32 MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY. 



the regular annual appropriation of $6,750.00 a sum <>f Si 6, 750.00 

 annually will be available for the next five years for accessions 

 to the library and probably a slight addition to cost of ad- 

 ministration. These accessions added to present possessions 

 should complete the foundations of a comprehensive research 

 library in Biology. 



8. Real Estate and Housing Conditions. These problems have 

 received considerable attention during the last year. The future 

 of the Laboratory could not be regarded as secure until sufficient 

 land for future extensions was secured. The supply of lots in 

 the Gansett property is approaching exhaustion ; and the demand 

 for real estate on the Cape is sending the price of land up very 

 rapidly. Under these circumstances the Executive Committee 

 decided to take advantage of an offer of the Fay Estate to sell 

 a tract of land of about 105 acres, known as Devil's Lane tract, 

 situated between the main Falmouth Road and the railroad, on 

 very advantageous terms. This beautifully wooded tract is 

 about one and a half miles from the Laboratory and it has the 

 privileges to a right of way and a bathing reservation on the 

 shore of Vineyard Sound. Part of the tract amounting to about 

 15 acres is good agricultural land, but most of it is hilly and well 

 adapted to residence purposes. It is proposed to subdivide part 

 for building purposes when the Gansett tract is sold out, re- 

 stricting the sites to those connected with the Laboratory as in 

 the case of the Gansett tract, and reserving the remainder for 

 whatever purposes the Laboratory may serve in the future. 

 During the year the Laboratory also purchased Dr. Drew's 

 house and grounds, and repurchased Dr. Danchakoff's two lots 

 and houses in the Gansett tract. 



These purchases are in line with the policy of controlling 

 sufficient real estate to be independent of artificial prices and rise 

 in values. They do not, however, solve the housing problem. 

 The Laboratory now maintains seven rooming houses and dormi- 

 tories with accomodations for 172 persons at prices ranging from 

 $2.00 to $4.00 per week. This is by no means sufficient in the 

 height of the season; moreover some of the houses are old, and 

 all lack good sanitary conveniences and rooms for social pur- 

 poses. The largest of the houses will probably soon have to be 



