TRI CONTINENTAL CORP
N-30D, 1995-03-10
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================================================================================
                            65th ANNUAL REPORT 1994
================================================================================

                                TRI-CONTINENTAL
                                  CORPORATION

================================================================================

                        an investment you can live with

<PAGE>

TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION
Board of Directors
   Fred E. Brown
  Director and Consultant,
    J. & W. Seligman & Co.
       Incorporated
   Alice S. Ilchman (3,4)
  President, Sarah Lawrence College
  Trustee, Committee for Economic Development
  Director, NYNEX
  Trustee, The Rockefeller Foundation
   John E. Merow
  Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell, Attorneys
   Betsy S. Michel (2,4)
  Director or Trustee, Various Organizations
   William C. Morris (1)
  Chairman
  Chairman of the Board and President, J. & W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated
  Chairman, Carbo Ceramics Inc.
  Director, Daniel Industries, Inc.
  Director, Kerr-McGee Corporation
   Douglas R. Nichols, Jr. (2,4)
  Management Consultant
   James C. Pitney (3,4)
  Partner, Pitney, Hardin, Kipp & Szuch, Attorneys
  Director, Public Service Enterprise Group
   James Q. Riordan (3,4)
  Director, The Brooklyn Union Gas Company
  Trustee, Committee for Economic Development
  Director, Dow Jones & Co., Inc.
  Director, Public Broadcasting
    Service
   Herman J. Schmidt (2,4)
  Director, H.J. Heinz Company
  Director, HON Industries, Inc.
  Director, MAPCO, Inc.
   Ronald T. Schroeder (1)
  President
  Managing Director, J. & W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated
   Robert L. Shafer (3,4)
  Vice President, Pfizer Inc.
  Director, USLIFE Corporation
   James N. Whitson (2,4)
  Executive Vice President and Director,
     Sammons Enterprises, Inc.
  Director, C-SPAN
   Brian T. Zino (1)
  Managing Director, J. & W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated

- - --------------------
Member:
  (1) Executive Committee
  (2) Audit Committee
  (3) Director Nominating Committee
  (4) Board Operations Committee

- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Executive Officers
   William C. Morris
  Chairman
   Ronald T. Schroeder
  President
   Charles C. Smith, Jr.
  Vice President
   Lawrence P. Vogel
  Vice President
   Thomas G. Rose
  Treasurer
   Frank J. Nasta
  Secretary

                                       2
<PAGE>

Highlights of the Year

Assets at year end:                              1994                 1993
                                              -------------        -------------
Total assets ...........................     $2,049,281,845       $2,249,978,091
  Amounts owed .........................         17,546,369           46,128,793
                                              -------------        -------------
Net investment assets                        $2,031,735,476       $2,203,849,298
  Preferred Stock, at par value ........         37,637,000           37,637,000
                                              -------------        -------------
Net assets for Common Stock ............     $1,994,098,476       $2,166,212,298
                                             ==============        =============
Common shares outstanding ..............         84,144,106           78,812,785
Net assets behind each
  Common share .........................            $23.70               $27.49 
With 1994 gain distribution
  taken in shares ......................            $25.94                   -- 

Taxable gain:
Net capital gain realized* .............      $ 149,773,270        $ 133,505,475
  Per Common share                                  $ 1.90               $ 1.80 
Unrealized capital gain, end of
  year* ................................      $ 191,363,863        $ 471,377,172
  Per Common share .....................            $ 2.27               $ 5.98 

Distribution of current year's gain:
  Per Common share .....................            $ 1.90               $ 1.80 

Income:
Total income earned* ...................       $ 79,332,941         $ 76,383,174
  Expenses                                       13,705,939           14,141,470
  Preferred Stock dividends ............          1,881,850            1,881,850
                                              -------------        -------------
Income for Common Stock ................       $ 63,745,152         $ 60,359,854
                                             ==============        =============

Dividends per Common share .............             $ .79                $ .80 
  With December 1993 gain
    distribution taken in shares .......             $ .85                   -- 

If the 15,822 Warrants remaining  outstanding had been exercised at December 31,
1994,  the  Corporation  would have issued 202,047  additional  shares of Common
Stock for  $355,603.  The net assets  behind each  Common  share would have been
$23.65 and, with the 1994 gain distribution  taken in shares,  $25.89.  

*Amounts include the effect of related foreign currency transactions.



                                       3
<PAGE>

TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION

                                                                February 3, 1995
To the Stockholders:

     We are pleased to provide you with  Tri-Continental's  65th Annual  Report.
1994 was another  difficult  year for  investments  in  high-quality  stocks and
bonds.  We expect that an improvement  in the overall  conditions for investors,
and the  Corporation's  exposure  to  international  holdings  and its  shift in
investment focus, will bring about better years in 1995 and in the future.

     Your  Corporation's  net asset value per share was $23.70 at  December  31,
compared to $26.37 at September  30, and $27.49 a year ago.  Your  Corporation's
market  price  per share was  $19.875  at  December  31,  compared  to $22.25 at
September  30,  and $23.75 a year ago.  The  change in both net asset  value and
market price is partly  caused by the  deduction of the $1.90 per share  capital
gain payment made on December 21 to Common Stockholders of record December 8.

     On December 21, your  Corporation  also paid a $0.21 per share  dividend to
Common Stockholders of record December 16, which brought the total dividends for
1994 to $0.79 per share.

     Your Corporation's  total return was -0.68% for the three months and -2.20%
for the 12 months ended  December  31,  based on net asset  value.  For the same
periods,  total  return  was -1.28% and  -5.07%,  respectively,  based on market
price.  (Total return  reflects change in price,  net asset value or market,  as
applicable,  and assumes  that any  dividends  are  invested  and  capital  gain
distributions  are taken in additional  shares  during the quoted  period.) Your
Corporation's  total  returns in 1994  compare to the 1.32% total return for the
Standard & Poor's 500  Composite  Stock  Price  Index (S&P 500).  However,  more
broadly based market  indicators  fared far worse than the S&P 500; the New York
Stock  Exchange  Composite  Index  returned  -3.14%,  and the Value  Line  Index
returned -6.01%.

     Looking  back  on  1994,  the one  generalization  that  can be  made  with
confidence  is that it was a  turbulent  and  trying  year for  equity  and bond
investors  alike.  The Federal  Reserve  Board  exhibited an  aggressive  stance
against inflation, putting through six short-term interest rate increases by the
end of the year.  This  caused  an  upheaval  in the bond  market,  with  yields
increasing and bond prices  spiraling  lower--an event in the financial  markets
unmatched in magnitude since 1973-74.



                                       4
<PAGE>

The  equity  market  remained  hostage  to  the  bond  market  and  demonstrated
lackluster performance for the year.

