REPORT OF THE OFFICERS OF THE BOARD. 13 
of erecting villa residences thereon only; and all the gross 
rents received from said leases, without deduction, shall be 
forever paid over to said Henry Shaw and to his heirs, 
executors, administrators and assigns, so that he and they 
shall forever enjoy said rents; and said city shall execute 
the proper leases therefor, which shall contain a clause 
that there shall be only one residence on each tract so 
leased.’’ The purpose was distinctly stated to be to make 
of the 200 foot strip about the park not only a source of 
ornament to the park but a source of revenue for the 
maintenance of the Garden. A small portion of this strip, 
adjoining the north gate of the park, was subsequently 
released by Mr. Shaw to the City asa building site for a 
residence erected for the superintendent of the park. When 
the Board assumed charge of the Garden property it was 
found that a few houses for park employees had been 
erected, at Mr. Shaw’s expense, on the strip, andthe rental 
from these was turned over to the Board; but these un- 
sightly buildings have all been removed by direction of the 
Park Commissioners and, with the exception of the small 
temporary rents referred to, no revenue has yet been se- 
cured from this portion of the revenue endowment of the 
Garden. The Trustees should asearly as possible take steps 
either to derive such income as may be secured by having 
the park strip used in the manner described by Mr. Shaw 
in his deed of gift, or to induce the City of St. Louis to 
lease or purchase by condemnation the entire strip sur- 
rounding Tower Grove Park, and thus enable the Board 
to realize from it an income for the maintenance of the 
Garden. 
GARDEN IMPROVEMENTS. 
At the Garden itself, the Board are pleased to note con- 
stant and great though necessarily expensive change for 
the better, and its valuation, with permanent improve- 
ments, has nearly doubled, having increased from the 
