Report of the President. 1 1 



field expeditions, of the value of collections or of the scientific 

 results that have attended research. 



The Building Appropriations. — The construction on the 

 appropriation of $200,000 made by the City of New York, 

 and mentioned in the Report of 1902, has progressed as 

 rapidly as could be expected. The walls for the new power 

 wing have been erected, the boilers installed, and the roof is 

 in process of construction. 



For several years the old lecture hall, near the main 

 entrance, has been dismantled, and the condition of the base- 

 ment grade has been such as to cause great inconvenience. 

 Moreover, the above-mentioned appropriation for the new 

 power plant was not sufficient to provide an adequate ap- 

 proach. These conditions led to our requesting the Board of 

 Estimate and Apportionment for $188,000, and on June 16, 

 1903, an ordinance was passed authorizing the expenditure of 

 this amount. Under this appropriation work has already been 

 started, and it is hoped that an attractive entrance hall will 

 soon take the place of the present uninviting approach. 



Early in the fall the Hon. William R. Willcox, acting as 

 President of the Department of Parks, contracted for the grad- 

 ing of that portion of Manhattan Square lying to the north of 

 the present building. The work is now well under way, 

 although temporarily suspended because of the severity of the 

 weather. The Park Board has wisely arranged the grades and 

 walks of this new work so as to conform to the original plans 

 of the Museum and to give a sightly appearance to the Square 

 as a whole as section after section may be added to the present 

 building. 



Membership. — The Museum has gained 214 new annual 

 members and has lost 67 members through death and resigna- 

 tion, leaving a net increase- of 147. The income from mem- 

 bership fees is used for the purchase of collections and for the 

 development of the educational work of the Museum. We 

 wish to have our membership list increased, and we cordially 

 invite those who are interested in our general work to unite 

 with us. 