     The  U.S.  economy  continued  to grow at a  modest  yet  controlled  pace,
accompanied by corporate news of solid growth and strong earnings. This economic
news,  although  positive,  caused the underlying  question to remain:  Will the
economy overheat, opening the door to increased inflation? We don't believe so.

     We believe an  economic  slowdown is close at hand.  In March of 1995,  the
current  growth cycle will mark its fourth year. The consumer has both increased
debt as a percentage  of income and drawn down  savings--suggesting  nearer-term
caution  after a  stronger-than-expected  pattern of spending  in 1994.  We also
believe  that  inflation  will remain under  control in light of intense  global
competition,  low unit labor costs,  and an aging  population  that should favor
saving over spending. Job creation remains strong despite gains in productivity,
and U.S.  competitiveness  in world  markets  is  likely  to be  enhanced  under
G.A.T.T.--General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

     As of  January  1,  1995,  the  portfolio  management  responsibilities  of
Tri-Continental  Corporation  have been assumed by Mr. Charles C. Smith, Jr. Mr.
Smith is  supported  by a group of  investment  professionals  dedicated  to the
objectives  of  Tri-Continental  Corporation.  Please  refer  to  page  6  for a
discussion about your  Corporation,  and page 9 for a more detailed look at your
Corporation's results for the year.

By order of the Board of Directors,

/s/ William C. Morris
William C. Morris
Chairman

        /s/ Ronald T. Schroeder
        Ronald T. Schroeder
        President



                                       5
<PAGE>
Your Portfolio Manager

Charles  C.  Smith,  Jr.  is a  Managing
Director  of  J.  & W.  Seligman  &  Co.
Incorporated  and  Portfolio  Manager of
Seligman  Common  Stock  Fund,  Seligman
Income   Fund,    and    Tri-Continental   [photograph of Charles C. Smith, Jr.]
Corporation.  Mr. Smith joined  Seligman
in 1985 as  Vice  President,  Investment
Officer and was  promoted to Senior Vice
President,  Senior Investment Officer in
August 1992, and to Managing Director in
January 1994.

Economic Factors  Affecting  Tri-Continental
Corporation 

"The rise in short-term  interest rates and investors' concerns over
an increased rate of future inflation had a tremendous effect on both the equity
and bond  markets.  This made 1994 a  challenging  year for  investors,  and for
Tri-Continental  Corporation."  

Sector  Performance 

"In 1994, your portfolio's  strongest sector was technology,  with holdings such
as  EMC  and  Micron   Technology.   Consumer   staples   companies  with  solid
international exposure, such as Coca-Cola and Gillette, did well due to stronger
earnings  growth and greater  pricing  flexibility.  In addition,  restructuring
corporations,  such as IBM,  provided  solid returns as their  earnings  outlook
improved.   On  the  other  hand,   consumer   cyclicals  and  several  interest
rate-sensitive  industries,  such as electric  utilities and regional banks, had
difficulties in 1994 due to the rise in interest rates."

Investment  Strategy  

"Tri-Continental  Corporation  has been managed as a portfolio that consisted of
both fixed-income  securities to obtain income and traditional  growth stocks to
achieve capital appreciation. While this strategy was fruitful in the late 1980s
and early 1990s, it has been less effective in recent years.

"Although the investment objective and policy will not change, we view 1995 as a
transitional  year in which we are  shifting the  structure of the  portfolio by
reducing the fixed-income  commitment and increasing the  diversification in the
equity  portion.  It is our intention to obtain income by owning  companies with
attractive  rates of return in the form of  dividends,  and to  achieve  capital
appreciation by using a bottom-up stock selection process to identify  companies
within a broad range of industries  that offer the best  opportunities  for good
long-term  growth.  This  strategy,  we  feel,  may  be  able  to  enhance  your
Corporation's earnings outlook for the future."



                                       6
<PAGE>
Diversification of Assets

The  diversification  of portfolio holdings by industry on December 31, 1994 was
as follows. Individual securities owned are listed on pages 17 to 24.

                                                                   Percent of
                                                                 Net Investment
                                                                     Assets
                                                                 --------------
                                                                  December 31,
                           Issues      Cost             Value      1994   1993
                            -----  -------------    ------------- ------ ------
Net Cash and Short-Term
  Holdings                    2    $ 83,827,413    $ 83,827,413    4.2%    2.6%
U.S. Government Securities    2      70,318,125      67,440,598    3.3     8.3
Corporate Bonds               4      46,827,085      44,075,000    2.2     2.7
Tri-Continental
  Financial Division          4      25,209,602      27,690,898    1.3     1.2
                            ---   -------------   -------------  -----   -----
                             12   $ 226,182,225   $ 223,033,909   11.0%   14.8%
                            ---   -------------   -------------  -----   -----
Common Stocks and
  Convertible Issues:
  Aerospace                   2    $ 34,149,974  $   33,850,000    1.7%     --%
  Automotive and related      4      76,196,340      82,337,500    4.0     6.2
  Basic materials             6      72,834,421      75,276,848    3.7     5.3
  Building and construction   2      19,333,162      17,341,697    0.9     0.7
  Communications              8      79,187,622      81,728,844    4.0     5.4
  Computers and business
    services                  6      74,794,783     106,050,625    5.2     3.4
  Consumer goods and
    services                 14     164,477,245     215,512,749   10.6     9.0
  Diversified                 8      99,997,377     105,855,500    5.2     3.5
  Drugs and health care       8     102,422,189     117,362,111    5.8     4.3
  Electric and gas utilities  5      51,081,226      46,366,345    2.3     4.3
  Electronics                 3      30,426,861      56,139,375    2.8     3.3
  Energy                     15     192,352,785     192,274,816    9.4     8.3
  Entertainment and leisure   3      23,156,680      24,316,250    1.2     3.7
  Environmental management    1      15,911,127      14,187,500    0.7     0.7
  Finance and insurance      16     190,746,426     212,803,141   10.5    11.8
  Manufacturing and
    industrial equipment     11     144,386,892     159,955,507    7.9     5.4
  Packaging and paper         3      21,072,298      20,975,851    1.1      --
  Publishing                  1       5,615,308       6,784,890    0.3      --
  Real estate investment trust10     86,487,038      99,881,250    4.9     3.0
  Retail trade                6      79,914,198      90,995,000    4.4     4.3
  Transportation              5      39,446,390      39,378,355    1.9     2.6
  Miscellaneous               3      10,199,046       9,327,413    0.5      --
                            ---   -------------   -------------  -----   -----
                            140  $1,614,189,388  $1,808,701,567   89.0%   85.2%
                            ---  --------------  --------------  -----   -----

NET INVESTMENT
  ASSETS                    152  $1,840,371,613  $2,031,735,476  100.0%  100.0%
                            ===  ==============  ==============  =====   =====



