Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-04-14
The membership is as follows:

This shows decrease of seven as against
last years report. During the year two of
the life members Alexander Kelley and
John P. McIear died.
The drawing school committee showed
the department in its hands to be in a
prosperous condition. The total numbered
pupils was IA; receipts, S50550; cxpendi-
lures, $6240l.
In his report the retiring president,
Lndley Q. Kent, referred to the fact of the
railing of in auditorium rental receipts,
He thought this fact suggested the idea of
considering whether there is not some
more profitable purpose the hall could be
put to-. Despite the decrease of income a
total OF VI 400 of floating Indebtedness has
been cancelled. Mr.. Kent was in favor of
the plan of issuing four per cent bonds to
uetray the Indebtedness, certain number
oil said bonds to mature annually and TO
be paid from the receipts of the Institute.
Tho report of the library committee
shows on hand April LIST, 1892, in cases
1859 volumes an increase within the
year OF 57S volumes, with circulation of
Us, lb9, or decrease of 675. As the mem
bership has fallen during the year from
6s6 to go loss of seven, the average
circulation remains about the same. Dur
ing the past year an effort was made to in
terest the public schools of the city in the
institute by giving school tickets at re-
duced rates. Forty-four of such tickets
have been issued. Although larger in
crease was hoped for from this course he
trusted that tho same liberal policy will be
corsinued and, ii thought wise, still greater
inducements be made
Mr.. Kent favors the proposition of re-
ducing the membership rate as soon as
the finances Of the association will per
init.
The retiring president expressed his ap-
pIeclauon oil the performances of her
duties by the librarian, Mrs. NJ. A. Resag
for her careful, intelligent and conscien,
tions work and also that OF the assistants
The building is in good repair and the
rooms and stores satisfactorily rented
Mr.. Kent deplored the figures in The
treasurer's exhibit showing decrease of
Sb3.lS III rent of rooms and stores; $ilg.hO
from membership dues; Sl,05i.l5 from
rent OF auditorium, a total of 81, 1856 49,
said
This is not encouraging. and when we
note That the rent of the auditorium has
fallen OFF almost one-half from its last
years receipts, and in view of the fact that
the number OF members has not materially
increased since tho population of the city
was little more than one-third of its pres
ent number, am constrained to again in
vitc your attention to the consideration of
proposition made some years agolooking
toward the sale of the present institute
ste ana buildings and the purchase of u
lot and the erection of q less expensive
building, that would suit the purchase of
the library as well or better than the pres
ent does, relieve the institute of debt and
the management of unnecessary RESPONSE
hility and labor in the care of property
much larger than needed for library pur-
poses, and in addition leave a surplus for
Investment as an endowment fund.-
The new president, Vincent q. Hazard,
then took his seat. A vote of thanks was
passed to Mr.. Kent for his services during
the past year
President Hazard announced the fol.
lowing committees:
Ways and Means--I.indley Z. Kent
Charles w. Pusey, Joseph A. Richardson.
Rooms and Fixtures-W Wilmer Palmer,
Daniel W. Taylor. Thomas X. Porter
Library-George A. Elliott, w. T.. lay
Tor, Walter u. Bush.
Newspapers and Periodcals-W. p. Tay-
Tor, J. A. McCaulley, w, ID. Bush.
Drawing School-Charles W. Pusey, Isaac
Il. Johnson, S. j. Wiley.
Donations and Archives-J. A. Nc
Caulley, Thomas ]. Lawson.
Printing-Thomas X. Porter $. J.Willey,
Isaac L. Johnson
Iectures-Thomas J. Lawson, George A.
Elliott.