xxviii Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



Besides the actual increase in the contents of the library, arrangements 

 have been made by the Council to increase the usefulness of the library, and 

 I speak of this with considerable satisfaction, because I feel sure that the 

 library is now more accessible and can be more easily used by scientific 

 workers than ever heretofore. I refer particularly to the fact that the 

 library room is now suitably heated, lighted, and furnished with tables on 

 which any student may place the books taken from the shelves and use 

 them. The library is always open, not only to every member of the Acad- 

 emy, but to any person, not a member of the Academy, who satisfies the 

 oflScers that he is really a student in science and wishes to use and not abuse 

 the books. 



We have also made some progress with reference to our museum. As 

 you are aware, one of the purposes of the Academy has been, from the very 

 start, and still is, to provide a suitable museum. Progress ia that direc- 

 tion has been very slow. The reason is very evident, namely, lack of 

 money; and I doubt very much whether we shall ever be able to make much 

 progress in that line until funds have been secured to enable us to build a 

 permanent museum building, in which may be displayed the collections which 

 we have and which we may acquire. But it would not only be futile, but I 

 doubt whether it would be wise, to attempt to accumulate large collections, 

 or collections of any considerable value, before we have a safe place in which 

 to keep them. This of itself is a sufficient reason for effort in the direction 

 of securing a permanent home for the Academy. This is one of the things 

 that we have always had before us, and it is one which perhaps requires as 

 much effort as anything which the Academy has before it. But notwith- 

 standing the difficulties, we have begun the exhibition of at least one col- 

 lection : I refer to the collection of meteorites, in which there are, I believe, 

 twenty-five specimens, the value of which, as estimated by our librarian, is 

 somewhere between $750 and $1,000. This value, of course, is somewhat 

 fictitious, because we do not expect to offer them for sale. These speci- 

 mens are now displayed in a suitable case, and the case stands on the second 

 fioor of this building. Space for exhibiting it has been kindly given us by 

 the Historical Society. 



"We have made progress, also, with reference to our own publications. 

 I think I am safe in saying that the publications of this Academy stand, 

 from a scientific point of view, upon the level of those of any scientific 

 society in the world, not only as to the quality of the material which we 

 publish, — and I congratulate the Academy on the fact that great care has 

 always been exercised in publication, — but also as to the amount in which 

 the Transactions have been issued. To be definite in the statement, I will 

 announce that we are just completing Volume VIII. of our Transactions, 

 which consists of eleven numbers, each a scientific paper, and a twelfth 

 number, which gives the record of the society and various information con- 

 cerning the Academy. This volume will contain, when completed, some- 

 where about 250 pages. This has been done during the year which is just 

 closed, and I am glad to be able to announce that the Council has decided, — 

 with some trepidation, it is true, but still with the purpose of carrying out 

 the plan if it is possible to do so, — to publish an annual volume, a thing 

 Which has never been done before by this Academy. The practice has been 

 to publish each paper as ordered by the Council, and, when enough pages 