                                       7
<PAGE>


LARGEST PORTFOLIO CHANGES*
October 1 to December 31, 1994
                                                             Shares
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                                    Holdings
Additions                                           Increase        12/31/94
                                                  ------------    ------------
COMMON STOCKS
Bank of New York, Inc.                               450,000         450,000
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company                         250,000         250,000
Corning, Inc.                                        350,000         350,000
Dover Corporation                                    200,000         200,000
Eastman Kodak Company                                450,000         450,000
Kimberly-Clark Corporation                           300,000         300,000
Liz Claiborne, Inc.                                  500,000         500,000
Premark International, Inc.                          300,000         300,000
Warner-Lambert Company                               100,000         200,000


CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK 
AK Steel Holdings Corporation, 7%                    350,000         350,000


                                                                    Holdings
Reductions                                          Decrease        12/31/94
                                                 ------------    ------------
COMMON STOCKS
AirTouch Communications Inc.                         500,000              --
Engelhard Corporation                                500,000              --
Georgia-Pacific Corporation                          200,000         150,000
Intel Corporation                                    200,000              --
Micron Technology, Inc.                              285,000         615,000
PPG Industries, Inc.                                 500,000              --
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (ADRs)           375,000              --
Weyerhaeuser Company                                 200,000              --
Wheelabrator Technologies, Inc.                      780,000              --


CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK 
Barnett Banks, Inc., $4.50                           200,000              --



*Largest  portfolio changes from the previous quarter to the current quarter are
 based on cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities.



                                       8
<PAGE>

RESULTS OF YEAR

The following table presents actual  investment gains realized,  dividends paid,
and  year-end  net asset  values  per Common  share for the past 10 years.  Also
presented are the corresponding amounts of realized gains, dividends earned, and
net asset  values  for a Common  share  owned at the  beginning  of the  10-year
period, assuming gain distributions had been taken in additional shares.

- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       Net asset
                        Gains                  Dividends              value of a
                       earned                   earned     Net asset      share
            Gain      assuming                 assuming   value of a    assuming
          realized      gains      Dividends     gains       share        gains
             per      taken in     paid per    taken in   outstanding   taken in
            share      shares*       share      shares*   at year end    shares*
            -----      ------        -----      ------     ---------     ------
1994       $1.90       $4.60        $0.79       $1.91       $23.70      $57.41
1993        1.80        4.05         0.80        1.80        27.49       61.87
1992        0.70        1.53         0.78        1.71        28.03       61.40
1991        1.80        3.69         0.78        1.60        28.57       58.53
1990        1.60        3.06         0.86        1.64        24.60       47.00
1989        2.55        4.38         0.84        1.44        27.44       47.08
1988        1.25        2.02         0.81        1.31        23.55       38.02
1987        3.68        5.09         0.89        1.23        23.94       33.08
1986        4.39        5.26         0.97        1.16        27.94       33.49
1985        2.62        2.88         1.04        1.14        29.78       32.68

*Reflects the  compounding  effect from  additional  shares that would have been
received had capital gain  distributions  been taken in shares since  January 1,
1985, rather than in cash.
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NET INVESTMENT ASSETS were $2,031,735,476 at December 31.

NET ASSET  VALUE of each  share of  Common  Stock was  $23.70  at  December  31,
compared  to $27.49 at the start of the year.  If you took  shares in payment of
the December gain  distribution,  the net asset value of each share you owned at
the  beginning  of 1994 was  equivalent  to  $25.94 at year  end.  Assuming  you
invested  dividends and took the gain distribution in shares,  your total return
was -2.20%.  This  compares  with 1.32% for common  stock prices  generally,  as
measured by the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index.

INVESTMENT INCOME was $79,332,941 in 1994, up 3.9% over last year.

OPERATING  EXPENSES for the year were $13,705,939.  The ratio of expenses to the
average value of net assets was 0.64%, down 3% from last year.

DIVIDENDS  DECLARED  totaled  $64,024,229.  Preferred  Stock dividends paid each
quarter completed 65 years of uninterrupted payments.  Income available to cover
the $2.50 Preferred dividend was equivalent to $87.18 per share.


                                       9
<PAGE>

Common Stock dividends, paid quarterly, totaled $0.79 per share on an average of
78,668,000  shares,  compared  to $0.80 in 1993  when,  on  average,  there were
approximately 4,213,000 fewer shares outstanding.

TAXABLE NET INVESTMENT GAIN of $149,773,270  was realized in 1994. This amounted
to $1.90 per share of  Common  Stock.  The  amount of net gain  realized  is the
result of sales of securities in the portfolio throughout the year.

UNREALIZED  GAIN on investments  totaled  $191,363,863,  or $2.27,  per share of
Common Stock, as of December 31, 1994.

                           10 Largest Equity Holdings
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Increase (Decrease)
                                 December 31, 1994         in Per Share Price
                              -----------------------     ---------------------
                                 Cost         Value          For      Since
                                (000's)      (000's)        1994     Purchase
                               ---------    ---------     ---------  ---------

General Electric Company..     $ 23,043     $ 40,800         (2.8)%     77.1%
Coca-Cola Company.........        5,545       36,050         15.4      550.1
Citicorp $5.375 
  (Conv. Pfd.) ...........       21,988       28,656          4.6       30.3
American International
  Group Inc...............       15,972       27,930         11.7       74.9    
Microsoft Corporation ....       13,581       27,562         51.9      102.9
Chrysler Corporation 
  $4.625 (Conv. Pfd.) ....       21,308       27,475         (8.9)      28.9
Micron Technology, Inc....        5,851       27,137        137.9      363.8
Dow Chemical Company......       21,473       25,219         18.5       17.4
Procter & Gamble Company..       22,124       24,800          8.8       12.1
Eaton Corporation.........       25,084       24,750         (2.0)      (1.3)
                               --------     --------
                               $175,969     $290,379
                               ========     ========
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The 10 largest equity  investments at year end had an aggregate  market value of
$290.4 million and accounted for 14.3% of net investment assets.

DISTRIBUTION OF REALIZED GAIN
Your Directors  declared a  distribution  of $1.90 per Common share from taxable
net gains  realized in 1994,  which was paid on December 21 to  Stockholders  of
record on December 8.

The  number  of shares of  Common  Stock  issued to those who took the  December
payment in shares was  determined by dividing the total dollar amount payable by
$20.063,  the mean of the  high  and low  market  prices  on the New York  Stock
Exchange on December 16. Distributions should be taken into account in measuring
the results of an  investment in  Tri-Continental  Common and should be taken in
shares if you wish to benefit from the compounding  effect of the full amount of
your investment.


                                       10
<PAGE>

PURCHASES OF COMMON STOCK
Under the  Automatic  Dividend  Investment  and Cash  Purchase  Plan,  and other
stockholder plans, purchases of Common Stock were made by the Corporation in the
open market and from  Stockholders  participating in withdrawal plans to satisfy
Plan  requirements.  Those shares were then sold to Stockholders using the Plan.
During 1994, 2,106,411 shares were purchased by Stockholders through the Plan.

