REPORTS FOR THE YEAR 1908. 



REPORT OF THE OFFICERS OF THE BOARD. 



SUBMITTED TO THE TRUSTEES JANUARY 13, 1909. 



To the Board of Trustees of the Missouri Botanical Garden: 



We submit for your consideration the financial results for 

 the year ending December 31, 1908. 



We are able to announce a still further increase of $6,842.46 

 in the rental income for the year 1908, over that of the year 

 1907. The losses by vacancies were $958.75, and the loss of 

 rentals through inability to coUcct was only $322.50,— less 

 than one-fourth of 1% of the total earnings, which is a 

 remarkably small loss considering the financial depression 

 during the past year. 



We suffered quite a serious loss by the June flood in the 

 collapse of two five-story buildings fronting on the Levee 

 between Olive and Pine Streets, one of the buildings being 

 totally destroyed and the other damaged to such an extent 

 that it became necessary to wreck it down to the first floor. 

 They were reconstructed into substantial two-story ware- 

 houses, and have been leased for a term of years at $1,320.00 

 per year, which is $120.00 more than the old five-story buildings 

 yielded. Other buildings were slightly damaged, entailing a 

 total expense of $6,551.25. 



All the buildings of the Board are occupied except two 

 valuable stores at the southeast corner of Washington and 

 Seventh Street, which were vacated on January 1st, at the 

 expiration of leases made five years ago on about one-half 

 the present rental values. We are now negotiating with 

 several parties for new leases, which, if made shortly at the 

 rentals asked, will increase our revenue for the year 1909 

 at least $10,000.00 over that of last year. 



We have disposed of 65 feet of residence property on Flora 

 Boulevard for the sum of $4,920.00. 



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