PROCEEDINGS. 349 



which, at the present time, nearly cover the construction of 

 the entire building, and the work has progressed as rapidly 

 as we could reasonably expect considering the very substan- 

 tial nature of the work and the delay in obtaining a suffi- 

 cient supply of certain kinds of material. A competent and 

 reliable superintendent was appointed, whose duty it is to 

 examine and report on all materials used, and exercise a 

 general control over the contractors for the benefit of the 

 Academy. We expect the Academy will be able to occupy 

 its new quarters before the expiration of the present year. 



A number of communications were received during the 

 year from the Council, asking for appropriations of money 

 to defray the necessary expenses for carrying on scientific 

 investigation and for the publication of the proceedings of 

 of the Academy and bulletins. These requests were granted 

 in each instance, and form a much heavier item of expense 

 than usual for such purposes. 



In February, the attorney of the Board was instructed to 

 bring suit to defend the right and title of the Academy to 

 the lot on First Avenue near Point Lobos Avenue, which 

 had been taken possession of by the City authorities and 

 upon which a school-house has been erected. This suit is 

 now in course of litigation. 



In July, your Board of Trustees was notified by the Lick 

 Trustees that they would not continue to loan money in 

 small sums, as requested from time to time, upon the note 

 of the Academy, but that they would require a note and a 

 mortgage of the Market street property to be executed to 

 the Lick Trustees for $300,000 or $350,000, and that the 

 Trustees of the Academy must receive in cash the difference 

 between what had already been advanced and the total 

 amount to be loaned. Application was made by the Attor- 

 ney of the Board to the Superior Court of this City and 

 County for permission to mortgage the property on Market 

 street as above. The application was heard on the 9th day 



