_Eighth_. The Secretary shall prepare and forward to each member of the Commission a copy of the proceedings of the previous meeting in his regular monthly calls for meetings. _Ninth_. The order of business at monthly meetings shall be as follows: 1. Reading of minutes of previous meeting 2. Report of Executive Committee 3. Report of the Treasurer 4. Report of regular and special committees 5. Unfinished business 6. Communications 7. New business A STATE BUILDING These preliminary formalities over, the Commission began in earnest the work of preparation for the State's participation at St. Louis. Believing that the most conspicuous feature of the State's participation in the Exposition, especially so far as the impression which would be made upon visitors was concerned, would be her State building, the Commission gave its first attention to this feature. Having been assigned such a commanding site, the Commission kept in mind that it was incumbent upon them to erect upon it a building of appropriate dignity and dimensions. It soon became evident that, with the appropriation already made, it would be impossible to erect a suitable building, maintain it and make suitable exhibits in the great departments of the Fair in which the State of New York stands pre-eminent. Steps were, therefore, taken to procure an additional appropriation from the Legislature of 1903, the matter being placed in the hands of the Executive Committee. THE ARCHITECT At the April meeting Mr. Clarence Luce, of New York city, was appointed the Commission's architect, and the plans for a State building presented by him were accepted. On June thirtieth a special meeting was called for the purpose of considering bids for the erection of the building and hearing the report of a special committee, consisting of Messrs. Luce and Van Brunt, who had visited St. Louis to further the interests of the Commission in this matter. THE CONTRACTORS Bids were received from several firms of contractors, ranging from $80,000 down to the contract price of the building, viz., $56,518, at which figure Messrs. Caldwell & Drake, of Columbus, Ind., contracted to complete the building in accordance with plans and specifications of the architect. The construction work was immediately inaugurated and was pushed forward so rapidly that the December meeting of the Commission, which was held on the eighteenth of that month, took place in the New York State building on the World's Fair grounds. After inspecting the building and carefully noting the progress which was being made, the Commission adjourned to meet at the Planters Hotel at seven o'clock in the evening. Through the courtesy of Honorable George J. Kobusch, president of the St. Louis Car Company, the private car "Electra" conveyed the members of the Commission to the grounds and return. EMBELLISHMENT AND FURNISHING