8 Sioux City Academy of Science and Letters. 
INTRODUCTION 
BY THE EDITOR. 
When it was first proposed to enlarge the scope 
of the old Scientific Association into the Academy of 
Science and Letters and publish a volume of proceed- 
ings containing original papers offered to the Academy 
that were deemed of sufficient importance, an objection 
was at once raised that the funds at its command would 
not be sufficient. It was realized at the time of the re- 
organization that one of the greatest problems which 
usually confronts young institutions of this kind is finan- 
cial support for the regular publication of its proceed- 
ings. However, the funds for the publication of this 
first issue have been raised very easily. Two elect 
women, Mrs. Emma Stone and Mrs. Caroline Groninger, 
who have the welfare of the Academy greatly at heart, 
as soon as the needs of the Academy were known, and 
without any solicitation, volunteered to contribute $50.00 
and $25.00 respectively. Mr. John H. Charles, first presi- 
dent of the Academy and long-time president of the 
Scientific Association, also contributed $25.00. The re- 
mainder was raised in smaller subscriptions among the 
members. The time may come, however, when lack of 
financial support may prevent the issuing of its publica- 
tions regularly, and an endowment fund should be begun 
as soon as possible to assist not only in the publication 
of the proceedings, but to provide support for the library 
and the museum. The Sioux City Academy is one of four 
city academies in the middle west (so far as is known 
to the writer), the others being located in Chicago, St. 
Louis and Davenport, Ia. Each of these has a hand- 
some building and one at least a goodly endowment. 
At present we are tenants of the City Building and Morn- 
ingside College, the hall where most of our meetings 
