xxiv - INTRODUCTORY PROCEEDINGS. 



The first page relates to the membership of the Society, and on looking at that you 

 will see that we are doing fairly well. We come to the meeting this year with 764 mem- 

 bers. Last year we opened the meeting with 7Z 1 members. We have lost during the year 

 by deaths and resignations a total of 34. However, with the applications for membership 

 now on file, which have been favorably passed upon by the Council, and which will be pre- 

 sented to you for ratification — there are 67 which have been so approved — it will bring our 

 total membership, with those who are elected at this meeting, up to 831. I think that is 

 the high-water mark with regard to the membership of this Society. 



As regards the finances, we make a fairly good showing. We all know that we are 

 poor, but we cannot help that. However, we have been able to put in a trust fund the sum 

 of $1,000 out of cash, paying all our current bills, and we have also advanced toward the 

 Panama- Pacific Congress to be held in 1915 the sum of $500 toward a fund that the Society 

 has guaranteed for that purpose, amounting to $2,000. This is, perhaps, a fitting time to 

 call your further attention to that one particular matter. All of the principal scientific 

 societies of the country have guaranteed to the Panama- Pacific Engineering Congress Com- 

 mittee in San Francisco, which will arrange for this congress in 1915, a total sum of 

 $37,500. These various societies underwrote the committee to that amount, the total amount 

 being apportioned among the societies participating, in proportion to their membership and 

 resources, and this Society agreed to underwrite the undertaking to the extent of 

 $2,000. That matter came to the attention of the Council prior to the last meeting, and 

 the Council felt very strongly, in order to maintain our prestige as one of the leading societies, 

 that it would be absolutely necessary to underwrite the share allotted to us, although it was 

 evident from the condition of our finances that it could not be done out of the current funds 

 of the Society. Consequently, a motion was passed by the Council, of which you were noti- 

 fied, that we would subscribe to the funds required by the Panama-Pacific Engineering 

 Congress Committee — that the Society would undertake to contribute to the Congress to 

 the extent of $2,000. The Society is, therefore, obligated to that extent to this Congress, 

 and they are to call on us from time to time for funds as they need them. We have already 

 had this call for $500, which we paid out of current funds, and there has been no demand 

 made on the members as yet on this account, but you will shortly receive a notice from the 

 Secretary in regard to this matter. It has been decided that, in order to make this matter 

 one which the individual members shall take part in as individuals and members of the So- 

 ciety, that we will ask of each member a check for five dollars to be applied to this pur- 

 pose ; these subscriptions to remain in our treasury and to be used for the purpose of sending 

 money to the committee for their undertaking as they may need it. The Society having 

 obligated itself to the full amount, it is hoped when you get these notices, you will give them 

 the attention which they deserve. 



