2 
IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
with so many educational institutions in which scientific work of a high 
grade is carried on, there must be a large number of scientists and those 
interested in pure science who ought to be, but are not yet members of the 
Academy. 
The Secretary of the Academy, Mr. A. G. Leonard, on removing from 
the state last September, after conferring with officers of the Academy 
asked the undersigned to act as secretary in the interim. At a special meet- 
ing of the Academy held in Des Moines, December 7, 1903, this relation was 
continued. 
Two important factors in the secretaryship of an Academy of Sciences need 
emphasizing; first, permanency; second, accessible location of the secretary . 
Since the Iowa Academy of Sciences lost from its active membership Prof. 
Herbert Osborn the secretaryship and with it the permanent progressive 
policy of the Academy have lost much of their desired stability. This lack 
of permanency has been in part offset by the fact that the secretary during 
this time has usually resided in or near Des Moines. By the articles of in- 
corporation of the Academy its principal place of business is in Des Moines. 
The printing of the proceedings must be done in the same city. The ex- 
changes of the Academy deposited in the State Library need some sort of 
supervision. 
As usual of late years, the tenth annual volume of the proceedings was 
delayed by the printers and was not ready for distribution until September, 
1903. Aside from the illustrations there were but 178 pages in the volume, 
a marked decrease in number lrom that of the ninth volume. 
The old grievance of exorbitant charges for reprints still exists. So un- 
reasonably high were the prices fixed that it seemed best not to attempt to 
supply them last year. There seems little hope of getting better terms from 
the printer. And yet if we expect papers of a high grade of excellence to 
be presented at our annual meetings we must assure the members of the 
Academy that reprints will be furnished. This matter is one of vital im- 
portance to the welfare of the Academy and should receive our most careful 
attention. To pay the prices asked by the printer is entirely out of the 
question. Even with the goodly surplus at present on hand in the treasury 
it would be impossible. 
Respectfully submitted, 
H. W. Norris, Secretary. 
REPORT OF TREASURER FOR 1903-1901. 
RECEIPTS. 
Balance from 1902 $ 46.20 
Back dues 50. 00 
Annual dues, seventeenth meeting 67.00 
Initiations and transfers to fellows 38. u0 
Annual dues, eighteenth meeting 1.00 
Sale of Academy Proceedings Part 1, Volume 1 3. 00 
Sale of Proceedings other than Part 1 2. 25 
Total 
$ 207. 45 
