j;j DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



Williams; one regular member, August Warnebold; and one honorary 

 member. Prof. Spencer F. Baird. These were honored names upon 

 the roll, and their several deaths within the period of one short year 

 make up a total loss of crushing weight. Who of the large audience 

 that sat in this room just twelve months ago and listened to the mas- 

 terly address of the retiring President. Charles E. Patnam, could have 

 dreamed that death would come so soon to him, the useful and respected 

 citizen, the man of large attainments and noble purposes, the benefac- 

 tor and defender of this Academy, who had so long and so liberally 

 contributed of mind and means to its support and upbuilding, whose 

 wise counsels and executive ability served us so ably and well through 

 the two terms of his administration, and whose loss to the society, as 

 well as to the entire community, is irreparable indeed. Because of his 

 unswerving fidelity to this institution, his earnest solicitude for its suc- 

 cess, and active interest in all that pertained to its affairs, and his 

 known generous disposition and willingness to render assistance, it must 

 be true that the inefficiency of his official successor would have been 

 greatly lessened but for his untimely end. But, fellow-members, though 

 we are weakened, saddened, and discouraged by the loss of these good 

 men, we must not sit idly down to brood over the inexplicable dispen- 

 sation of Providence. 



The history of our twenty years experience in meeting and mastering 

 obstacles, should inspire us anew with confidence, energy, and zeal. 

 The grand work which has been brought thus far at measureless cost of 

 solicitude and labor, and consecrated by the best efforts of the younger 

 and elder Putnams, of Sheldon, Farquharson and others, is worthy of 

 perpetuation. In the world's great struggle for universal education, 

 and development of mind, the field for such beneficent institutions 

 as this is ample and wide, and I trust the day is not far distant when 

 every good public-spirited citizen — whatever his financial status or 

 scientific attainment — charged with the electric spark of pure philan- 

 throphy, shall rally to the support of this great instrument for the dif- 

 fusion of knowledge, that this fair young metropolis throned upon the 

 commanding bluffs of our own majestic river, boasting of every ele- 

 ment of commercial dignity and greatness, boasting of her temples, 

 colleges, and schools, may point with exultant pride to an enlarged, 

 commodious and imposing building towering high upon this the sun- 

 niest spot of her southern slope — a building which shall be at once a 

 monument to the enterprise, intelligence, and goodness of her people, 

 a proper home for the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences, and 

 with its accumulated treasures a benefaction and precious heritage to 

 generations yet unborn. 



The presentation of these reports was followed by the election of 

 officers for the ensuing year, resulting as follows : 



President — Chari.es E. Harrison. 

 First Vice-President — John B. Phelps. 

 Second Vice-President — -Dr. L. French. 



