THIRTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT. 



To the Trustees and Members of the American Museum of Natural 

 History : 



I take pleasure in submitting herewith a statement of the 

 affairs of the Museum for the year 1902. 



Finances. — The Treasurer's Report, given on pages 32 to 

 39 inclusive, presents in detail the receipts and disbursements 

 as they appear in the several accounts. 



Maintenance. — By the timely increase on the part of the 

 City of its annual appropriation for maintenance (from $135,000 

 to $160,000), the Museum has completed its year's work 

 without calling upon the Trustees for additional funds. More- 

 over, the City has authorized the construction of a new power 

 and heating station and appropriated $200,000 therefor, and 

 our relations with the various municipal authorities have 

 been most satisfactory. Heretofore it has been necessary to 

 borrow money at the beginning of each year to pay the current 

 expenses for maintenance, pending the refunding of such sums 

 by the City, a condition which has involved a charge for interest 

 on loans and occasional overdrafts. At the last annual meeting 

 of the Board, one of its members very generously gave $15,000 

 to be used as capital to meet the current bills, pending their 

 repayment by the City, the only condition of the gift being 

 that the Treasurer's report should show a credit balance of 

 $15,000 at the close of each year. The terms of this gift have 

 been fully complied with. 



