I have the honor to submit herewith the report of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Public (Free) Library, made by the librarian, Mr. Frederick M. Crunden and showing the business and operations of the Library for the year ending April 30th, 1905. Very respectfully, F. W. LEHMANN, To the Honorable Board of Directors of the St. Louis Public Library:· · I have the honor to submit herewith my twelfth annual report covering the eleventh year of the active operation of this institution as a free library and showing its growth and activities for the year ending April 30, 1905. A detailed statement of receipts and expenditures will be found in the subjoined tables. The more important facts and figures shown therein are as follows: — The income from the city tax of two-fifths of a mill amounted to $178,998.64, an increase of $5,934.01 over the previous year. The desk receipts from fines, issue of extra books, etc., reached an aggregate of $6,037.49, a decrease of $291.97 from the total of the previous year. The rental of Block 510 and the house in Block 511 was $16,893.86, an increase of $1,476.03. Contributors to the fund for the purchase of the Exposition site paid $58,250 in May and $1,035.91 in October. As a dividend on its subscription from the sale of the power house, the Library received $17,155. The last two quarters' rent from the Exposition building was paid in this year, amounting to $14,000. When on Dec. 1, the building passed into the hands of the St. Louis Union Trust Co., the Library received rebates on insurance policies aggregating $1,654.30. Insurance on books destroyed and injured by the fire in the Missouri Building at the World's Fair was promptly paid, amounting to $2,501.98. The final payment on City Block 510 was made in January of this year principal notes $175,000, interest, $4,729.85. On this property during the year was expended $1,842.12 for repairs and agent's commissions; $584.70 for insurance, and $65.73 for sprinkling taxes, making a total expenditure on real estate of $182,222.40 The deed of release of this property from the vendor's lien was executed by the St. Louis Union Trust Co. and was recorded in March. The Library, therefore, now that this property is clear, has no outstanding obligations. The total expenditure for maintenance, including cost of books and furniture, was $77,388.66, an excess of $9,168.96 over the previous year. The chief items of the increase were $2,500 for rent, $1,133 more in the book fund and $3,477 for salaries. The expenditure in the book fund was $18,375.69,-$12,748.97 for (6) Ordi The un books, $4,241.87 for binding, and $1,384.85 for periodicals. narily the amount spent for books is much larger than this; but our purchases were necessarily curtailed on account of room. usually large donation list, however, brought up the total additions. to a respectable figure, nearly 20,000 volumes. RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES. FOR THE FISCAL YEAR APRIL 11, 1901 TO APRIL 10, 1905. DR. To balance in City Treasury, April 11, 1904.. $10,388 54 Collections, April 11, 1904 — April 10, 1905....... 178,998 64 Balance in Bank Fund, April, 1904...... $189,387 18 17,477 95 143 93 6,037 49 16,893 86 |