308 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



the Mississippi floods. The eclipse of the sun could be described so 

 as to attract general interest. Hundreds would like to learn about 

 X-rays and wireless telegraphy. Other subjects are those in which 

 science comes in contact with agriculture. Would not the farmers of 

 Scott and Rock Island counties appreciate talks on injurious insects, 

 on birds that destroy and on others that protect crops by destroying 

 insects ? These subjects are merely suggestive and show what an 

 opportunity the Academy has to take part in the extension of knowl- 

 edge. There is no reason why many of these papers could not be 

 prepared by the Academy's own brainy and versatile members, and at 

 times scientific men could be induced to come here from Iowa City, 

 from Ames, from Chicago and elsewhere. Courses of popular lectures, 

 of the sort suggested, are given regularly by the Geographical Society 

 at Washington, and are free to members, outsiders being admitted 

 on payment of a small fee. A like plan adopted by the Academy 

 would, it is to be trusted, increase the membership list and make its 

 meetings of interest and value. 



READV TO COOPERATE. 



The Academy of Sciences, with its age, record and high purpose 

 behind it, should become the center of the various semi-scientific soci- 

 eties of the city. Its rooms and hall should be thrown open to the 

 medical societies, the agricultural society, the farmers' institute, the 

 pioneers' association, the university extension, and all societies which 

 in any way tend to the advancement and diffusion of knowledge. 

 Should an art gallery ever be established in Davenport, as one certainly 

 should be, it might well find a home in the new building which the 

 Academy hopes to erect. 



THE ACADEMY PUBLICATIONS. 



The function of the Academy which tells most for its reputation 

 abroad is naturally the publication of its proceedings. This work, 

 supported now by an endowment which might be larger, goes quietly 

 on. Volume after volume is being published, and there is no lack of 

 material for publication. Only papers of the highest grade are 

 accepted 'and many of these are written by scientists of world-wide 

 reputation. Institutions older and richer than the Academy and 

 located in cities ten times greater than Davenport, may well be envious 

 of our Proceedings. 



AN ENDOWMENT NEEDED. 



Such are some of the functions of an institution like the Davenport 

 Academy of Sciences. Some of them, such as that of publication, and 

 the amassing of a great and valuable museum and library, it is filling bet- 

 ter than could be expected. In others, more has been outlined, per- 

 haps, than the Academy is at present able to undertake, but we need not 

 be discouraged. Before we can accomplish all that we would like to do 



