2 24 DAVKNPORT ACADKMY OF NATURAL SCIKNCKS. 



honest pride in tlie position it now holds among kindred institutions of the world. 

 It is an ornament and an honor to the city and the State in which it exists, and re- 

 flects the highest credit on the little band of workers who, amid fears and doubts 

 and discouragements not a few, achieved these glorious results. 



Has not the time come for the citizens of Davenport to put an end forever to 

 their fears and anxieties, by adopting the Academy, with its accumulated wealth in 

 natural science and archaeological lore, as its own foster-child, and by generous 

 benefactions secure its permanency and help it onward to a still higher eminence? 

 I believe the time has arrived, and in accomplishing so desirable a result, I would 

 assure you, sir, of my heartfelt sympathy and zealous cooperation. 



Very respectfully yours, 



D. S. Sheldon. 



President French, in stating the object of the meeting, spoke of the 

 growth of the Academy of Sciences and its present condition. He 

 stated that it had reached a place from which it could never be per- 

 mitted to recede. It represented a cost price of some $12,000, but 

 this was probably not one-fourth of its real value. Its duplicates could 

 not be reproduced for money in any amount. In some departments of 

 work the Academy had already made a record for itself which is known 

 throughout the world. Mr. French then observed that there is over- 

 hanging the Academy a debt of $1,700, which ought to be, and must 

 be, removed; the good name of the city of Davenport required it. 



Among the citizens present and aiding the movement by active in- 

 tiuence and generous subscriptions, were the following: Hon. J. H, 

 Murphy, T. W. McClelland, William Renwick, E. S. Ballord, W. H. 

 Pratt, C. E. Harrison, R. Smetham, N. Kuhnen, E. S. Carl, Isaac 

 Rothschild, W. F. Ross, John George, Capt. R. R. Martin, Dr. E. H. 

 Hazen, Dr. R. F. Baker, J. J. Nagel, Rev. A. Schultheis, J. M. Parker, 

 James Thompson, John L. Miles, Hon. J. W. Thomjjson, George H. 

 French, Edward Russell, E. P. Lynch, Rev. A. M. Judy, W. Reipe, 

 A. S. Tiffany, A. F. Williams, G. P. McClelland, George H. Ballou, 

 J. B. Phelps, J. R. Bowman, Judge N. French, Dr. C. H. Preston. 



April ^7, iS8j. — Regular Meeting. 



President Lynch in the chair; eleven members present. 



Major George P. McClelland, from the auxiUary Finance Committee, 

 reported subscriptions to the amount of $2,175. 



The Curator reported the receipt of three boxes from Capt. W. P. 

 Hall, containing about sixty specimens of southern mound pottery, 

 and a number of flint and stone implements. Also the receipt from 

 Dr. S. C. Bowman, of Inland, Iowa, of several natural history speci- 

 mens. 



