30 
of Jeremiah, let me hasten to add that it is not intended, by any 
means as a lamentation. It is made because the exact situation 
should be realized by everyone who is interested or who ought to 
be interested in the welfare of the Garden and the good name 
of Brooklyn. It will also serve to indicate that the Administration. 
of the Garden is not blinded by the splendid successes made pos- 
sible by the generous support which it has received, but is fully 
cognizant of its shortcomings and needs. 
Municipal Obligations 
Many of the present needs should be met by increased ap- 
propriations in the annual Tax Budget of the City. Although 
the Private Funds Budget of the Garden has increased 110 per 
cent. during the past three or four years, the Tax Budget has 
increased only about three tenths of one per cent. 
In a recent letter declining an invitation to become a member 
of the Botanic Garden, a citizen of Brooklyn alleged as his reason 
that he was now paying a substantial tax, and considered that 
such institutions as the Garden should be maintained by appropria- 
tions from the Tax Budget of the City. To such a one it may 
be pointed out that the per capita contribution, through taxes, to 
the support of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is only four hun- 
dredths of one cent (0.04 cts.), or four tenths of a mill, on the 
basis of $95,000 appropriated and 2,200;000 population. The 
stamp our correspondent affixed to his letter cost nearly fifty 
times as much as his annual contribution to the support of the 
Garden through the payment of his taxes. 
Opportunity for Private Initiative 
The needs of the Botanic Garden constitute a real opportunity 
for those of public spirit and civic pride, and there is something 
akin to mora 
— 
obligation resting upon those of ample means, and 
equally upon those who use the Botanic Garden to an extent far 
in excess of what might be represented by the individual’s share 
in the Tax Budget appropriation for the maintenance of the 
Garden. 
