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the Committee on Botanic Garden, to be paid from endowment 
income in 1915, together with an item of $99.13 for additional 
engineering assistance and incidentals. 
Grading Operations.—The second contract for grading included 
the remaining work of grading the esplanade leading to the 
Museum building, and the removal of the remaining part of the 
embankment adjacent to the Museum building on the west, on the 
land acquired in 1913 from the Department of Water Supply, 
Gas, and Electricity. The contract was awarded on May 21, 
1914, to Messrs. Norton & Gorman, the lowest bidders. The 
work began on June 25, and was specified to be completed in 45 
consecutive working days. An allowance of 15 extra days, made 
by the Board of Park Commissioners, extended the total time al- 
lowed to 60 working days. The work was finished on September 
12, I914, in 52 consecutive working days. 
This work left an area of about eight acres, largely devoid of 
top soil, and all to be top graded and made into lawn—if possible, 
during I915. 
Expenditure of Private Funds for Grading.—Partly on account 
of a change in the plans for the esplanade, and partly because of 
the poor work of the contractor in 1913, a large amount of extra 
grading was necessitated. For this there was no provision in 
the City appropriation, and so it was done by our own men, under 
the supervision of the Garden foreman, during the month from 
June 8 to July 6, 1914. The expense involved, amounting to 
$1,262.07, was met from private funds provided by two of the 
Institute trustees. 
In addition to the grading done in connection with the above 
contract, considerable top-grading and other work has been done 
by our own laboring force on the area roughly regraded in 1913. 
Fuller details of this work are given in the appended report of 
the curator of plants. 
ut-of-Doors Work Resumed.—Spring work out of doors was 
resumed on March 17, the same date as in 1913, and was brought 
to a close on November 14, one week earlier than the preceding 
year. This was necessitated by lack of funds, though plenty of 
work remained to be done. 
Inspection by the Trustees.—The trustees of the Institute were 