The Corporation  may make  additional  purchases of its Common Stock in the open
market at such  prices and in such  amounts as the Board of  Directors  may deem
advisable. No such additional purchases were made during 1994.

STOCKHOLDER SERVICES
Tri-Continental  provides a number of services to make maintaining an investment
in its Common Stock more convenient.

INDIVIDUAL  RETIREMENT ACCOUNT TRUST (IRA) is available to individuals under age
70 1/2 who  have  earned  income.  The  maximum  annual  deductible   individual
contribution is $2,000. A married person with a non-working spouse may set aside
$2,250 annually, while a working couple may shelter up to $4,000 a year. If your
adjusted gross income as a single person exceeds $25,000 a year, or as a married
couple filing jointly exceeds $40,000,  and you or your spouse are participating
in an employer's  retirement  plan,  your deduction for the IRA  contribution is
reduced or eliminated. To the extent that your deduction for an IRA contribution
is reduced, you will be able to make a non-deductible contribution, the earnings
on which accumulate tax-free.  The IRA allows you to invest for your retirement,
to defer taxes on dividends and gain distributions,  and to provide benefits for
your spouse, if you wish.

ROLLOVER IRAs
You may be eligible to roll over a distribution  of assets received from another
IRA, from a qualified employee benefit plan, or tax-deferred annuity into an IRA
with  Tri-Continental.  To avoid a tax  penalty,  the transfer to a Rollover IRA
must occur within 60 days of receipt of the qualifying distribution. However, if
you do not make a direct  transfer of a distribution  from a qualified  employee
benefit  plan or a  tax-deferred  annuity  to a Rollover  IRA,  the payor of the
distribution must withhold 20% of the distribution.

RETIREMENT  PLANNING  --  QUALIFIED  PLANS.  Unincorporated  businesses  and the
self-employed  may take advantage of the same benefits in their retirement plans
that were previously available only to corporations. Maximum contribution levels



                                       11
<PAGE>

are 25% of earned  income  (reduced  by plan  contributions),  up to $30,000 per
participant for pension plans, and 15%, up to $30,000, for profit-sharing plans.
For retirement plan purposes, no more than $150,000 may be taken into account as
earned income under the plan in 1994 and future years (subject to adjustments to
reflect cost of living  increases).  Social  Security  integration  and employee
vesting schedules are also available as options in the Tri-Continental prototype
retirement  plans.  Although you already may be  participating  in an employer's
retirement plan, you may be eligible to establish another plan based upon income
from other sources, such as director's fees.

RETIREMENT PLAN SERVICES  provides  information  about our prototype  retirement
plans. The toll-free telephone number is (800) 445-1777 in the Continental U.S.

GIFTS FREE OF FEDERAL TAX are often made using Tri-Continental Common Stock. You
may give as much as $10,000 a year to as many  individuals  as  desired  free of
federal gift tax, and a married couple may give up to $20,000 a year.

THE AUTOMATIC CASH WITHDRAWAL PLAN enables owners of Common shares with a market
value of $5,000 or more to  receive a fixed  amount  from  their  investment  at
regular  intervals.  Investors use the plan to supplement  current or retirement
income, for educational expenses, or for other purposes.

FEDERAL TAXES
Quarterly  dividends  paid on both the  Preferred  and Common Stocks in 1994 are
subject to federal income tax as "ordinary  dividend income." Under the Internal
Revenue  Code,  61% of such 1994  ordinary  dividend  income  paid to Common and
Preferred  Stockholders qualifies for the dividends received deduction available
to corporate stockholders. In order to claim the dividends received deduction on
these  distributions,  corporate  stockholders must have been treated as holding
the shares for at least 46 days.

The distribution of $1.90 from net long-term gain realized on investments during
1994 was paid to Common Stockholders on December 21, 1994. The long-term gain is
designated as a "capital gain  dividend" for federal  income tax purposes and is
taxable to  stockholders  in 1994 as a  long-term  gain from the sale of capital
assets no matter how long Tri-Continental  Common may have been owned. If shares
on which a capital gain  distribution  was received are  subsequently  sold, and
such  shares  have been held for six months or less from date of  purchase,  any
loss would be treated as long-term to the extent it offsets the  long-term  gain
distribution. The tax cost basis of the December 21 distribution was $20.063 per
share.


                                       12
<PAGE>

INTEREST ON U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS
Certain states do not tax dividends paid by regulated investment companies, such
as  Tri-Continental,  to the extent the income is derived from  interest on U.S.
Government obligations.  Tax treatment varies by state, and it is suggested that
you consult your tax advisor.  Information  regarding  that portion of dividends
derived  from  interest  on  U.S.  Government  obligations  and  other  relevant
information was included in the 1994 Important Tax Information  attached to your
Form 1099-DIV.


Discount or Premium on Common Stock

        [Market Discount or Premium from Asset Value graph appears here]

                               ------------------
Tri-Continental Common Stock was priced in the market at a discount to net asset
value during 1994. At year end, the discount was 16.14%.

Market price for Tri-Continental Common Stock appears daily, and net asset value
and premium or discount  are  reported  weekly,  in The Wall Street  Journal and
other  newspapers  and can also be obtained  by calling  our  24-Hour  Automated
Telephone  Access  Service  using a  touch-tone  telephone.  The number is (800)
622-4597.


                                       13
<PAGE>

TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION
ASSETS AND LIABILITIES December 31, 1994

Assets:
Investments at value:
  Common stocks (cost--$1,392,405,032)....   $1,576,928,522
  Convertible issues
    (cost--$221,784,356)..................      231,773,045
  U.S. Government securities
    (cost--$70,318,125)...................       67,440,598
  Corporate bonds (cost--$46,827,085).....       44,075,000
  Tri-Continental Financial Division
    (cost--$25,209,602)...................       27,690,898
  Short-term holdings (cost--$70,400,000).       70,400,000       $2,018,308,063
                                             --------------
Cash......................................................            12,326,049
Receivable for dividends and interest.....................             9,877,196
Receivable for securities sold............................             8,035,344
Investment in, and expenses prepaid to, stockholder
  service agent...........................................               575,001
Other.....................................................               160,192
                                                                  --------------
        Total Assets......................................        $2,049,281,845
                                                                  --------------
Liabilities:
Payable for securities purchased..........................        $   14,247,623
Dividends payable.........................................               470,463
Accrued expenses, taxes, and other........................             2,828,283
                                                                  --------------
        Total Liabilities.................................        $   17,546,369
                                                                  --------------
Net Investment Assets ....................................        $2,031,735,476
        Preferred Stock, at $50 par value.................            37,637,000
                                                                  --------------
Net Assets for Common Stock ..............................        $1,994,098,476
                                                                  ==============
        Net Assets per share of Common Stock
          (market value--$19.875)..........................               $23.70
                                                                          ======
CAPITAL STOCK AND SURPLUS December 31, 1994

Capital Stock:
  $2.50 Cumulative Preferred Stock, $50 par value,
    asset coverage per share--$2,699.12
    Shares authorized--1,000,000; issued
      and outstanding--752,740............................      $     37,637,000
  Common Stock, $.50 par value:
    Shares authorized--99,000,000; issued
      and outstanding--84,144,106..........................           42,072,053

Surplus:
  Capital surplus.........................................         1,758,861,246
  Undistributed net investment income.....................             1,794,265
  Net unrealized appreciation of investments..............           189,367,095
  Net unrealized appreciation on translation of assets
    and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies.....             2,003,817
                                                                  --------------
                                                                  $2,031,735,476
                                                                  ==============
- - ------------
See notes to financial statements.



