Celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary. xxxix 



of the Transactions, and a large rock from Perry Coiiuty, 

 Missouri, with the human foot-prints chiseled out by the 

 Indians, presented by Dr. Koch. 



While the acquisitions made in recent years have been most 

 gratifying, we have, however, at present only a nucleus to the 

 museum we hope to establish at the Academy. It is our in- 

 tention to procure collections of the various branches of 

 natural science, especially those represented in our own State, 

 which we hope will be a lasting benefit to the public and to the 

 educational institutions of the city. 



3. Proceedings at the Dinner of March 10, 1906. 



welcome of the president. 



Dinner having been served, the President of the Academy, 

 Dr. Adolf Alt, sreeted its guests as follows : — 



Dr. Alt: — 



Honored and esteemed Guests and Delegates from cor- 

 responding Sister Societies. — It is my privilege, and one 

 fraught with great pleasure, to warmly welcome you to this 

 festive board in the name of the St. Louis Academy of 

 Science and to thank you for having accepted our invitation 

 so cheerfully and in such large numbers. We heartily thank 

 your home societies and you personally for the friendly inter- 

 est thus shown in this birthday celebration of our own organ- 

 ization. 



Ladies and Gentlemen. — We have come together this 

 evening to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of 

 the St. Louis Academy of Science. Only when we think 

 back to what the West, what St. Louis, was 50 years ago, are 

 we able to approximately appreciate what kind of men they 

 must have been and of what metal they must have been made, 

 who 50 years ago conceived the idea of founding here in St. 

 Louis an Academy of Science and who succeeded in keeping 

 it alive and giving it the proud position which it has ever 



