Ivi Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



A Business Proposition. 



Tlic lot on wliich tho Academy Building stands is 90 feet wide 

 and UV2 foot deep to a paved alley. The building occupies con- 

 sid(^ral)ly less than one-third of the ground. The yard m the 

 rear is useless. How can it be utilized and made a source of 

 incomr? In v^ew of the important fact that the present build- 

 ing is not fire-i)roof , and that we have a library and museum of 

 enormous value, the work of half a century, it has been sug- 

 gested that we erect a strictly firc-proof Iniilding, carefully planned 

 for the several uses of the Academy; and that we rent the 

 present building for commercial purposes. 



Should we have a lecture hall in a building adjoining the rear 

 Ijoundaiy of our lot, far from the roar of the street with its con- 

 stant passage of cars, the n'lcetings of the Academy would be 

 more i)leasant and the hall more attractive to tenants. 



I am of the oj^inion that it would be well to get expert report 

 upon the feasibility of this plan and an estimate of the cost. It 

 is true we have very little money for such an extension of our 

 plant, but a clear statement of the definite use to which we could 

 put a gift of $25,000 or $30,000 would go far towards securing 

 just what we need. The safety of our books and collections 

 would perhaps be a sufficient motive for making such a gift, let 

 alone the income we could get from the rent of the front building. 

 Were the front half of our lot properly improved, we should 

 realize a fine income from its rent, and all the Academy's 

 treasures would be safe in a separate fire-proof structure. 

 The gift of Mrs. Win. McMillan and Mr. Wm. N. McMillan in 

 donating the present building, and the contribution of Mr. H. W. 

 Eliot whereby the school building was fitted for its present uses, 

 should inspire others to cany forward the work thus splendidly 

 begun. 



I invite careful attention to the reports which follow. 



Respectfully submitted, 



Calvin M. Woodward, 



President. 



Librarian's Report. 



As Librarian of the Academy of Science of St. Louis I have the 

 honor to submit the following report for the year 1907 : — 



