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find some way to square up these old accounts without
any additional cost, so that we may know exactly at any
time we may want to know, just how much money there
is at our disposal. This is an old story, and I am sorry
to be compelled to tell it once more. It strikes me that the best
plan would be to have a number of circulars printed
and signed by the secretary, sent to each delinquent in-
forming him or her that unless all arrears with interest
were paid by the first of December next, we would proceed
at once to collect by distraint, unless some such order goes out
as a resolution of the Board, and not as coming frmo the
Treasurer. I do not think it will have much effect.
You are perhaps not fully aware
that the book keeping so far as the rents and taxes are concerned
is practically in the hands of a single person, under a recent law
the taxes are collected by the County Treasurer and there are the
usual guards against error. But as to the rents and former
taxes there there were no such guards as I understand the
case. Every man is liable to make mistakes, and I submit to you
whether it would not be in harmony with correct business
principles, yes, I will say that I think it very important
that a competent person be appointed to examine the Treasurers
books, at least from the time the so called Boyce Bill went into
effect. In every well regulated business there are checks against
error, and I think our Treasurer owes it to himself as much
as to you to support some measure of this sort, in order
that we may all be satisfied that his accounts have
been properly kept.
During last winter it became evident
that the increased attendance this spring would render considerable
enlargement of the club boarding department necessary with
part of the money appropriated for current expenses, the
Executive Committee made such necessary enlargement and
improvement of the premises as were possible, and shortly after
the opening of the term the dining rooms were full to their
utmost capacity. It proved to be no small difficulty to find a
competent cook; and the disposition of some of the boys to be rude
and to resist control on the part of their comrades, together with
the fact that circumstances rendered personal control on my
part impossible, made me no small amount of trouble.
For the last two months things have been running
smoothly, and I am in hopes that no further obstacles will
appear.
You are doubtless all aware that Miss Wheeler left
us last fall to accept a larger salary at Alleghany College.
I was so fortuante as to find a very competent German Lady
to take her place, and her work has so far been very