VII. Friday, January 28th, 1870. "The Colorado Plateau; its Canons and Ruined Cities," by Professor J. S. Newberry, of Columbia College, New York. It will be observed that this list only contains lecturers who had not previously appeared before the Institute. The whole programme was carried out with no change or failure, and at an expense not exceeding one-half of that incurred for the preceding course. The audience at these lectures consisted mainly of members of the institute and their families; and as the attendance was uniformly large, it may be regarded as fortunate that this means has been devised for drawing together, at least for a few nights of each year, those who evince a fondness for scientific investigations. The twenty-ninth annual report of the American Institute to the Legislature of the State is the largest, and, without doubt, the most varied and valuable volume of Transactions ever issued by this institution. Receipts and Disbursements of the American Institute of the City of New York, for the year ending January 31, 1870. Balance in bank, January 31, 1869.... $5,004 67 The Committee on Agriculture report that their official duties have been confined to and connected with the Farmers' Club, which continues to be crowded each week with an interested audience, and its usefulness is acknowledged in thousands of letters received from every state and territory in our country. During the year many valuable and interesting papers have been read upon particular subjects connected with stock raising, agriculture and fruit-growing, by Dr. J. V. C. Smith, Prof. J. A. Whitney, J. B. Lyman, Esq., Dr. F. M. Hexamer, A. S. Fuller, Esq., Professors Horsford of Cambridge and Lamacier of Paris and others. To the press of the city much is due for their elaborate reports of the transactions of the club. During the year, committees from the club have visited various places in our own State, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Florida, and much valuable information has been obtained as to soils, crops, fruits and other matters of great importance to agriculturists. In no case has the treasury of the American Institute been called upon to pay anything for expenses incurred by any of these com mittees. As the doings of the Farmers' Club are published in the Transactions of the American Institute at considerable length, your committee do not deem it important to extend this report. All of which is respectfully submitted. NATHAN C. ELY, P. T. QUINN, JOHN CRANE, J. H. MACY, SERENO EDWARDS TODD, NEW YORK, February 3d, 1870. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS. Committee. The Board of Managers respectfully report, that on the 15th day of February, 1869, four days after their election, the managers met at the rooms of the institute, and organized the board for the ensuing year, by making the Hon. Orestes Cleveland, Permanent Chairman, Win. H. Butler, Vice-Chairman, and John W. Chambers, Secretary. The institute, at a regular meeting on the 5th of November, 1868, having referred the question of providing accommodations for the National Association of Wool Manufacturers, who proposed to hold an exposition of the wool industry of the country, under the auspices of the American Institute, and in conjunction with its regular exhibition; a sub-committee of managers was immediately appointed to confer with the officers of that association. On the 15th of February, Mr. Thomas McElrath, from that committee, reported that the National Association of Wool Manufacturers required at least 15,000 square feet of floor space for their exposition. It being evident that no place before occupied by the American Institute would be capacious enough for the next exhibition, the board determined to seek new quarters. To erect a building of requisite dimensions in time for the autumna. exhibition was quite out of the question, but it was ascertained that by adding a large temporary structure to the Empire Skating rink, situated on the Third avenue, between Sixty-third and Sixty-fourth streets, and having the dimensions of 170 by 350 feet, the whole would probably afford ample accommodations. Accordingly on the 15th day of March, it was resolved to rent the rink during the months of September and October for the sum of $6,000, and pay any extra insurance which might be required of its owners. A contract was immediately thereafter made for the erection of a temporary building, fifty-four by 170 feet, which the board, at its option, could use for two months, or could purchase for the sum of $4,000. One-quarter of the great hall having been set apart for the use of the National Association of Wool Manufacturers, it was ascertained by the first of September that the part remaining for the use of the Institute could not accommodate all who desired to become exhibitors, and the board thereupon decided to make another addition of twenty by 170 feet. In this all the boilers, and other apparatus requiring fire, were located, while the remaining part of the new building was devoted to steam-engines and machinery in motion. A few light machines, whose operation did not depend on a very solid foundation, were placed at the east end of the rink, and as near as possible to the driving power. For the first time in many years the managers were enabled to devote ample space for the movement of visitors. A wide promenade extended through the middle of the main hall, and at convenient distances were other parallel avenues of less width. The exhibition tables were placed transversely to these avenues, and the spaces between formed a series of passages extending across the lower and main floor. All the available room for the use of exhibitors was equitably. divided into seven portions, which were respectively occupied by the seven departments into which the exhibition was divided. Each department was under the immediate control of a sub-committee of three managers. The buildings were opened for the reception of goods on the 1st day of September, and on the 8th they were opened to the public. As is usually the case, several days elapsed before all the engines and machinery were in full motion, and the department occupied by the wool industry exposition was completely filled. Notwithstanding the great distance of the place of exhibition from the business center of the city, the attractions presented were so novel and numerous that large crowds were drawn to it, during every day and evening, until its close. Every department of the exhibition, under the direct control of the managers, contained many articles of unusual merit. It would be impossible to enumerate them within the limits of an ordinary report, yet it will not be deemed invidious or improper to state that an unusually rich and surprising display of raw and manufactured silks was made, and that for it, the Institute is indebted to the prompt action of the American Association of Silk Manufacturers, and particularly to the personal exertions of Mr. Frederick Baare. The exposition of the wool industry, under the immediate direction of the National Association of Wool Manufacturers, contained the largest and richest collection of woolen fabrics ever shown in this country, and, as it furnished a reliable indication of the extent of this branch of domestic manufactures, it excited unusual surprise and interest. The managers take this opportunity to express their thanks to the judges who officiated in the seven departments of the regular exhibition. Their duties were arduous, but they were performed with commendable zeal and impartiality, and the result of their labors will be seen in the following enumeration of awards which have been made in accordance with their decisions: I.-Department of fine arts and education. Medals. 1st. 2d. 3d. 27 19 5 33 51 73 27 35 8 24 22 10 70 84 43 21 34 36 VII.-Department of agriculture and horticulture... 27 24 5 In addition to these, the board has awarded, for the first time in the history of the Institute, the large medal of honor, authorized by article 10, section 13 of the by-laws, for Lyall's positive motion power loom, which obviates the throwing of the shuttle; a plan used in the art of weaving for more than 4,000 years, and which, until lately, was supposed to be indispensable. |