1547

or four years by the State and city; and it becomes, too, the
strongest argument for a continuance, at least, if not an in-
crease, of that legislative and municipal liberality which has
hitherto been extended to this Institution. Notwithstanding
this exorbitant advance of prices, by careful management we
have been able to close the year without a suspended debt,
and with a balance on hand carry on the operations of the
House until new supplies shall be appropriated, which are
generally made available about the first of March.

In making an approximate estimate of the wants of the
Board for the support of the Institution, we can only go back
to the actual expenditures on general account of last year as
a basis of calculation. This, as before said, was in round
numbers, $47,000. To meet this sum we have only an avail-
able balance of $9,127.85, which, taken from the first amount,
will leave a deficit of about $38,000. It is only proper to say,
however, that in the statement there appears an item of in-
come which it might seem only right to bring into the ac-
count.

This the proceeds from the labor of boys board of inmates,
&c., amounting to $9,184.76; of this, $7,332,93 is charged
to labor, and $ 1,599.24 to boardi But this labor is under
contract, and may or may not be made available for the cur-
rent year, owing to the unsettled condition of the business
and finances of the country. Under the circumstances, it
can only be looked upon ,18 a contingent receipt, and as such
cannot be safely relied on as a certain resource of support.

With no present prospect then, of a favorable change in
prices, and with the certainty that the number of inmates
will not be less, the Board are under the necessity of seeking
from the State and city, appropriations equal at least to the
deficit above estimated.

The Board had hoped to have been able to report the com-
mencement at least of the erection of the new wing so much
required, and in former communications referred to; but ex-
ercising proper caution and having before them rough de-
tails of the cost of the building, it was considered to be the
most prudent course to defer the work until there shall seem
to be some prospect of a decrease in the price oi materials
and labor. They do not feel authorized to enter into any en-
gagements for so large an expenditure as will be required;
and under existing uncertainties as to obtaining means, they
prefer to exercise a patient waiting until things shall settle
down to a more reasonable standard. In thus depriving
themselves of a moist earnest desire, they have not been neg-
ligent, both in adding to their future building resources, and
of profitably investing the fund already in hand. Thus, they
have now availably $20,454.09, towards the cost of the erec-