BOXFORD NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 161 



cient for all purposes ; but it was afterwards found neces- 

 sary to put in a fifty or sixty horse-power engine, which 

 is now used in connection with the water-power the 

 latter being estimated at about fifty horse-power. Wood 

 is used altogether for fuel in the boiler, the refuse pieces 

 and trimmings from the mill supplying most of the de- 

 mand. The fireman is kept constantly busy feeding the 

 fires. A new process is being introduced into the mill 

 for drying the wood after it has been steamed, by which 

 a draft of hot air will be passed through a heater, con- 

 taining a mass of 1,350 feet of inch piping and weighing 

 nearly two tons, and then through the drying rooms. 



NOTICE OF THE BOXFORD NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



A few persons interested in the study of natural history 

 met at the house of Mrs. Mary P. Perley, May 28, 1881,* 

 and organized this association. Sidney Perley was chosen 

 chairman, and Miss Mary E. Perley, secretary. A com- 

 mittee was chosen to draft a constitution, which was 

 adopted by the society, June 21. Under the constitution 

 the officers are chosen semi-annually at the first regular 

 meetings in January and July. The first election of 

 officers was held June 21, and the following was the 

 result: President, William P. Alcott; Vice President, 

 Miss Mary E. Perley; Secretary, Sidney Perley; Treas- 

 urer, Miss Hattie E. Parkhurst ; Curator, Frank L. 

 Parkhurst ; Executive Committee, F. L. Parkhurst, S. 

 Perley, and Miss M. E. Perley. The regular meetings 

 are held on the second and fourth Tuesday evenings in 

 each month. The society had eight charter members, 

 and at present (Dec. 16, 1881), has twenty -four regular 

 and two honorary members. They are gathering a mu- 

 seum, and a library of books treating upon subjects per- 

 taining to natural history. 



