DIRECTOR'S REPORT. 15 



Agriculture of the National Research Council is giving the 

 project for the laboratory of biochemistry and biophysics un- 

 remitting personal attention, and other officers of the Council 

 are interesting themselves in the matter as one of their chief 

 projects. Building costs are, however, at their maximum just 

 now, and it is doubtful that any who might be disposed to con- 

 tribute to these buildings would consider it wise to undertake 

 construction until there has been a considerable reduction of 

 prices. In the meantime, if representatives of all of the 50 or 

 more cooperating universities, colleges and research organizations, 

 and of the industrial research laboratories interested would unite 

 their efforts, the way should be open soon for the construction 

 of the first of these units. The Library, Administration and 

 Lecture Hall building should appeal to a still wider circle, 

 including those interested in the development of Woods Hole 

 as a summer home. 



It is perhaps not generally recognized to what an extent costs 

 of operation have increased during the last few years: in 1918 

 the total current expenditures of the Laboratory amounted to 

 $69,687.14, in 1919 to $88,452.64 and in 1920 to $103,097.64. 

 The current earned income for the same years was $54,282.05 

 (1918), $80,307.57 (1919) and $89,943.04 (1920). This period 

 was one of rapidly mounting costs in supplies of all kinds and in 

 labor i 1 it is not to be expected that 1921 will show an appreciable 

 increase over 1920; indeed, it is to be hoped that some saving 

 can' be effected through the fall in prices. It is a matter for 

 congratulation that the various earning departments of the 

 Laboratory were able to keep up with rising prices so that the 

 excess of expenses over income, which is covered by donations, 

 was $7,300.02 less in 1919, and $2,251.49 less in 1920, than in 

 1918. The Supply Department is largely responsible for this 

 good showing, having increased its income from $22,6o8.O4 2 in 

 1918 to $43,662.74 in 1920, while its expenses increased during 

 the same period from $25,61 1-73 2 in 1918 to $37,672. 24 in 1920. 



1 The costs of salaries and wages in 1918, 1919 and 1920 were $33,630.06, 

 $40,307.28 and $54,097.67 respectively. 



2 The system of accounting for the Supply Department was changed in 1919, 

 and the figures given for 1918 are arrived at by applying the 1919 system to the 

 figures given in the treasurer's report for 1918. 



