Annual Address. ij 



ANNUAL ADDRESS 



BY PROF. Giio. w. HARPER. (Read May 4, 1886.) 



The large increase in the membership of the Society during 

 the past year, the many and valuable additions to our library and 

 museum, and the present healthy condition of our finances, are 

 not only evidences of present prosperity, but are omens of good in 

 the future. This flourishing condition of our Society should be a 

 source of gratification not only to every member, but to every 

 lover of science in our city, but we must not forget that this sub- 

 stantial growth brings with it increased responsibility. 



Within the near future several questions must be settled, 

 questions of great interest not only to our city but to the cause of 

 science in general. Prominent among these questions is, the 

 future location for this Society. Large and valuable private col- 

 lections are awaiting the decision of this (question. Our rooms 

 are already over-crowded, and many valuable specimens are rele- 

 gated to dark corners where they can not be seen to advantage. 

 It is true that the present building might be enlarged so as to cover 

 the entire lot, but the relief would be but temporary, for in a very 

 few years we would need additional room. 



It is quite plain that at an early day we will be compelled to 

 remove from our present location, and any move is likely to be a 

 permanent one. Hence the question, where ? should be carefully 

 considered and wisely settled. 



The great cost of a suitable lot and the question of cleanliness 

 are two insuperable objections to any location within the limits of 

 the lower levels of our city. If, then, we must go to the hill tops, 

 there are only two localities eligible — Burnet Woods and Eden 

 Park, In both a site could be selected high and isolated, so as to 

 avoid a large percentage of the dust and smoke, so detrimental to 

 fine collections, within the heart of our city. 



Between these two locations the preference should be given to 

 Eden Park, as it will soon be very accessible, having two cable 

 lines connecting it with the center of the city, and because there is 

 already located there a museum of art, and this would become 

 doubly attractive' if it were a museum of science as well as of art. 

 In other cities where the great mistake has been made of organ- 

 izing separate museums of science and art, the two institutions 

 have become rivals for public favor to the detriment of both. 



