64 Cincinnati Society of Natural History.

REPORTS PRESENTED AT THE ANNUALMEETING.

REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE CINCINNATISOCIETY OP' NATURAL HISTORY, FOR THE

YEAR ENDING APRIL 5, 1892.

SUMMARY.

Balance on hand, April, 1891, $357 J5Total receipts from all sources, 3>495 93

$3,853 08Expenditures, 3,182 30

Balance, $670 78

RECEIPTS.

Balance on hand last report, $357 J5Dues and Initiations, 980 32Interest, 2,491 11Journal, sold copies, . . . 24 50

$3,353 08EXPENDITURES.

Salaries and Wages, $T,o75 00House expenses, including postages and sundries for

Custodian and Janitor, 207 61Printing notices and stationery, 89 25Journal, 374 75Gas bills, 29 24Repairs, 98 57Bonds cancelled, 900 00Interest paid, 159 32Fuel, 119 00Binding, Library account, 62 60Museum expenses (Taxidermy, removing Mohr

Collection, etc.), 66 96

$3,182 30

The total receipts from ordinary sources, including dues,sales of Journal, and interest on endowment funds, have been$96.06 less than the preceding year. This difference is owingto the smaller amount of annual dues paid in. This amounted

Trustees' Report. 65

to about $300.00, and is due to the fact that in the previousyear a large amount of back dues was collected.

The Treasurer has, by order of the Executive Board, paidnine of the six per cent bonds issued by resolution of February17, 1891, leaving yet outstanding three of this series, andeighteen of the five per cent series, or twenty-one hundreddollars ($2,100) in all. The interest charges on these notesamounts to $108.00 a year.

The vouchers, orders and bills for items of expenditure willbe presented to the Auditing Committee, together with a listof the same.

The interest on the endowment funds has been in mostcases promptly paid.

All of which is respectfully submitted,DAVIS L,. JAMES,

Cincinnati, April 5, 1892. Treasurer.

The undersigned committee, appointed to audit the reportof the Treasurer, beg leave to report that it has carefullyexamined the bills and vouchers submitted by the Treasurerwith his report, and find that the same are in all respectscorrect. Respectfully submitted,

T. B. COLLIER,

T. H. KELLEY,

Cincinnati, April 20, 1892. Auditing Committee.

TRUSTEES' REPORT.

To THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CINCINNATI SOCI-

ETY OF NATURAL HISTORY :

Gentlemen — The undersigned Trustees of the Society begleave to submit their annual report, showing the funds of theSociety invested as follows:

MORTGAGES ON REAI, ESTATE.

FROM. Date. Time. Interest. Par Value

Mart in Byrnes, . . . . April 12, 1887, 1 year, 6 per cent, $4,000 00W. S. Baker, May 9, 1888, 3 years, 7 i>5oo 00Caroline Blytnyer et al, Nov. 23, 1887, 2 " 6y2 " 8,coo 00Anthony Costello, . . . Sept. 19, 1887, 3 " 6 " 1,000 00

66 Cincinnati Society of Natural History.

FROM. Date. Time. Interest. Par ValueMary S. Orange, . . . . Dec. 23, 1880, 3 years, 6 per cent, 2,000 00Richard Oliver, . . . . Aug. 18, 1887, 3 " 6 " 3,000 00J o h n A. Bigelow, . . . Aug. 31, 1889, 2 " 6 " 1,000 00Joseph M. Story, . . . Nov. 30, 1889, 3 " 6 " 1,000 00Margaret A. Shields, . . Dec. 3, 1889, 3 " 6 " 4,000 00Henry Snow, Dec. 12, 1891, 3 " 6 " 2,000 00Alwin Knop, Jan. 18, 1892, 4 " 6 6,000 00Hester V. Froome et al . Mar. 16, 1892, 5 " 6 3,000 00

Total, $36,500 00

BONDS AND NOTES.

