8 
IMPROVEMENTS. 
The Board regret their continued inability to completely lay out 
and grade, drain and plant the southern part of the Garden, and to 
continue the stone wall and iron fence along the Thirty-fifth street 
drive. Until the finances of the Society permit of these improve- 
ments, the present unsightly appearance of this part of the grounds 
is inevitable, and detracts much from the general appearance of the 
whole. The undermining of the walls of the prairie dog village 
and the escape of the animals from their enclosure made it neces- 
sary to excavate, repair, and place new walls of greater depth 
around it. This has been done at a cost of $375. The remain- 
ing buildings of the Society have been kept in order, but no 
other buildings or improvements have been carried on during 
the year. 
FINANCES. 
The increased gate receipts of the year, and the rigid economy 
maintained in all of the services of the Society have produced 
good results. 
The income of 1878 exceeded that of 
1877 by 18,853 51 
And the expenses show the following 
savings : — 
Decrease of salaries, .... $3,695 32 
" expenses, .... 1,251 28 
" general expenses, mainten- 
ance, 3,489 53 8,436 13 
Gross gain over 1877-78, .... $17,289 64 
The unusually large loss on animals, consequent on the extreme 
severity of the winter, and sudden changes of temperature 
which have occurred during the past season, reduce considerably 
our net gains. The floating debt of the Society has, however, 
been reduced from $20,500 to $9000. 
The financial condition of the Society is exhibited by the fol- 
lowing figures, and the Treasurer's statement and balance sheet, 
in Appendix A : — 
