50 
ship of public parks and buildings, never seems to be aware that 
all have equal rights. Therefore they freely appropriate to them- 
selves flowers and plants, books and other objects, and despoil 
and disfigure what the servants of the public endeavor to main- 
tain, at public (and private) expense, for the pleasure and profit 
of all. As Mr. Caparn, of the Garden Staff, noted in a recent 
article, their attitude of mind is tersely expressed by the answer 
they so often give when remonstrated with, or when called to 
court, “ Ze Ceety pays.” 
Vandalism is not confined to the pranks of immature and mis- 
chievous children; some of our worst offenders are adults—both 
men and women. The Botanic Garden suffers distressingly from 
vandalism, and we shall never be able adequately to meet the situa- 
tion until we have a practically unclimbable fence, suitable gates 
that will keep people out of the garden after hours, and funds to 
employ a sufficient number of competent uniformed guards every 
day in the year. Such protection we now almost wholly lack. 
Maintenance of Plant 
The failure of the City administration, during the past four or 
five years, to grant our repeated requests for funds for new con- 
struction, and the appropriation of quite inadequate amounts for 
repairs and replacements have resulted in a steady deterioration 
of certain parts of the property, such as the fence enclosing the 
garden, gates, walks, temporary bridges and steps, and other struc- 
tures. The longer these repairs and replacements are postponed 
the greater will be the ultimate cost. It has been necessary to 
close to the public one walk and one flight of steps for lack of 
funds (asked for but not granted) to make the repairs and alter- 
ations necessary for continued public use. 
Increasing Service: Diminished Resources 
The value of an institution is seldom adequately indicated by a 
quantitative statement; the nature and quality of its work, and 
the extent to which it meets existing needs are the important 
points. Figures of attendance, however, do reflect the extent to 
which the institution is needed and used by the public. It is self- 
. 
