276 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



Dr. W. H. Barris was called to the chair and the President's address 

 was read. 



president's annual report. 



Edward S. Ham matt, January 5, 1898. 



Members of the Academy, Ladies and Gentlemen: 



Much occurs each successive year in the life of scientific bodies 

 which is but a repetition of the work of past years. We therefore find 

 a great sameness in regular reports. Yet it is only by such detailed 

 reports that the outside world can judge of our right to live. 



We have a fair-sized membership, among whom are a few with gen- 

 uine interest in scientific matters. But the greater number are quite 

 too indifferent to the pleasure and benefit of attendance upon the reg- 

 ular meetings of the Academy. 



It has been suggested that we change our regular monthly 

 to quarterly or less frequent meetings, at which the only business 

 should be the reading and discussion of topics of scientific interest. 

 We find that some years ago a resolution was adopted providing for 

 one hour of scientific discussion at each regular meeting. If this res- 

 olution were revived and notice of the subject of discussion sent to each 

 member it would certainly give greater interest to our meetings and 

 increase the attendance. We see from the reports of the Finance 

 Committee and Treasurer that the Academy finances have been judi- 

 ciously managed during the past year. There has been an encourag- 

 ing growth in the museum collections. The most notable specimens 

 were added to the department of ethnology and consisted of native 

 work from the South Sea Islands, collected and presented to the Acad- 

 emy by the Rev. Irving M. Channon ; also a collection made by Mr. 

 E. K. Putnam in Norway, Sweden and England, of native implements, 

 mineralogical specimens and a Norwegian burial urn. Mr. George R. 

 Putnam presented us with many interesting specimens collected while 

 on the Aleutian Islands the past summer. The museum has been 

 enriched by two fine specimens of ornamented burial cases, and a large 

 number of stone implements from Georgia, presented by Mr. Clarence 

 B. Moore of Philadelphia. Mr. S. V. Proudfit presented the Academy 

 with a large collection of stone implements. 



Mention must also be made of hundreds of Indian implements, 

 secured through the generous interest of Capt. W. P. Hall. Beside 

 these, we have received many smaller donations of specimens from 

 various sources. It may be well to remember that the value of a 

 museum is greatly enhanced by the exercise of judicious care in the 

 selection of specimens. As this becomes annually more apparent from 

 lack of space, a careful revision of specimens in each department of the 

 museum should be made by the Museum Committee, with recommend- 

 ations to the Academy for the removal of such as can be dispensed 

 with. This will serve to increase the value of our collections and 

 somewhat relieve our overcrowded shelves. It is hoped that during 



