( 4 i6) 



had been unreasonably delayed in completion ; this delay 

 continued nearly until the end of 1902, though it was so far 

 finished during the autumn as to make it possible for us 

 essentially to complete the grading work contingent upon it, 

 during the latter part of the year. Certain details of the con- 

 tract have not yet been actually adjusted between the con- 

 tractor and the Department of Parks. There is a time-penalty 

 in this contract, the operation of which should cause the con- 

 tractors to pay heavily for their delay. The work, as finally 

 delivered by the contractors, is satisfactory, except in some 

 insignificant details. 



The subcommittee of the Executive Committee, charged 

 with the obtaining of a model for the statuary fountain to be 

 erected in front of the museum building, the basins, water 

 supply, foundations and drainage for this fountain having 

 been constructed under the contract above referred to, re- 

 ceived in the spring a model from Mr. H. A. MacNeil, 

 sculptor ; this was carefully examined by the subcommittee, 

 but was not accepted. The subcommittee then decided to 

 request the National Sculpture Society to organize a com- 

 petition of sculptors, and to select from models submitted, 

 under the terms of this competition, the one best suited, in 

 their judgment ; the subcommittee agreeing to recommend the 

 adoption of the model so selected by the National Sculpture 

 Society. After a large amount of correspondence, and of 

 consultation with officers and committees of the Sculpture 

 Society, a programme and rules for such competition have 

 been arranged, and it is hoped that models may be submitted, 

 and a suitable one selected, within a few weeks. 



2. The Public Conservatories. The houses needed to 

 complete the range of public conservatories, construction of 

 which was commenced in May, 1901, under the contract of 

 the Department of Parks with John R. Sheehan & Co., were 

 accepted from the contractors early in the year, and were at 

 once put into operation. Minor defects in drainage and leak- 

 age, which were developed, were made good by the con- 

 tractors. 



