The San Francisco call., 1904-03-06
HEAR REPORT
OF PRESIDENT
Annual Meeting of Members
of Mechanics Institute Is
Held and Officers Chosen

The annual meeting of the mem
bers of the Mechanics Institute was
held last night in the institute reading
room on the third floor of the build
ing. The attendance was exceptional
ly large and the annual report of Pres
ident Randolph ]. Taussig was lis
tened to with much attention.
From among the trustees selected
at the last quarterly meeting the fol-
lowing officers of the institute were
elected:
President, Rudolph ]. Taussig; vice
president, George II. Wallis; corre-
spending secretary, James H. Lyons;
recording secretary, James G. Spauld-
ing: treasurer, Central Trust Com
pany. Joseph NJ. Cummings. who has
for a long time filled the position of
general secretary with singular salts
faction to the institute and its mem
bers. succeeded himself in his old po-
sition.
The report of the secretary showed
membership of 1857. During the
past year 1883 new books have been
added to the library. There are now
80, 9OS volumes in the library and dur
ing the year 147,S4O books were circu-
lated.
Two amendments to the constitution
were offered providing respectively
that twenty and twenty-five years
membership in the institute shall en-
title one to life membership without
further fees. No action was taken on
the proposals.
Ttoar of rra-idar,f
in part as follows:
The completion OF the forty-ninth year of
the. existence of the Mechanics Institute
brings no startling changes in the even tenor
Of, its way. Like all institutions, this one
also. while 1t has not drifted away from its
earliest purposes, has added greatly TO its
usefulness. 1t was originally formed by
chanics for the purpose of supplying the great
need of a library for the mechanics Of San
Francisco but started with a Bible. the con-
stitution OF the United States. Encyclopedia OF
Architecture and Curtis on Conveyancing,
and stands to-day a library of great usefulness
in technology, commerce and general litera-
ture. The chronological portion OF the IL
brary has been delevoped steadily. following a
we'll defined plan and purpose.
The affliation of the Technical Society has
been Of the greatest benefit to that particular
branch of the library and its success suggests
the advisability and possibility of the forma-
tion OF organization which would do as
much for library OF commerce. have
not the least doubt that ii properly managed
a society of those interested in trade ana
u.s. not only for the purpose Of collecting books.
but the Mechanics Institute would be ready to
provide a regular course of lectures by conpe-
tent university extension lecturers / offer
this suggestion to the officers and members Of
the Mechanics Institute in the earnest hope
that IL may be acted upon in the near future
Our membership is. in my judgment salts
factory.
We sometimes hear complaints and perhaps
the only cause for a great many resignatio
is our inability TO supply the latest works of
fiction to every member within a short time Of
publication A recent investigation devetoped
the fact that OF large membership fully
those members who belong merely for the "a Ike
of visiting the chess room and a larger num-
Der who prefer to read in the library we are
justified in concluding that entire member
ship is active one.
During the year were enabled to inau1-
urate a systematic course OF lectures by es-
tablIshing the Mechanics Institute as a uni
versity extension center. A course of twelve
lectures on the French Revolution by Professor
cess of this experiment Is evidenced by the
fact that assembly hall is too small for
the attendance and we compelled to use
the art gallery OF the pavilion. Professor
Stephens, who is at the head OF the DEPART
ment of university extension in Berkeley has
assured US of his intention to further deyeIop
these courses OF lectures. At present he Is
considering the advisability of a short course
to be given by some of the proIrinent men
DIT the university.
The Mechanics Institute suffered a great
loss during the year in the death of Irving
NJ. Scott who formerly its president and
who was always stanch friend OF the insti-
trte.