Ixii Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



It has convenient and comfortable quarters for its meetings and property, 

 at a rent of $500.00 a year, payable quarterly under a lease for one year from 

 th.e 15th of the present month. Its library is valuable and growing, con- 

 taining many excellent works and the proceedings of most of the learned 

 scientific societies of the civilized world. Its museum is a creditable 

 nucleus to which, it is hoped, from time to time, valuable additions will 

 be made. 



We have two hundred and six active members, of whom twenty-one are 

 non-residents, nine of whom have been elected during the year just closed; 

 and in the same period fourteen have resigned and three have died, namely, 

 Dr. C. O. Curtman, Judge Charles Speck and 0. B. Wheeler. 



We have, besides, quite a large list of corresponding members, a num- 

 ber of whom are residents of foreign countries. 



We exchange our publications with one hundred and thirty-nine scientfic 

 institutions in the United States, four of which were added to the list during 

 the last year. We also exchange with three hundred and ninety-seven 

 foreign societies, and by these means we are kept in touch with the latest 

 scientific work and discoveries throughout the world. 



Our income is derived from the interest on $6,000.00 invested on real estate 

 security, and from annual dues from members, the amount of which wi)l 

 appear from the report of the Treasurer. 



Our meetings during the past year have been interesting and instructive. 

 Meritorious papers have been read, and our Transactions are being published 

 from time to time, and they maintain the high character of former years. 



In order to increase our income, it is highly desirable that the number of 

 active members should be increased. In a city of the population of St, 

 Louis, there ought to be more than two hundred persons who, if properly 

 approached, would be willing to join our ranks and aid and promote the 

 objects we have in view. 



The present arrangement of having, at each meeting, one or more papers 

 read that treat, in a popular manner, subjects of scientific interest, and of 

 new discoveries and their application to practical uses, is, I think, in the 

 right direction and should be continued. It seems to me that if our meet- 

 ings and the topics that are to be discussed were publicly advertised, a 

 general interest might be awakened and strengthened that would result in 

 larger audiences and membership, and a consequent increase of income, and 

 I suggest that an earnest and active effort be made to effect this. 



We have long dreamed of raising a suflBcient fund to erect a suitable 

 fire-proof building in which to shelter our library and cabinet, and to the 

 present time it is a dream, and yet not all a dream, for we have toward it 

 the sum of $6,000.00. As long as the public is ignorant of the existence of 

 the society and its work, we cannot expect funds to flow in; but by bring- 

 ing its aims and work before the people, securing their interest, educating 

 them up to its importance and usefulness, we will at least be in the way of 

 making supporters and friends that may grant the aid we need. San Fran- 

 cisco, (and possibly other cities), much younger and smaller than St. Louis, 

 has for its Academy of Science a large and commodious home of its own, 

 and a large museum. We cannot expect to attain such a home without a 

 strong pull and a pull all together; and when times improve, I recommend 

 that such a pull be made. 