Cincinnati Southern 7-30 bonds, $2,000 00One Cincinnati deficiency bond (1901), 4 per cent, 530 00One Cincinnati deficiency bond (1905), 4 per cent, . . . . . . 100 00Note of A. A. Ferr is , July 26, 1890, on demand, 6 per cent, . . 600 00Cash on hand, 1,500 00

Total, $4,700 00

RECAPITULATION.Real estate mortgages, $36,500 00Bonds, notes and cash 4,700 00

Total, $41,200 00

Since our last report both loans made to William M. Bstehave been paid, aggregating $12,500.00. This amount has all$een re-invested except $1,500.00, which are still awaiting afavorable investment. The re-invested funds are representedby the mortgages to Snow, Knop and Froome. In all of theloans made during the past year, the Trustees have stipulatedand required that the principal of the loan should be payablein gold dollars, and the three last-named loans are made pay-able in that form. The interest notes are payable in the cur-rent funds. It was thought advisable to require payment ofprincipal in gold to guard against any tampering with themoney of the country, and to avoid any substantial changein the value of the dollar by any legislation that might takeplace in Congress. The Trustees request that a committeebe appointed to examine the securities of the Society, as setforth in the foregoing report.

Respectfully submitted,AARON A. FERRIS, Trustee.

Cincinnati, April 5, 1892.

Report of Director of Museum. 67

RKPORT OF DIRECTOR OP MUSEUM.

CINCINNATI, April 4, 1892.To THE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE CINCINNATI

SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY:

As the Director of the Museum of the Society, I have toreport that the collections are iira good state of preservation,having been carefully looked after, and the perishable speci-mens well disinfected and poisoned. The alcoholic specimensare also in good condition.

During the past year the Paul Mohr Collection has beentransferred to our Museum, and the most attractive portion isnow on exhibition in the third story of the new addition.

A fine collection of Kast India corals and shells, costing$400.00, has been donated to the Society, principally throughthe efforts of Robert Clarke, Esq. This collection is also dis-played in the new room alluded to above.

In order to add more light for the proper exhibition of thearticles on the fourth floor of the old building — principallyOsteological specimens — a sky-light should be placed in theroof. This would also give more light to the stairway., Our building is very dark and old, and not at all suited to

the proper display of natural history specimens; and it doesnot seem as though it could be put in better condition, beingso illy-adapted for the purpose — except at a large outlay ofmoney. The better thing to do is to secure a lot and a newbuilding at as early a day as possible, and in view of this itwould be very unwise to spend any money on the old build-ing, or to buy temporary cases for the specimens, as has beenproposed. The only improvement or outlay I would suggestis the sky-light before mentioned. This is really necessaryfor the proper lighting of the fourth floor, since the backwindows have been closed by the new addition.

The attendance of the public at the Museum has beengreater than ever before — being more than six persons a dayduring the entire year.

There have been a number of other donations during theyear, which have been noticed in the Journal of the Society.Among these is the Shafer Collection of shells and fossils,donated by the Cuvier Club, but not yet put on exhibition,owing to a lack of cases suitable for the purpose.

68 Cincinnati Society of Natural History.

I would also suggest, in the way of permanent improve-ments for the building, that the front steps should be re-set,and the front pavement raised and levelled. There shouldalso be a sidewalk elevator put in the cellar, for the purposeof raising ashes and other heavy matter.

Respectfully submitted,J. A. HENSHAI^.

REPORT OP THE SECRETARY.

CINCINNATI, April 5, 1892.

To THE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OE THE CINCINNATISOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY:

In accordance with the requirements of the Constitution, Ihave the honor to submit the following report:

During the past year seven regular meetings of the Societyhave been held.

Twelve papers have been read in full, by abstract or bytitle, most of which have been published in the Journal ofthe Society.

Twenty-three active members have been elected during theyear, and twenty-four members have resigned. One activemember and one life member have died.