                                       14
<PAGE>
TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Year Ended December 31, 1994

Investment income:
  Dividends (net of foreign taxes
    withheld of $349,067)................     $ 52,950,519
  Interest...............................       26,726,963
                                               -----------
Total investment income  ................                          $79,677,482

Expenses:
  Management fee.........................      $ 9,372,713
  Stockholder account and
    registrar services...................        2,986,475
  Stockholder reports and
    communications.......................          626,447
  Directors' fees and expenses...........          191,495
  Stockholders' meeting..................          169,984
  Auditing and legal fees................          161,164
  Registration...........................           56,033
  Miscellaneous..........................          141,628
                                               -----------
Total expenses ..........................                           13,705,939
                                                                   -----------
Net investment income ...................                          $65,971,543*

Net realized and unrealized gain
  (loss) on investments and foreign
  currency transactions:
  Net realized gain on investments.......     $149,714,043
  Net realized loss from foreign
    currency transactions................         (285,314)
  Net change in unrealized appreciation
    of investments.......................     (282,010,077)
  Net change in unrealized appreciation
    on translation of assets and liabilities
    denominated in foreign currencies....        2,003,817
                                              ------------
Net loss on investments and foreign
  currency transactions .................                         (130,577,531)
                                                                  ------------
Decrease in net investment assets
  from operations .......................                         $(64,605,988)
                                                                  ============


- - ------------
*Net investment  income available for Common Stock is $63,745,152,  which is net
 of Preferred  Stock  dividends of $1,881,850 and net realized  ordinary  losses
 from foreign currency transactions of $344,541.
See notes to financial statements.


                                       15
<PAGE>
TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET INVESTMENT ASSETS

                                                   Year Ended December 31,
                                             -----------------------------------
                                                  1994                1993
                                             -------------       ---------------
Operations:
Net investment income ....................   $    65,971,543    $    62,241,704
Net realized gain on investments .........       149,714,043        133,505,475
Net realized loss from foreign
  currency transactions ..................          (285,314)              --
Net change in unrealized appreciation
  of investments .........................      (282,010,077)       (22,580,341)
Net change in unrealized appreciation on
  translation of assets and liabilities
  denominated in foreign currencies ......         2,003,817               --
                                             ---------------    ---------------
  Increase (decrease) in net investment
    assets from operations ...............   $   (64,605,988)   $   173,166,838
                                             ---------------    ---------------
Distributions to stockholders:
  Net investment income:
    Preferred Stock (per share: $2.50
      and $2.50) .........................   $    (1,881,850)   $    (1,881,850)
    Common Stock (per share: $.79
      and $.80) ..........................       (62,142,379)       (59,563,874)
                                             ---------------    ---------------
                                             $   (64,024,229)   $   (61,445,724)
  Net realized gain on investments:
    Common Stock (per share: $1.90
      and $1.80) .........................      (149,879,009)      (134,056,360)
                                             ---------------    ---------------
    Decrease in net investment assets
      from distributions .................   $  (213,903,238)   $  (195,502,084)
                                             ---------------    ---------------
Capital share transactions:
Value of shares of Common Stock issued
  at market price in gain distributions
  (5,366,690 and 4,135,298 shares) .......   $   107,671,901    $    97,440,027
Value of shares of Common Stock issued
  for investment plans (2,106,411
  and 1,798,305 shares) ..................        46,577,919         44,786,885
Cost of shares purchased
  for investment plans (2,142,604
  and 1,673,427 shares) ..................       (47,855,965)       (41,884,303)
Net proceeds from issuance of shares of
  Common Stock upon exercise of
  Warrants (824 and 51,884 shares) .......             1,549            103,031
                                             ---------------    ---------------
    Increase in net investment assets
      from capital share transactions ....   $   106,395,404    $   100,445,640
                                             ---------------    ---------------
Increase (decrease) in net investment
  assets .................................   $  (172,113,822)   $    78,110,394
Net investment assets:
Beginning of year ........................     2,203,849,298      2,125,738,904
                                             ---------------    ---------------
End of year (including undistributed
  net investment income of $1,794,265
  and $297,231) ..........................   $ 2,031,735,476    $ 2,203,849,298
                                             ===============    ===============
- - ------------
See notes to financial statements.



                                       16
<PAGE>

TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS                                       December 31, 1994

                                                     Shares           Value
                                                   ----------     ------------
COMMON STOCKS - 77.6%
AEROSPACE - 1.7%
Boeing Company                                        400,000    $  18,700,000
  Aircraft manufacturer
Loral Corporation                                     400,000       15,150,000
  Military electronic equipment                                  -------------
                                                                 $  33,850,000
                                                                 -------------
AUTOMOTIVE AND RELATED - 2.7%
Autoliv (ADRs)+*                                      200,000    $   7,712,500
  Swedish supplier of safety 
  restraint systems
Eaton Corporation                                     500,000       24,750,000
  Equipment for trucks and automobiles
Ford Motor Company                                    800,000       22,400,000
  Second largest automotive manufacturer                         -------------

                                                                 $  54,862,500
                                                                 -------------
BASIC MATERIALS - 2.4%
AK Steel Holdings Corporation                         300,000    $   9,225,000
  Integrated steel producer
Bayer AG                                               28,000        6,489,348
  Producer of specialty chemicals,
    pharmaceuticals, and plastics
Aluminum Company of America                           100,000        8,662,500
  Leading U.S. aluminum producer
Dow Chemical Company                                  375,000       25,218,750
  Diversified chemicals                                          -------------

                                                                 $  49,595,598
                                                                 -------------
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION - 0.9%
Georgia-Pacific Corporation                           150,000    $  10,725,000
  Plywood, lumber, and 
  paper manufacturer
Hopewell Holdings Ltd.                              8,000,000        6,616,697
 Hong Kong construction company                                  -------------
 
