104 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



The business affairs, as usual, have been managed by the Trus- 

 tees, who have held eight meetings during the year, at which the 

 various bills and accounts reported by the Treasurer, have been 

 presented aud passed upon. For th(^ details of receipts and ex- 

 penditures I must refer you to the rej)orts of the Treasurer and 

 Finance Committee. On April 1st, $1000 of the debt was refunded 

 at 8%, thus making a saving of -120 a year in interest. An inef- 

 fectual effort was made to raise -toOO in order to pay the balance of 

 the building del)t. An additional indebtedness of $239.90 has been 

 incurred in order to pay for the printing of the annual report. 

 Several entertainments were given early in the year without any 

 marked success, with the exception of a children's entertainment, 

 on Feb. 22nd, which netted #1(1. oO. The small admission fee 

 charged since July 30th has yielded an amount sufficient to pay 

 the janitor. Although the debt has been slightly increased rather 

 than diminished, the amount of interest we have to pay is less. It 

 would have given me great pleasure to have seen the debt reduced 

 to 11000, but the circumstances of the year have been such as to 

 render this result impossil)le. 



The reports read before you this evening show that a great work 

 has already l)een accom])lished by this Academy, and reveal the 

 Infinite possibilities yet before it, when a more general interest 

 throughout this community shall give us enlarged resources for re- 

 search and exploration. 



It is a beautiful commentary upon human nature that an institu- 

 tion in no way appealing to the almighty dollar has rapidly risen 

 to such a degree of prominence and prosperity as to attract the at- 

 tention of the scientific men of every land. The publications of 

 the Academy have been sent to the scientific societies of this and 

 other cfmntries, and have been received everywhere with commend" 

 ation. This, has resulted in large additions to the Library and ex- 

 tensive contributions to the Museum. These great results are 

 mainly due to the untiring energy, the self-denying zeal and unre- 

 munerative service of its few enthusiastic members. 



In now retiring from this honorable ]>osition, I desire to express 

 to you my thanks for the uniform coiirtesy and consideration ex- 

 tended to me, and to assure you that in the more private station to 

 which I gladly retire, I shall not lose my zeal nor interest in the 

 Academy, and shall continue my active exertions in behalf of 

 your nol)le work. 



