Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-04-28

6laulbIlcS OF Tue wilmington lnSt1LuI0
for the Year ending March 81, 1890,
as taken from the Presidents Re-
port.
The Institute at this time has over 900 menu
bers, including life members. The Library
contains about 5000 volumes, 453 volumes
having been added to il during the year. The
number of volumes taken out for reading by
the members, during the year 1854, was 1872;
in 1855, 425T; in 1856, 1891 in 1857, 7220;
in 1858, $50, and in 1859, l6,947 showing
a rapid increase in the perusal and use of the
works, which is sufficient evidence of the favor
the Institute enjoys in the minds of its mem
bers.
The reading room is supplied with the lead
ing journals ofthe day II also contains col
lection of the most popular magazines and re-
views both American and foreign. Careful
additions and revisions have been made, and
many OF the most valuable journals and maya
zines are semi-annually bound.
During the past winter there have been
Literary and Scientific Lectures delivered,
which have been unusually well attended by
our members, rs well as our citizens al large;
these lectures with but few exceptions have
been decided success, particularly the scien-
tifc course
| These lectures have added considerably to
| the number of our members, and it is graft
| flying fact that many of our country friends
have joined during the lecture season, not only
those residing in our own county, but in the
adjoining county of Chester.
The Debating Society, which is a branch of
the Institute, has been kept up with much
| spirit during the winter twenty-five of our
members having joined by signing the roll.
| Its meetings are, however, free to all our MEM
bers, and have been well attended by them.
The Treasury is in healthy condition, all
the demands on it through the year having
been promptly mct And although your Com
mittee has been obliged to anticipate the July
payments, by the negotiations OF II temporary
loan, we fairly claim to be Out Of debt, as the
Newspapers and Periodicals are paid for in adj
vance and the book bills paid monthly.
The Institute has been the recipient during
the past year Of many valuable books from our
members of Congress, from the Departments at
Washington, and from our friends both at home
and abroad, all of which have been suitably
acknowledged by your Executive Committee.
Bat rs the Institute is now standing on
basis which must certainly warrant the conf
dence of the community, hope it will not be
long before we shall receive material aid in the
way OF literal Jeqaests. In many parts of our
country, particularly in New England, similar
institutions TO our own, have in this way, been
made instrumental in disseminating q vast
amount of useful knowledge.
In the month of September there was pro-
position set on foot to unite the Delaware
Academy of Natural Sciences with the Will
mington Institute, whereby the Institute was
to receive $500 in money, provided, they could
raise sufficient sum, added to this, to extend
the present building to Shipley street, in order
to have a room for scientific lectures.
About the same time the Delaware Horticnl-
tural Society, and the Botanical Society OF
Wilmington, transferred all their money and
effects to the Institute for certain equivalents
to be received by the two societies.
, On the 2lst of September, a special commit
. tee was appointed to take entire charge of the
proposed improvements; which resulted in
their recommending to the Executive Commit
tee on the 25th of October, the purchase of the
, lot nj the N. W. corner of Market and Eighth
streets, for the sum of STA, 900, provided $4,000
could be obtained from the citizens by SUBJ
scription, $4,000 OF it to be paid as purchase
, money, leaving mortgage on the property oil
$4,000, the balance of $4,000, in connection
with the monies received from the Academy oil
, Natural Sciences and the Botanical Society," ia
build three stores on Market street, and q lec-
turc-room on Shipley street.
The recommendation of the special commit.
$ tee was unanimously adopted, and the Presi-
, dent directed TO issue to the members of the
c Institute a circular stating the facts, and de.
E failing the views of your Executive Committee
|
G qnesting energetic co-operationin carrying the
y same into effect
Early in November, a copy Of this circular
= was sent to every member OF the Institute, and
/ am happy to say was met with liberal and
weighty responses to more than the amount
|, indicated as required Tor the purpose
On the 9th of December the President wal
!. authorized to purchase the property of Capt
J. p. Gillis on an article of agreement, to de-
| tha mi tn tha In nm tha ba,
I of March, 1860,
And MS it was the almost unanimous senti
ment of the members of the Institute, and o
interested citizens thatthe improvement SHOULD
be OF permanent character, the committee
having the same in charge, were requested Il
ID make an earnest and combined effort to iRcreds
p the donations to an amount, which would ren
T. der it safe and expedient, to proceed with tn
" erection of permanent structure,
is On the 18th OF January they reported the
had given dillgent attention to the duties G
their appointment and with the assistance c
some Of their colleagues OF the Executive Com
n mittee and a number Of other gentleme
I'd members Of the Institute had waited O.
in nearly, if not quite all the members, and man
n other citizens and friends of the Institute, an
he had succeeded in collecting up to this tim
he 1888, which, added TO the amount receive
ng from the Academy Of Natural Sciences the Be
ST tanical Society, and the proceeds of Dr.. Boyn
en- toms lectures, making total OF means availa
ed BILE for the erection Of the proposed permanei
re, Juddiag, Of l3,4O9.l7. This sum added to tn
lie. supposed worth Of materials in the old build
ar ing, warranted your Executive Committee
re the appointment of a building committee, I
il consist of six members, to whom was referre
ut the entire management and control of the pre-
ed posed new hall and improvements, includin
al financial arrangements connected Herewith
f. subject to the advice and approval of the Ex,
90 cutive Committee.
iy The building committee proceeded at ont
lis to employ competent Architect, and wei
&C. furnished with an outline of the plans an
,ir specifications which were presented to 80,
in Executive Committee on the 3lst OF Januar
ny and unanimously approve by them.
at By ORDER Of THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
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