Since my last report I have collected and paid over to theTreasurer the following amounts:

Dues from Members, , $98° 22

Subscription and sale of Journal, 24 50

Total, $1,004 82

And donation to chair fund $10.00, paid to T. H. Kelley, Bsq.Our list of exchanges has been increased by the addition of

the publications of the following societies :Natural Hist. Soc. of Trentschin, Trentschin, Hungary.Royal Soc. of South Australia, Adelaide, So. Australia.State Historical Soc. of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.Societie Vandoise des Sciences Naturelles, L,ausanne.Argentine Society of Nat. History, L,a Plata, Buenos Ayres.The library of the Society has received one hundred and

sixty-two volumes and parts of volumes, mostly pamphlets,by donation and exchange. Seventy-seven volumes havebeen bound during the year.

Report of Curator of the Photographic Section. 69

Over eighteen hundred persons have visited the Museum ofthe Society since April last.

The Eleventh Annual Course of Free Popular ScientificLectures was given during January, February and March, inour new auditorium, with a very satisfactory attendance.The lecturers were Gen. B. R. Cowen, Dr. Thos. M. Stewart,Prof. Chas. A. Harper, Dr. M. H. Fletcher, Dr. A. N. Ellis,Prof. Thos. French, Jr., Col. Latham Anderson, Dr. A. B.Thrasher, Dr. William Carson and Mr. E. H. Wells, who allgave their services gratuitously, and are certainly entitled tothe thanks of the Society.

The entire expense of course was only $18.75.Respectfully submitted,

J. A. HENSHALL.

REPORT OF CURATOR OF THE; PHOTOGRAPHIC SECTION.

MR. P R E S I D E N T AND MEMBERS OF THE CINCINNATI

SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY :

On behalf of the Photographic Section, I have to report anundiminished interest in all matters pertaining to Photography.

Our membership is now 113.We have lost during the past year by death, none.By removal from the city, two.And by resignation, nine.And have dropped from membership, for non-payment of

dues, 31.While we have gained ten new members.In accordance with the custom inaugurated some years

since, our Annual Outing was given on May 30th last (Decora-tion Day), and was attended by more than one hundred mem-bers of this Section and their friends. The place selectedwas Foster's Crossing, on the Little Miami R. R., a verybeautiful spot, and convenient of access. In addition to theAnnual Outing, a number of Saturday afternoon excursionswere planned, carried into execution during the past Summerby a limited number of our members, and proved a mostenjoyable relaxation from the cares of business and pro-fessional life.

70 Cincinnati Society of Natural History.

Our Annual Print Exhibition was given in the studio of B.H. Barton, in this city, and an exhibition of photographsmade by members of this Society was one of the features ofthe fair held at Carthage, Ohio, last Fall, under the auspices ofthe Humane Society. Our Annual Lantern Slide Exhibitionwas given on the evening of March 25th last, at the Odeon,and although hardly up to the standard of some of our pre-vious exhibitions, it called out an audience which, in point ofnumbers and intelligence, far exceeded that of any formerexhibition, clearly indicating that the public have not losttheir interest in this kind of an entertainment. The Semi-monthly exhibitions given by the Photographic Section in thishall, have been unusually well attended, both by members ofthe Natural History Society and by the general public.

This Section has spent a large amount of money in fittingup its reception and operating rooms, in the- former of whichmay be found publications from all parts of this country andfrom Europe relating to matters photographic, while in thelatter we have the most improved apparatus known to theprofession, where every convenience is provided for amateursto become proficient in the use of the camera by the practiceof in-door photography. The only drawback to the completeenjoyment of the quarters we occupy has been the untidyand neglected condition of our operating room, which hasbeen due, perhaps, as much to the financial policy of theSociety, which has. been too economic, as to any other cause,and which has been the ground of serious complaint on thepart of our members. This Section, embracing, as it does, avery large proportion of the members of the Society, feelvery much dissatisfied at the manner in which their depart-ment has been neglected, and are unanimous in their demandfor a radical change in this regard during the coming year. Iwould very respectfully recommend to the incoming board,that special attention be given to the care of the rooms occu-pied by the Photographic Section, especially as their meetingroom is the only apartment in this building which can be usedas a reception or waiting room by the members of the Societyand visitors.

Very respectfully submitted,T. B. Co iviKR,

Cincinnati, April 5, 1892. Curator.