976 PARKS 



use of municipal (park department) funds and has been maintained to the 

 present date by municipal appropriations. It is the only botanical garden 

 in the United States that is financed entirely by municipal appropriations. 



5. New York Botanical Garden. The act of incorporation of the New 

 York Botanical Garden (1891) provided that when the corporation has suc- 

 ceeded in raising privately a sum of money sufficient, in the judgment of 

 the Board of Commissioners of the Department of Public Parks in the City 

 of New York, successfully to establish and carry on the work for which the 

 corporation had been formed, said sum not to be less than $250,000, the 

 city might set aside as a site for the garden a part of Bronx Park or a part 

 of any other park north of the Harlem River; construct and equip a suit- 

 able fireproof botanical museum and herbarium and other suitable build- 

 ings; and, for the purpose of such construction and equipment, to issue 

 bonds not to exceed in the aggregate $500,000. The city was also empowered 

 to provide additional land whenever necessary. 



With respect to maintenance the charter of the City of New York pro- 

 vides (Paragraph 1613) that it shall be the duty of the (park) commissioner 

 for the Borough of the Bronx to maintain the New York Botanical Garden 

 and the buildings appurtenant thereto, and to provide the necessary instru- 

 ments, furniture and equipments for the several buildings; and, with the 

 authority of the board of aldermen, to develop and improve, and to erect 

 additional buildings. Out of the moneys annually appropriated for the main- 

 tenance of the parks the commissioner may apply such sum as shall be 

 fixed by the board of estimate and apportionment for the keeping, preserva- 

 tion and exhibition of the collections in the buildings or on the grounds of 

 the garden. The capital outlays, and especially the annual maintenance 

 appropriations by the city, are supplemented by funds secured privately 

 by the corporation. These funds are secured chiefly from permanent endow- 

 ments, funds donated for special purposes and from membership fees. 



The income of the corporation for the fiscal year ending December 31, 

 1925, was $308,663.81. This was composed of city maintenance appropria- 

 tion, $207,871.49; and $100,792.32 from private sources. The expenditures 

 for operation and maintenance during the samefiscal period were $306,407.15, 

 of which $207,871.49 were from city funds and $98,535.66 from private 

 sources. A statement of the permanent funds of the corporation at the close 

 of the fiscal year December 31, 1925, showed a balance of $1,585,175.42. 

 During the past two years an effort has been made to raise an additional 

 endowment of $4,000,000. Ultimately it is desired to secure $7,000,000. 



At the close of the year 1925 the number of annual members was 

 1,502; life members, 125; and sustaining members, 19, or a grand total of 

 1,646. Dues collected during this year amounted to $14,535. The various 

 classes of membership follow: 



