I goo] Ami — Annual Address. 267 



read before this Club last winter, we have what I believe will form 

 the first of a series of most interesting papers describing the early 

 history of Man in this district long after the close of the Glacial 

 period and subsequent to the Champlain period of submergence, 

 which is followed by that in which we now live, the "Recent" per- 

 iod of elevation. 



In all these branches of the Club's work there has been 

 marked activity in the field. To this may be added the reports of 

 the leaders of the branches, which form, and ever ought to form, 

 an important feature in the Club's work, for in them suggestions 

 for work to be done as well as to avenues open appear from time 

 to time in order to stimulate work. 



For a number of years the main object of this Cliib was the 

 study of this locality alone, but with the growth of our city, and 

 the addition of a considerable number of scientific men on the staff" 

 of the various departments of the Government service, as well as 

 with a considerable influx of members from other parts of the 

 Dominion who desired to join us, and who contributed papers 

 upon the natural history of the districts in which they happened to 

 reside, our Club was of necessity compelled, in i8go, to widen its 

 sphere of activity, so that, to-day, besides investigating and report- 

 ing upon the natural history and geology of the Ottawa district 

 (which it is understood comprises an area with a radius of twenty 

 miles, with Ottawa as a centre) also publishes reports and papers 

 bearing upon the natural history and geology of other parts of the 

 Dominion of Canada. 



Ottawa is no doubt fast becoming one of the leading centres 

 of scientific research on this continent, and outside of the technical 

 and professional reports, issued by authority of Parliament, there 

 ought to be a most active and live organ or medium of publication 

 in our midst, worthy of our Capital. Freedom in the discussion 

 of the various scientific problems that occur in the study of any 

 field of natural history or geological inquiry, as well as encourage- 

 ment in the search for additional light upon these problems, with 

 facility for publication, ought to be the share of every investigator. 

 Such encouragement to research mubt necessarily help in develop- 

 ing our material resources, which must form a potent factor in 

 building up our nation. 



