president's annual address. 355 



the sand a few skeletons were exposed, and rings and buckles of bronze 

 were found, with a few arrow heads. 



The graves in the;3e five places vary from ten to twenty-five in number, 

 but in the sixth are about 200. This latter cemetery is on Campbell's 

 island in the Mississippi river, two miles above Moline. Here the graves 

 were in even rows, and many of them adorned with shells, resembling 

 somewhat the custom sometimes observed in modern grave-yards. 



The shortness of the winter day prevented a more extended explora- 

 tion, but by a second research in this region in a more favorable season, 

 assisted by the information already gained, new discoveries will doubt- 

 less be made. 



As a result of our labor I am encouraged to state : 



1st. That I consider it an established fact that these graves were 

 made by the Sacs and Foxes, the last inhabitants of the surrounding 

 country, and 



2d. That their custom in burying their dead was entirely different 

 from that of the mound-builders ; and 



od. That the mounds in our vicinity were built by an entirely differ- 

 ent nation or nations, and at a far earlier period. 



The following address accidentally omitted from the Proceedings, 

 Vol. I, page 55, is now printed on account of its value in preserving the 

 history of the Academy. 



President's Annual Address, January 7th, 1874. 



BY DR. C. C. PARRY. 



Gentlemen of the Academy: A dnty constitntionally devolving on your presiding officer, 

 of presenting at the annual meeting a statement of t he general condition of the Academy, has > 

 as far as my information goes, been a dead letter on our statute book. Perhaps the proper 

 lime has come for resuscitating this defunct by-law; at least I propose at this close of my offi- 

 cial term, to leave to my successors no excuse for the non-fnltil!ment of this duty. 



It is perhaps not altogether a matter of congratulation, that having accomplished little in 

 the way of research, or publication, we have spent little. The account of the Treasurer to be 

 presented in detail will show : 



Amount received from all sources $30;i 20 



Amount expended 168 1;} 



Balance on hand, or available $134 07 



By the commendable and persistent efforts of our present Treasurer, the annual dues from 

 regular members, and initiation fees, on which the Academy depends for meeting current ex- 

 penses have been collected as far as practicable up to the present time. The rule of striking 

 out from the list of membership all who, on due notice, fail to meet their obligations, will 

 hereafter be rigidly and impartially enforced. By vote of the Academy the privilege of secur- 

 ing life memberships, by the payment of $100 has been established, but as yet we have no 

 life members. The average attendance at the regular meetings during the present year has 

 been seven, showing a slight increase over that of the previous year. Up to the present time 

 out of an elected resident membership of ninety-two, sixty have been duly qualified by pay- 

 ment of initiation fees, and twenty-three are in full standing, being alone entitled to vote at 

 the annual election of officers. 



The collections of the Academy as far as provided with suitable cases, and store-room, are 

 in good condition, and would no doubt be materially increased by donations or otherwise as 

 soon as the proper means are provided for their safe reception and display. The Library now 

 numbers 182 volumes and 129 unbound pamphlets. The single room at present occupied for 

 meetings, the display of collections, and the library, is inconvenient of access, uncomforta- 



