treasurer's report. 249 



This yearly exhibit shows that whatever we gain is by those 

 who feel sufficient interest in the Society to take life membership. 



In this connection, I would call attention to our photograph 

 album, which is not yet full, and to the necessity of giving notice 

 of any change in our list of members so as to render it as nearly 

 correct as possible. I repeat the notice, to such as require it, that 

 our rooms are open during all business hours for their full use. 



In my estimate of the property of the Society no reference is 

 made to the works of art, consisting of portraits and busts of our 

 Presidents and benefactors, not easily valued intrinsically. Neither 

 have I counted (except by the list of additions appended to the 

 report of the committee) upon the increased and increasing value 

 of our Library. 



The "panic," which some of us remember too well as occurring 

 occasionally, came upon us this year, and, as with individuals, so 

 with us, it has interfered with income in various ways. While 

 our halls retain their hold upon public favor, others of less value 

 have sprung up around us ; our receipts from membership are 

 reduced, and Mount Auburn yields us but about half the amount 

 of last year. 



Our stores are occupied as at our last report. 



Our building, however substantial, must needs, in the process of 

 time, come to repairs. A stitch here and there has kept mechanics' 

 bills within reasonable limits, although I could wish them less. 



In the beginning, our method of heating was by four furnaces 

 with sectional boilers, all of cast iron. These, never satisfactory 

 in their operation, had become so impaired by use as to be untrust- 

 worthy for another season. I have, therefore, caused them to be 

 displaced by a horizontal fire-box boiler, thirteen feet long, with 

 seventy tubes, nine feet long, of two inch calibre, all of heavy 

 boiler iron. Thus far, this proves quite satisfactory and gives 

 promise of a saving in running expenses. 



The printing of Part I. of our Transactions, and the employ- 

 ment of an editor for it and our other publications, to prepare for 

 the press the reports of the various committees, and in his" leisure 

 to write up the history of the Society, have added still further to 

 our expenditures. 



Owing to the circumstances mentioned, particularly to the 

 diminished receipts from Mount Auburn, the surplus applicable to 

 the reduction of our debt has not been as large as in some years, 



