:note on the origin and objects of the academy. 



It seems desirable in this place when beginning the publication ot' 

 the proceedings of the Academy under the authority of the State, to 

 give a brief explanation of the origin and object of the Academy. 



The present Academy is the lineal descendant of an organization of 

 the same name organized in 1875, but which from failure to hold any 

 meeting after 188i died by the lapse of its membership, a clause in 

 the constitution providing that members failing to attend a meeting 

 or present a paper during two consecutive years should be dropped 

 from membership. 



Under the circumstances it seemed best to the orsfanizers of the new 

 Academy, nearly all of whom had been members of the older organi- 

 zation, to organize under a new constitution, but with special effort 

 to secure the co-operation of such of the members of the old society 

 as were still within the State. This was so far accomplished that at 

 present as will be seen by examining the list of members that nearly 

 every member of the old Academy now in the State is working in the 

 present organization. 



The aims and purposes of the two organizations are stated in almost 

 identical terms in their respective constitutions and look to the en- 

 couragement of scientific work, especiall}' in the State of Iowa. 



The first Academy of Science was organized in 1875 and held its 

 last meeting in 188.1. It published proceedings in 1880 in pamphlet 

 form giving abstracts of papers read up to that date and in 1882 a 

 supplementary paper containing a necrology of one of its deceased 

 members, J. Duncan Putnam, of Davenport. 



The present organization was effected December 27, 1877, and meet- 

 ings have been held at least once annually since that date, and in a 

 previous publication, which will be denoted as Part I, of Volume I, the 

 proceedings for the years 1887, "88, "80, were presented to the public. 



The funds of the society being insufficient to publish papers as they 

 were presented, and it being felt that their distribution among the 

 people of the State would be of great educational and practical value, 

 it was decided to ask the State assembly to provide for such publi- 

 cation. 



