The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-26
A DILATORY OFFICIAL.
j. State Officer Who Is Hard to Find and
Who Neglects His Opportunities.

Last winter President Lockhart. of the State
Board Of Agriculture, providing for the heads Of
departments of the coming State fair, deter
mined to continue Professor Collett in charge of
that of geology The geological exhibits at the
fair for several years had been of
very interesting character, and they
were always in charge of the
State Geologist Professor Collett sought the
position for young man in his Office, but Mr..
Loekhart refused to grant the request He said
the Geologist himself ought to take it. The Pro
1essor demurred to this because it was
probable the Office of State Geologist
would at an early date and certainly before the
fair of 1885, be given to another gentleman.
Mr.. Lockhart then said he would save the posi-
ton of head of the geological exhibit at the fair
for the gentleman whom Governor Gray would
appoint to succeed Professor Collett.
The opening of the fair being near, and the
geological department the only one that Is back
ward in preparation. reporter OF the journal
the reason of this delay, Indifference or negli-
gsnce on the part of State Geoogist Thompson
IL preparing an exhibit for the department.
to which he had been assigned.
II can assign particular reason" said the
gentleman. ''Soon after Mr.. Thompson was APP
pointed State Geologist was in Charlottesville,
and met the gentleman's father-in-aw. Mr. Lee.
told him that l would like to
meet Mr. Thompson. as we would
have dealings together concerning the State
fair. since had according to CUSTOM appointed
him to take charge of the geological exhibit. Mr..
Les informed lac that his son-in-law was not in
Charlottesville at the time. Two or three months
ago, being in Indianapolis. and not having
heard from Mr.. Thompson since / had
informed him of his appointment in connection
with the fair, I called at his Office. He was not
in, but his clerk, Mr.. Lee. brother-in-law, told
me he had gone to Charlottesville. | ex-
visit. requesting him to tell Mr. Thompson
i would like to hear from him. Several
weeks after this called again at the State Geolo
gists office, and again found that officer away.
had not heard from him in the meantime. Mr..
Lee told that Mr.. Thompson declined to
make an exhibit because he had not
the collection means for the purpose.
Bot DIR. Thompson never informed me person
ally, nor has he sent in his resignation or at any
time communicated with me in regard to the
geological exhibit have been urged by mem
bers of the board and others to make
new appointment, but to all requests
of the kind I have invariably replied
that no successor to Mr. Thompson would be
named until had heard definitely from him.
DIR. Brown particularly wanted the place, but
to him, also, gave the same reply.
Yesterday morning 1 went. for the third
1ime to the State Biologists Office and found it
CicSea was again urSeu 10 appoint some one
to take charge OF the department.. 1
will do that today. There are sew
esal young collectors who are anxious
10 exhibit their collections These, with the
exhibit Mr. Thompson certainly could make.
would give fine display of Indiana mineral
resources. There will be a geological exhibit
and a good one at that / have been
asked to surrender the space usually
given to this exhibit as the demand
for space is greater than we can fiji.
Init hnu ole Af,1.n Mann
he's been no official action in regard to Mr.
Thompson. but every member feels that he has
neglected duty to the State in not preparing an
exhibit"
Mr.. Lockhart says the individual 'censure of
Mr.. Thompson for his course is stronger among
his party friends than among publicans.