, 1875-09-25
THE CHICAGO ATHENAEUM.
IMPORTANT CoMMUSIcATION FROM iT8 BOARD q

GOVERNMENT.
TO The Members and Friends Of Me ANenxum:
The Board Of Government has directed that tho
following statement Of tho condition and pros
pecta of tho Athennum stall be presented to itH
members and friends and 10 tho gousrai public.
Hitherto the Society has furnished ito privileges
to its nombors At less than their Icost, tile Aim
boing to keep tho rntea 10 low that mono mood be
excluded from inability to pay. Tho oxpenses
each year hayo bosn IN oxcess Of the rccosptH
from memberships and privileges. lcsTing
largo dolcioucy to bo mado up by tho ooutri-
buttons Of it's triends. During the past two
years Of lard times thea8 have greatly di1u!n-
ishpd, but tIia loss has been otlset BY a steady
increase in tho curTent receipts. For the Year
ending with August 1871, these wera but -, G56
For tue yaAr ending with August, 1875, they
Nero e0.5V,-a gain OF nearly W per cent ovor
the previous year. This amount il still far short
Of that needed to meet the current expenses for
Tho coming year, with the large sncreAse OF work
boing done.
Dus tho Board feels that the limo has now
como when tho soelsty should o,i @ D9 placed oa
Of I'll adsauco In tho preHant rates Of 1nombcr-
slip hag boon scEtously and carefully consider
ed by tie Board. but It has decided not to MAKO
any change at present, hoping that such al in
change will 10 necessary to secure position Of
self-support. But III ordsr to do this there
must 10 au increase Of at least 81
per cent to the present membership {now about
1,200) and without auch gain 1t may be found
necessary to advance our rttea OH tho LIST Of
January next from :1U to el2, from o. to so,
and frons 81 to - year.
During tho paAt four years Of the existence Of
tho Society there has al indebtedness accuua1-
lAtuu for furniture, fixtures, aud yearly do
| fcit, Of soma $1,000. u, excess Of
| boms $1,000 over outstanding subscrp-
| tipnb considered collcctabte. Tho Board
| haA resolved to raise tho means to wipo
! out this indebtedness before the annual meet
| ing oil tina hrst Monday IN November, 30 that VIC
can tl4cn como before the public free from. debt,
aud With no necessity for begging for tno,loY.
Individual members Of tho Lizard have pledged
theu.ttiyes 10 1nibe specific Anounts from 800
to f5lD zach. for this purpose. While doing
tis, they earnestly appeal 10 each member
! OF tho Bociety to cooperate with them
W Using htH beat ondeaYors 10 secure
!, :, new !ne.nbcEs. An increase OF 80 per cent will
u eaanle tle hoclcty to moot Al! its expenses for
tue coming year from ita c,rront rocuipts. An
aufance Of l0o per eent-each member bringing
IN one no" ouo--~i!l placo 1t iu m ludapendent
j. position enable It to inyntah itg rooms 40 a. to
r tgnlar then pleasant all attractive add to It's
library. eulssEo .s work. and greatly lrcreayo Tho
value Of 1ts privileges to is members. Tho .u-
J, }nual meeting could ti1en DO made gfpnu inb-
J. leo nceting, ~ which tho officers ind meuibers
: u The boc'ety could rejoico togothsr oycr
!. difficulties suttuounted and ruccess achioyed.
!. little effort on tho part Of ench ona vii
: scufe this grand result IL II not wotth wl,le
0 Il MAKE Nf o. c. GIpus.
bupe1tnten lent.