REPORTS FOR THE YEAR 1899. 
REPORT OF THE OFFICERS OF THE BOARD. 
SUBMITTED TO THE TRUSTEES JANUARY 10, 1900. 
To the Board of Trustees of the Missouri Botanical Garden: 
We herewith present financial results of the year ending 
Dec. 31, 1899. We are glad to report a considerable gain 
in rentals, the excess being $2,881.13 over the previous 
year, the increase being largely the result of vacancies 
filled and continued occupancy in the smaller buildings in 
the business district. 
Much of the revenue property of the Trust is located in 
the section near the river between Washington Avenue and 
Market Street, which at one time was the most valuable in 
the city, but the revenue from this property has been 
steadily declining for many years until the present rental is 
about one fourth of what it brought when purchased by 
Mr. Shaw, but even at that figure yields a fair percentage 
upon present values, and we think rentals in that locality 
have reached their lowest point. Recently we have leased 
several buildings for terms longer than one year at the old 
rental, which would have been impossible several years ago, 
The property that is owned by the Trust located west of 
Fourth Street in the business district is enhancing in value, 
and after the expiration of the present leases an increased 
rental is anticipated. 
We are unfortunately the possessors of many old and di- 
lapidated buildings which demand considerable expenditure 
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