1869-02-08 Letter: A.J. Coolidge to Trustees, 2021.021.023

Mount Auburn Cemetery. 16 PEMBERTON SQUARE. Boston, Feby 8th 1869

Gentlemen: --

When I was chosen Treasurer, I was asked to state what compensation I expected. I undertook it last year for the same salary that Mr Bond had received -- $1.000. --

I have since ascertained that Mr Bond had been in the habit, from year to year, of paying a collector five per cent on the amount of gardening bills collected by him -- not out of the $1000, but from the moneys collected. The gardening bills of last year amount to more than $8.000. If they ranged in Mr Bond's time from $6.000 to $8.000, that would have added from $300 to $400 to the am^t of salary.

I have paid no collector to canvass, believing it better to get the proprietors into the habit of paying at the office, and I hope to avoid sending out a drummer, to any extent.

After assuming the duties, and receiving the books of my predecessor, I soon found that a larger accumulation of his work was left for me to finish. My work, the last year, was doubled, in consequence. I had expected to save perhaps a quarter or more of the salary thus voted, for the increased personal labor and responsibility: but I was at once required to employ

a first class bookkeeper, and it was then supposed that a portion of his time might be devoted to other pursuits.

So far, however, was such course from the line of possibility, that I have found the labors of the office have not only required the whole time of myself and Mr Barbour, but have compelled us to work often into the night.

Immediately I saw the situation, and told Mr Barbour he should have the $1000, and he has received every dollar of my salary as Treasurer. Besides this I have hired extra help, which I found necessary to hasten the work of collecting, amounting to some $175.00.

We have collected more than $5.000 of the old accounts -- some of them almost hopeless -- and thus the effort has been a paying one. There remains a considerable sum to be collected.

I think an additional allowance should be made me for the last year's work, and trust this view will meet the approbation of the Trustees.

As to the future: --

It has been demonstrated to my mind that the duties of Secretary and Treasurer cannot be properly performed for the amount of money now paid. The business is one of extensive detail, and with the most of method that can be brought to its execution -- even when the present outstanding accounts shall have been adjusted -- will require the whole time of the incumbent and a bookkeeper.

It is hardly possible, it seems to me, for even those who are best acquainted with the business from observation to have a full view of the extent and variety of detail.

It seems to have been assumed heretofore, that I was liable to devote a portion of my time to the interests of the Corporation, and a portion to professional duties outside. What little of truth there may have been in such assumption heretofore, has now essentially vanished, and I can have no expectation of deriving income from that source -- for I have no time for it.

But I believe that most of the Trustees have had opportunity, of late, to judge of this matter; and I therefore commend it to their attention.

I am Respectfully Your Ob^t Serv^t

A.J. Coolidge

Feby 24/69

$500 pass [je..?]

The business affairs of [N..?] at exclusion of all other business --

expect Mr B or other competent person acceptable to the Trustees --

$500 additional to Salary of Treasurer [Comm..?] with this [je..?] --