68 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



every debt was paid. The Ladies of the ("entennial Association were 

 greatly aided in their efforts to raise the money by the Bnc-a-Brac Club, 

 the Parlor Club, and by the citizens generally. A party of ladies and 

 gentlemen from Rock Island and Moline, gave a very successful enter- 

 tainiuent in the Burtis Opera House for the benefit of the "Fire Debt 

 Fund." 



Fortunately the ''Art Gallery," under the supervision of the Bric-a-Brac 

 Club had been established in a vacant store in Davenport's old block, at a 

 distance from Olympic Hall, and escaped the fire. It was kept open for one 

 week, and was constantly thronged with appreciative visitors. The re- 

 ceipts were upwards of $600. Of this sum $250 was paid over to the 

 Ladies' Publishing Committee, that amount being sufficient, in connec- 

 tion with funds already on hand and subscriptions promised, to pay all 

 contracts for getting out the book. The remainder was appropriated 

 to paying the fire debts. At a meeting of the Academy, February 25th, 

 resolutions were passed sympathizing with the Ladies in their misfor- 

 tune, and thanking them for their endeavors to publish our Proceedings, 

 ings, but suggesting its postponement until a more favorable time.* 



The Ladies' Publishing Committee now had $350 in their hands in 

 addition to the amount of private subscriptions which had been promised, 

 and the fire debt having been reduced to about $1-50, they decided to loan 

 that amount to the committee having in charge the settlement of these 

 debts. This reduced the amount of funds on hand to $200, but having 

 already the promise of about $300, subscribed by private individuals, with 

 a prospect of further subscription, they decided to continue the publica- 

 tion, and trust to future efforts for the re-payment of the $150. 



Naturally enough, the ladies felt the need of I'est after so great exer- 

 tion ^ but the work of printing went steadily on, though on account of 

 various delays the printers were unable to fully complete the work and 

 deliver all the books before December 1st. By the terms of the contract 

 they Avere to be paid in full upon its completion. The bill of Davis & 

 Fluke was $665.58— there having been fifty pages more printed than 

 called for in the contract, besides other extras. Of this sum $368.00 had 

 already been paid by the Ladies, leaving $287.58 still due. This sum was 

 advanced by a member of the Academy, who was anxious to see the 

 work a success. 



During the month of May two incomplete copies were sent to Philadel- 

 phia for exhibition at the Centennial Exposition in the Women's Pavil- 

 ion, and in the Iowa Educational Department. These were duly replaced 

 by the completed volumes in October. 



Early in December the Ladies decided to give a dinner in order to 

 raise enough money to repay the $150 used during the sprmg to pay the 

 balance of fire debts, but the weather became suddenly very severe, and 

 they concluded to raise tlie sum by subscriptions among themselves. In 

 this they were entirely successful. The $150 was all raised, and in addition 

 the sum of $30.35 balance remaining from the Centennial Fourth of July 



*Ante, page 4. 



