FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT. 49 



involved serious responsibilities. After long and careful delib- 

 eration, Mr. H. Raymond Mitchell was selected to fill the posi- 

 tion of Chief Clerk and Disbursing Officer, and he assumed the 

 duties of the position on May 2^, 1899. 



Having had several years' experience in railroad work as chief 

 clerk, cashier, and agent, Mr. Mitchell is particularly well fitted 

 to perform the very exacting duties of his position. He has 

 assumed full responsibility for the handling of all cash coming 

 into his hands, and has furnished a satisfactory bond. His first 

 work consisted in opening two sets of books of account, one for 

 the Park Improvement Fund, and one for the Maintenance Fund, 

 which show in detail every receipt and disbursement. He ren- 

 ders a monthly financial statement to the Executive Committee, 

 and at the end of each year an annual statement. He prepares 

 all pay-rolls, receives from the Treasurer the funds for their 

 payment, and pays our employees in currency instead of checks, 

 which is much more satisfactory to them. The force of men 

 employed on the gates in selling and receiving tickets, check- 

 ing bicycles, selling guide-books, etc., are entirely under Mr. 

 Mitchell's direction;* and the receipts from all privileges are paid 

 to him and duly accounted for. For the safe-keeping of the 

 numerous files of vouchers for payments made from the Park 

 Improvement and Maintenance Funds, and of the cash receipts, 

 a fireproof safe has been provided. 



Notwithstanding the complicated nature of the work involved 

 in keeping the various funds of the Park in separate accounts 

 and maintaining sharply the line of division between the ex- 

 penditures of the Society and those made by the City on account 

 of maintenance, the status of every item of expenditure, even 

 down to the smallest, is sharply defined, and charged in its proper 

 place in the account to which it belongs. The Chief Clerk's 

 books of account, vouchers, requisitions, and orders for supplies 

 are all in admirable contlition. An account is kept with each 

 feature of the Society's installations for animals, so that at any 

 time the cost of each can be accuratelv ascertained. 



