32 Kansas Academy of Science. 



Lawrence, September 5 and 6, 1870. This meeting proved to 

 be the turning point in the life of the Society. The following 

 papers were read : 



On the Plants of Kansas. J. H. Carruth. 



On the Fishes of the Kansas River as Observed at Lawrence. F. 

 H. Snow. 



On the Internal Heat of the Earth. J. D. Parker. 



On the comparison of the Coals of Kansas with Other Western Coals. 

 W. H. Saunders. 



On the Saurian Formation of Kansas. B. F. Mudge. 



On the Moss Agate Formation of Kansas. B. F. Mudge. 



The following public lectures were delivered : 



On Aims. Organization and Advantage of Scientific Association. 

 John Fraser. 



On Hugh Miller, or the Workingman's Education. J. H. Burrows. 



At this meeting resolutions were presented urging the en- 

 largement of the scope of the Society so as to include every 

 line of scientific exploration and investigation, and to change 

 its name to the Kansas Academy of Science. These resolu- 

 tions were adopted at the fourth annual meeting, held at 

 Leavenworth, October 25 and 26, 1871. Beginning with the 

 third meeting, the progress of the Society was rapid, as is 

 shown by the number of papers read, and their character. 



At the meeting of the legislature in 1873 the Academy was 

 made a coordinate branch of the State Board of Agriculture, 

 and given permission to have its proceedings published by the 

 state printer, and also given quarters in the Capitol building. 

 This unsolicited act was a well-merited recognition of the 

 work the Academy was undertaking. 



Thus far I have followed the reports of the Society literally 

 in an endeavor to show the meager beginnings, the difficulties 

 and discouragements of the organization. The development of 

 the state has been so rapid that it is very difficult to appreciate 

 the conditions forty-seven years ago. The War of the Re- 

 bellion was just over. The effects of the border strife were 

 still shown in the rifle pits along the south side of the town 

 and the palisades still standing at Kansas avenue and Sixth 

 street. The Union Pacific railway had reached Topeka only 

 two years earlier, and the construction of the Atchison, Topeka 

 & Santa Fe railway was begun that year (1868) . The Indians 

 were still on the rampage in much of the state, making travel 

 at times exceedingly hazardous. The famous battle of the 



