ccxlix 



lication of papers accepted for the Transactions. The object sought by the 

 resolution was to keep the work of the Academy before the world, and to 

 encourage contributors by giving them printed copies of their contribu- 

 tions as soon as possible. The different signatures are to be kept by the 

 publishers until such time as enough have accumulated to make a num- 

 ber. There is indeed much to be gained in this gradual method of pub- 

 lishing, over the former custom of waiting till sufficient material for a 

 number had accumulated ; and it is to be regretted that we have not issued 

 one or two signatures of Proceedings since our last number was distributed. 

 The custom of publishing an official abstract of our Proceedings in the 

 Western^ to some extent renders less urgent the strict carrying out of said 

 resolutions, and the editors of the magazine deserve our sincere thanks for 

 their courtesy; nevertheless, the reports therein published are necessarily 

 condensed, and I would respectfully call our Recording Secretary's atten- 

 tion to the resolutions. Many of the subjects discussed at our meetings 

 are interesting to the public, but lose much by the time our Transactions 

 are distributed, and we should endeavor to let shine what little light we 

 may possess, and not to be too exclusive. We should also endeavor to 

 send out at least one number of our Transactions each year, however small 

 the number may be, or even if composed principally of proceedings. We 

 owe it to the large number of home and foreign societies which so liberally 

 exchange with us. 



OUR LIBRARY. 



Our library increases rapidly with the annual addition of our exchanges, 

 and forms to-day the only general collection of scientific works in the city, 

 and the best west of the Alleghanies. For two or three years very little 

 work has been done upon it, except as the Academy has appropriated 

 money therefor. Our Librarian has been at the same time Librarian 

 of the Public School Library, and his care, or rather non-care, of our 

 exchanges has neither deserved nor received much praise. While, how- 

 ever, we may regret that Mr. Bailey has, from cause whatsoever, taken 

 little interest in the Academy or its library of late, it must not be forgotten 

 that he has excuse : ist. In the stated lack of shelf room ; 2d. In our agree- 

 ment with the Public School Board, one clause of which reads as follows : 

 " All books in the form of collections or libraries which are deposited by 

 said parties in the building aforesaid to be placed under the care of the 

 managers of the Public School Library, to be kept together and used as a 

 reference library exclusively; members of the Public School Library to 

 have the privilege of using said collections; members of the organizations 

 owning said collections or libraries to pay the same fees that annual sub- 

 scribers to the Public School Library pay (not to exceed three dollars per 

 annum), provided that said members use said collections; said libraries 

 and collections to be classified and catalogued by parties owning the same, 

 or at least under their direction." 



BUILDING — MUSEUM. 



Soon after we were burned out of house and home, in May, 1869, the 

 Board of Public Schools most generously offered us quarters, and we have 