                                                                 $  17,341,697
                                                                 -------------
COMMUNICATIONS - 3.7%
Alcatel Alsthom Compagnie 
  Generale d'Electricite                               65,000    $   5,553,682
  French developer of equipment 
  and systems for
    public telecommunications
American Telephone & Telegraph Company                400,000       20,100,000
  International and domestic
    telecommunications services
Bell Atlantic Corporation                             300,000       14,925,000
  Local telephone services in 
  mid-Atlantic states
GTE Corporation                                       600,000       18,225,000
  Telephone systems and equipment
Tele Danmark (ADSs)                                   300,000        7,650,000
  Domestic and international 
  telephone services in Denmark
Telecom Italia-Di Risp                              2,526,000        5,039,537
  Single provider of the whole 
  spectrum of telecommunications 
  services throughout Italy
Telefonica de Espana (ADSs)                           115,000        4,010,625
  Domestic and international                                    -------------
   telephone services in Spain
                                                                $   75,503,844
                                                                --------------



                                       17
<PAGE>
TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)                           December 31, 1994

                                                     Shares           Value
                                                   ----------     ------------
COMPUTERS AND BUSINESS SERVICES - 3.9%
EMC Corporation*                                      600,000     $ 12,975,000
  Mainframe storage devices
COMPUTERS AND
  BUSINESS SERVICES (continued)
First Data Corporation                                500,000     $ 23,687,500
  Information processing services
International Business Machines Corporation           200,000       14,700,000
  Manufacturer and distributor of computers
    and office equipment
Microsoft Corporation*                                450,000       27,562,500
  Computer software                                              -------------
 
                                                                  $ 78,925,000
                                                                 -------------
CONSUMER GOODS AND SERVICES - 10.6%
Allied-Domecq PLC                                     870,000     $  7,352,370
  International food, drink, and hospitality
    group
B.A.T. Industries PLC                               1,200,000        8,103,570
  UK financial services and tobacco company
Coca-Cola Company                                     700,000       36,050,000
  Soft drinks, consumer products
Colgate-Palmolive Company                             300,000       19,012,500
  Household and personal care products
CPC International Inc.                                300,000       15,975,000
  International food company
Eastman Kodak Company                                 450,000       21,487,500
  Film, chemicals, and health care products
Gillette Company                                      300,000       22,425,000
  Personal care products
Liz Claiborne, Inc.                                   500,000        8,437,500
  Designer and distributor of women's
  apparel
LVMH Moet Hennessy                                     15,000        2,369,309
  Producers of wine, spirits, and 
  luxury products
Maytag Corporation                                    700,000       10,500,000
  Manufacturer of major home appliances
Philip Morris Companies, Inc.                         275,000       15,812,500
  Tobacco, food, and beverage manufacturer
Premark International, Inc.                           300,000       13,125,000
  Manufacturer of Tupperware and
    food-equipment products
Procter & Gamble Company                              400,000       24,800,000
  Household and personal care products
Wendy's International, Inc.                           700,000       10,062,500
  Fast food restaurant franchise                                 -------------

                                                                 $ 215,512,749
                                                                 -------------
DIVERSIFIED - 3.5%
Alco Standard Corporation                             300,000    $  18,825,000
  Distributor of paper and 
  office equipment
Allied-Signal, Inc.                                   400,000       13,600,000
  Aerospace and automotive materials
Corning, Inc.                                         350,000       10,456,250
  Specialty glass products
Dover Corporation                                     200,000       10,325,000
  Elevators; petroleum equipment; and
    industrial products
Grace (W.R.) & Co.                                    500,000       19,312,500
   Manufactures and sells                                        -------------
    specialty chemicals and 
    medical products
                                                                  $ 72,518,750
                                                                 -------------



                                       18
<PAGE>
TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)                           December 31, 1994

                                                     Shares           Value
                                                   ----------     ------------
DRUGS AND HEALTH CARE - 5.0%
Abbott Laboratories                                   600,000     $ 19,575,000
  Diversified health care products
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company                          250,000       14,468,750
  Health and personal care products
Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation                   500,000       18,250,000
  Hospital management company
Merck & Co., Inc.                                     400,000       15,250,000
  Pharmaceutical company
Quorum Health Group Corporation                         7,496          143,361
  Owner and operator of acute care hospitals
United Healthcare Corporation                         400,000       18,050,000
  National managed health care company
Warner-Lambert Company                                200,000       15,400,000
  Drug, toiletries, and food manufacturer                        -------------

                                                                  $101,137,111
                                                                 -------------
ELECTRIC AND GAS UTILITIES - 2.3%
AES Corporation*                                      470,000     $  9,194,375
  Constructor and operator of independent
    power generating facilities
American Electric Power Company, Inc.                 350,000       11,506,250
  Utility holding company
China Light & Power Co. Ltd. (ADRs)                 2,200,000        9,383,220
  Electric utility in Hong Kong and China
Detroit Edison Company                                500,000       13,062,500
  Electric utility
Empresa Nacional de Electricidad (ADRs)                80,000        3,220,000
   Major electric utility in Spain                               -------------

                                                                  $ 46,366,345
                                                                 -------------
ELECTRONICS - 2.8%
AMP Inc.                                              160,000     $ 11,640,000
  Manufacturer of electronic connectors
    and systems
Micron Technology, Inc.                               615,000       27,136,875
  Semiconductor manufacturer
Motorola Inc.                                         300,000       17,362,500
  Producer of semiconductors and                                 -------------
   communications equipment
                                                                  $ 56,139,375
                                                                 -------------
ENERGY - 9.0%
Amoco Corporation                                     400,000     $ 23,650,000
  Oil and gas producer
Atlantic Richfield Company                            125,000       12,718,750
  Oil producer and West Coast marketer
Baker Hughes Inc.                                     500,000        9,125,000
  Oil service company
Enron Corporation                                     700,000       21,350,000
  Pipeline exploration and production
Enron Global Power and Pipeline L.L.C.                250,000        5,500,000
  Major natural gas pipeline systems
Exxon Corporation                                     350,000       21,262,500
  Integrated oil and gas company
Royal Dutch Petroleum Company                          56,000        6,020,000
  International oil enterprise
Schlumberger Ltd.                                     300,000       15,112,500
  Worldwide energy services



                                       19
<PAGE>
TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)                           December 31, 1994

                                                     Shares           Value
                                                   ----------     ------------
ENERGY (continued)
Sonat Inc.                                            410,000     $ 11,480,000
  Natural gas company
Sun Company, Inc.                                     600,000       17,250,000
  East Coast oil refiner and marketer
Texaco Inc.                                           300,000       17,962,500
  International oil company
Total S.A. Class "B"                                   75,000        4,359,191
  International oil enterprise
USX-Marathon Group, Inc.                              700,000       11,462,500
  Worldwide oil and gas producer and refiner
YPF Sociedad Anonima (ADRs)                           275,000        5,878,125
  Major Argentinean oil and gas company                          -------------

