major Butterworth was introduced by General Brinkerhoff, and spoke for an hour. As a platform orator, he has few equals in this country, and he held the close attention of the audience from the first.

He referred briefly to the history and origin of the Columbian Exposition. Chicago, he believed to be the natural location for it. It was the most typical American city, and its location in the interior would give every foreign visitor an opportunity to see something of this great country. Chicago was, moreover, the great nerve center of the republic. Its enterprise had been the wonder of the world. Ten million dollars had been raised by its citizens for the exposition, and it would raise four million more. Chicago had religiously kept its faith with

Congress, but the undertaking had proved more enormous than anyone ever supposed. The buildings first planned were totally inadequate and new ones had to be designed. Thus, instead of $10,000,000, it would require at the most conservative estimate, $18,000,000 to carry out the plans for the fair. Chicago was looking to Congress for assistance. Paris, London and Berlin had their respective governments at their backs when they gave their great expositions, and yet that at Chicago would surpass even those. The reputation not only of a great city, but the government was now at stake. As Ohio had led in the movement to locate the fair at Chicago, Major Butterworth hoped it would now stand by that city. He urged the Legislature to express itself in such terms as could not be mistaken. Major Butterworth spoke of the magnitude of the exhibits proposed. Fifty-nine nations had accepted the invitation to send exhibits, and the visit of the commission abroad showed that the greatest interest was being taken in the fair. He defined the scope of the exposition, and pointed out the benefits to be derived from it by bringing together the greatest inventions, achievements and ideas of modern times, and diffusing a knowledge of the progress in the sciences and arts that would result in incalculable benefit. The exposition would be worth in an educational way alone every cent expended on it. Speaking of the State buildings, Major Butterworth said he had proposed the erection of one vast structure, where all States could have headquarters, but the plan did not meet with approval, as many of the States wanted separate buildings. They would be lost sight of on the grounds. and few people would ever see them. The scheme of General Brinkerhoff for the erection of a monument to Ohio's great men, he thought was a good one, and hoped it would be adopted. The monument would attract more attention than all the State buildings.

At the close of the address, upon motion of Dr. H. A. Thompson, a vote of thanks was given Major Butterworth, after which the Society adjourned until 10 o'clock A. M. of next day.

THURSDAY, February 25, 1892.

The Society met in the State Library at 10 o'clock A. M. The following members were present:

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The President, Hon. F. C. Sessions, not being able to be present, General R. Brinkerhoff, Vice President, presided.

The Secretary read the proceedings of a meeting of the Committee on the Columbian Exposition, and Mr. Bonham, a member of that committee, read a detailed report of the same, presenting a copy to the Society. He said the matter was now in the hands of the Finance Committee, which he thought would probably appropriate $4,000 or $5,000. On motion, the report was accepted and approved. On motion of Dr. Thompson, it was decided to hold the next meeting of the Society at Chicago during the Exposition, at such time as the Executive Committee may select.

Mr. Graham suggested that the Society prepare for a celebration of the discovery of America in the public schools of Ohio on October 12 next. Superintendent Shawan, of the Columbus

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EMBANKMENT CROSSED BY FENCE, NEW FORT ANCIENT, EAST SIDE.

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