its action this morning became a subscriber to the fund, it seems only proper that it should have the report presented to it.

EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES GAS EDUCATIONAL FUND TO THE SUBSCRIBERS TO THE FUND.

To the Subscribers of the Trustees Gas Educational Fund:

GENTLEMEN: The Trustees appointed at the Twentysixth Annual Meeting of the American Gas Light Association, held October 17, 1898, to administer the Educational Fund formed by your subscriptions, submit the following report as to the work done from October 1, 1905, to September 30, 1906.

The Treasurer's report shows that the amount of subscriptions has again been slightly increased during the year. This increase in income has not, however, been sufficient to enable the Trustees to do more than carry on the work with the membership of the class kept down to the limit of one hundred and fifty (150) for a maximum, which was fixed two years ago on account of its having been found impossible to take care of a larger average membership than that corresponding to this maximum. As was stated in the report for last year, if only one-half of the gas companies in the United States and Canada that are not now subscribers to the fund would make subscriptions bearing the same proportion to the business done as do the subscriptions now in force, the income of the Trustees would be doubled. This would enable the membership of the class to be enlarged, and also make it possible to undertake research work that would be of benefit to the gas industry. It is to be hoped that the organization of the Gas Institute will produce a condition of affairs that will bring about increased subscriptions to the Educational Fund.

During the year a start has been made upon the work of getting in shape to be published, properly classified and indexed in a single volume, all of the answers sent out to different sections of the class since the work was taken over by the Trustees, so that these answers will be more readily

available to any one wishing to use them than they are at present. This volume should be ready for issue in the spring of 1907.

The work of the Correspondence Class has been carried on throughout the year. The members of the Section of 1906 having finished the three years' course, their connection with the class ceased on March 1, 1906. The Section of 1909 started work on January 2, 1906, with a membership of thirty-nine.

The number of members in each section at the beginning of the year, and the changes that have taken place during the year, and the names of the members of the class who have completed the course during the year, are shown in detail on the Secretary's report, which is appended.

The Section of 1907 now contains twenty-two members, the Section of 1908 twenty-one, and the Section of 1909 forty-two, making the total membership in the regular class eighty-five. Four special students are receiving the questions and answerswith the Section of 1909.

The card index of the principal articles published in the American Gas Light Journal, Progressive Age and the Journal of Gas Lighting has been kept up during the year. It is in constant use and is available and valuable for any subscribers wishing to look up particular subjects.

The Surplus Fund is made up of a contribution of $1,000, of subscriptions paid in advance of the time when they are due, of unexpended balances and of interest received on investments. The proper portion of the advance subscriptions will, of course, be drawn out each year to meet expenses, but the unexpended balances and the interest will accumulate into a fund, which will be available to assist in carrying on the work in case all the present subscriptions are not renewed when they expire.

Respectfully submitted,

TRUSTEES GAS EDUCATIONAL FUND.

WALTON CLARK, Chairman.

ALFRED E. FORSTALL, Secretary.