                                                                  $183,131,066
                                                                 -------------
ENTERTAINMENT AND LEISURE - 1.2%
Disney (Walt) Company                                 400,000     $ 18,450,000
  Film entertainment, amusement parks, and
    other forms of leisure related activities
News Corp. Ltd. (ADRs)                                260,000        4,062,500
  Worldwide media and television provider
News Corp. Ltd. (ADRs)***                             130,000        1,803,750
  Worldwide media and television provider                        -------------
                                                                  $ 24,316,250
                                                                -------------

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - 0.7%
Browning-Ferris Industries, Inc.                      500,000     $ 14,187,500
  Solid- and liquid-waste management services                    -------------


FINANCE AND INSURANCE - 8.2%
American International Group Inc.                     285,000     $ 27,930,000
  International insurance holding company
Corporacion Bancaria de Espana, S.A. (ADRs)           340,000        6,077,500
  Spanish banking and financial services company
BankAmerica Corporation                               450,000       17,775,000
  Largest commercial bank in California
    and Western states
Bank of New York, Inc.                                450,000       13,050,000
  Commercial bank
Chemical Banking Corporation                          400,000       14,350,000
  Money center bank
EXEL Limited                                          300,000       11,850,000
  Bermuda-based excess liability insurance company
Federal National Mortgage Association                 200,000       14,575,000
  Mortgage financing
General Re Corporation                                140,000       17,325,000
  Largest property casualty re-insurer in the US
Internationale Nederlanden Bank N.V.                  138,875        6,567,330
   Largest banking and insurance services
    group in the Netherlands
MBNA Corporation                                      500,000       11,687,500
  Issuer of bank credit cards
NationsBank Corporation                               400,000       18,050,000
  Southeast regional bank holding company
Travelers Inc.                                        250,000        8,125,000
  Broad based financial services company                         -------------

                                                                  $167,362,330
                                                                 -------------


                                       20
<PAGE>
TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)                           December 31, 1994

                                                     Shares           Value
                                                   ----------     ------------
MANUFACTURING AND
  INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT - 7.4%
BTR PLC                                             1,300,000     $  5,971,257
  UK global manufacturer of industrial goods
Caterpillar, Inc.                                     300,000       16,537,500
  Manufacturer of earth moving machinery
Deere & Company                                       200,000       13,250,000
  Manufacturer of farm and construction
    equipment worldwide
Foster Wheeler Corporation                            400,000       11,900,000
  Engineering and construction services
General Electric Company                              800,000       40,800,000
  Supplier of electrical equipment and
    other industrial and consumer products
General Signal Corporation                            440,000       14,025,000
  Capital goods producer
Illinois Tool Works, Inc.                             350,000       15,312,500
  Manufacturer of fasteners, tools, and plastic items
Ingersoll-Rand Company                                400,000       12,600,000
  Worldwide standard machinery and
    equipment manufacturer
Pacific Dunlop Ltd.                                 1,500,000        3,987,375
  Australian manufacturer of a wide range
    of products
York International Corporation                        425,000       15,671,875
  Manufacturer of climate control systems                        -------------

                                                                  $150,055,507
                                                                 -------------
PACKAGING AND PAPER - 0.9%
Kimberly-Clark Corporation                            300,000     $ 15,150,000
  Consumer paper products; newsprint
Pechiney International                                 80,000        2,398,351
  Producer of packaging and                                      -------------
   turbine blades for
   jet engines                                                    $ 17,548,351
                                                                 -------------

PUBLISHING - 0.3%
Elsevier                                              650,000    $   6,784,890
                                                                 -------------
  Global printer and publisher of professional
    trade journals and magazines

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST - 4.9%
Avalon Properties, Inc.                               300,000    $   6,900,000
  REIT focusing on apartment properties in the
    Eastern United States
DeBartolo Realty Corporation                          750,000       11,250,000
  Large REIT operator of shopping malls
Developers Diversified Realty Corp.                   450,000       14,062,500
  REIT operator of powerstrip malls
Duke Realty Investments, Inc.                         200,000        5,650,000
  REIT focused on commercial 
   properties in the Midwest
First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.                   300,000        5,850,000
  REIT operator of industrial properties
Kimco Realty Corporation                              500,000       18,937,500
  High-quality REIT operator of shopping centers
Macerich Company                                      500,000       10,656,250
  REIT operator of shopping malls




                                       21
<PAGE>
TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)                           December 31, 1994

                                                     Shares           Value
                                                   ----------     ------------
REAL ESTATE
INVESTMENT TRUST (continued)
Post Properties, Inc.                                 250,000shs. $  7,875,000
  REIT aimed at apartment 
   communities in the Southeast
Property Trust of America                             500,000        9,000,000
  Real estate investment trust
Simon Property Group, Inc.                            400,000        9,700,000
  Nationwide REIT owner and                                      -------------
   operator of regional malls
                                                                 $  99,881,250
                                                                 -------------

RETAIL TRADE - 3.4%
Home Depot, Inc.                                      410,000    $  18,860,000
  Home improvement store chain
May Department Stores Company                         500,000       16,875,000
  Large department store chain
Nordstrom, Inc.                                       500,000       21,062,500
  Department store chain
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.                                 600,000       12,750,000
  Largest discount retail chain                                  -------------

                                                                 $  69,547,500
                                                                 -------------

TRANSPORTATION - 1.6%
Conrail Inc.                                          350,000    $  17,675,000
  Freight railroad system
Jurong Shipyard Ltd.                                  425,000        3,264,746
  Leading ship repair company in Singapore
Kansas City Southern Industries, Inc.                 300,000        9,262,500
  Railroad and financial services
Roadway Services Inc.                                  50,000        2,831,250
   Motor carrier                                                 -------------
                                                                 $  33,033,496
                                                                 -------------


MISCELLANEOUS - 0.5%
European Vinyls Corporation*                          112,000    $   4,967,013
  Market leader in the PVC industry
Huaneng Power International (ADRs)*                   220,000        3,245,000
  Flagship power company of China
Indosat (ADRs)*                                        31,200        1,115,400
  International telecommunications                               -------------
   to the Indonesian market                                      $   9,327,413
                                                                 -------------
Total Common Stocks
  (Cost: $1,392,405,032)                                        $1,576,928,522
                                                                 -------------

U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES - 3.3%
U.S. Treasury Bonds, 11 7/8%, 11/15/2003         $ 10,000,000     $ 12,512,500
U.S. Treasury Notes, 11 1/4%, 5/15/1995            54,000,000       54,928,098
                                                                 -------------
Total U.S. Government Securities
  (Cost: $70,318,125)                                           $   67,440,598
                                                                 -------------



                                       22
<PAGE>
TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)                           December 31, 1994

                                                     Shares           Value
                                                   ----------     ------------
CORPORATE BONDS - 2.2%
OrNda HealthCorp, 12 1/4%, 5/15/2002            $  10,000,000   $   10,650,000
Penn Traffic Co., 9 5/8%, 4/15/2005                15,000,000       13,162,500
Stone Container Corporation, 9 7/8%, 2/1/2001      10,000,000        9,412,500
Unisys Corporation, 13 1/2%, 7/1/1997              10,000,000       10,850,000
                                                                 -------------
Total Corporate Bonds
  (Cost: $46,827,085)                                            $  44,075,000
                                                                 -------------

CONVERTIBLE ISSUES - 11.4%
Convertible Debentures - 3.1%
COMPUTER AND BUSINESS SERVICES - 0.4%
EMC Corporation, 4 1/4%, 1/1/2001                   7,000,000    $   8,478,750
                                                                 -------------

DIVERSIFIED - 1.1%
MascoTech Inc., 4 1/2%, 12/15/2006                 11,300,000$       7,599,250
Thermo Electron Corporation, 4 5/8%, 8/1/1997+     10,000,000       14,050,000
                                                                 -------------
                                                                 $  21,649,250
                                                                 -------------
FINANCE AND INSURANCE - 0.4%
AXA, 6%, 1/1/2001                                  17,733,000**  $   3,895,811
Liberty Life, 6 1/2%, 9/30/2004                     3,500,000        3,596,250
                                                                 -------------
                                                                 $   7,492,061
                                                                 -------------
MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRIAL
  EQUIPMENT - 0.5%
TriMas Corporation, 5%, 8/1/2003                   10,000,000    $   9,900,000
                                                                 -------------

TRANSPORTATION - 0.3%
Nippon Yusen, 2%, 9/29/2000                       505,000,000++  $   6,344,859
                                                                 -------------

PACKAGING AND PAPER - 0.2%
Land and General Berhad, 4 1/2%, 7/26/2004          3,000,000$       3,427,500
                                                                 -------------

RETAIL TRADE - 0.2%
Home Depot, Inc., 4 1/2%, 2/15/1997                 4,000,000    $   4,760,000
                                                                 -------------
Total Convertible Debentures
  (Cost: $59,296,883)                                            $  62,052,420
                                                                 -------------
Convertible Preferred Stocks - 8.3%
AUTOMOTIVE AND RELATED - 1.3%
Chrysler Corporation, $4.625+                         200,000shs.$  27,475,000
                                                                 -------------
BASIC MATERIALS - 1.3%
AK Steel Holdings Corporation, 7%                     350,000    $  10,981,250
Bethlehem Steel Corporation, $3.50+                   300,000       14,700,000
                                                                 -------------
                                                                 $  25,681,250
                                                                 -------------
COMMUNICATIONS - 0.3%
Nacional Financiera, S.A., 11 1/4%, 
  5/15/1998 (ADRs)#                                   150,000    $   6,225,000
                                                                 -------------



                                       23
<PAGE>
TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (continued)                           December 31, 1994

                                                     Shares           Value
                                                   ----------     ------------
COMPUTER AND BUSINESS SERVICES - 0.9%
General Motors Corporation Series "C" $3.25           325,000    $  18,646,875
                                                                 -------------

DIVERSIFIED - 0.6%
Corning Delaware, 6%                                  250,000    $  11,687,500
                                                                 -------------

DRUGS AND HEALTH CARE - 0.8%
Beverly Enterprises Inc., $2.75                       275,000    $  16,225,000
                                                                 -------------

ENERGY - 0.4%
Atlantic Richfield Company, 9%, 9/15/1997 ##          350,000    $   9,143,750
                                                                 -------------

FINANCE AND INSURANCE - 1.9%
Citicorp, $5.375+                                     250,000    $  28,656,250
Travelers Inc., 5 1/2%                                180,000        9,292,500
                                                                 -------------
                                                                 $  37,948,750
                                                                 -------------
RETAIL TRADE - 0.8%
Sears, Roebuck & Co. Series "A" $3.75                 300,000    $  16,687,500
                                                                 -------------
Total Convertible Preferred Stocks
  (Cost: $162,487,473)                                           $ 169,720,625
                                                                 -------------
Total Convertible Issues
  (Cost: $221,784,356)                                           $ 231,773,045
                                                                 -------------
TRI-CONTINENTAL FINANCIAL
  DIVISION+++ - 1.3%
  (Cost: $25,209,602)                                            $  27,690,898
                                                                 -------------
SHORT-TERM HOLDINGS - 3.5%
  (Cost: $70,400,000)                                            $  70,400,000
                                                                 -------------
Total Investments - 99.3%
  (Cost: $1,826,944,200)                                        $2,018,308,063
Other Assets Less Liabilities - 0.7%                                13,427,413
                                                                --------------
Net Investment Assets - 100.0%                                  $2,031,735,476
                                                                ==============
- - ---------------
*  Non-income producing security.
** Principal amount reported in French Francs.
***One ADR represents 4 limited voting preference shares. Non-income producing 
   security.
+  Rule 144A security.
++ Principal amount reported in Japanese Yen.
## Exchangeable into shares of Lyondale Petro-Chemical Company.
#  Exchangeable into shares of Telefonos de Mexico S.A. (ADRs).
+++Restricted securities, see note 6.
Descriptions  of  companies  have not been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP. 
See notes to financial statements.


                                       24
<PAGE>
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Significant  accounting  policies followed,  all in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles, are given below:

   a. Investments  in  U.S.  Government  securities,  stocks,  corporate  bonds,
      limited  partnership  interests,  and short-term holdings maturing in more
      than 60 days are valued at  current  market  values or, in their  absence,
      fair value determined in accordance with procedures  approved by the Board
      of Directors.  Securities traded on national  exchanges are valued at last
      sales  prices  or, in their  absence  and in the case of  over-the-counter
      securities,  a mean of bid and asked prices.  Short-term holdings maturing
      in 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost.

   b. The books and records of the Corporation  are maintained in U.S.  dollars.
      The market value of investment securities and other assets and liabilities
      denominated in foreign  currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the
      closing daily rate of exchange as reported by a pricing service. Purchases
      and sales of investment  securities,  income,  and expenses are translated
      into U.S.  dollars at the rate of exchange  prevailing  on the  respective
      dates of such transactions.

         The  Corporation  separates  that portion of the results of  operations
      resulting from changes in the foreign exchange rates from the fluctuations
      arising  from  changes  in the  market  prices of  securities  held in the
      portfolio.  Similarly,  the Corporation separates the effect of changes in
      foreign exchange rates from the  fluctuations  arising from changes in the
      market prices of portfolio securities sold during the period.

   c. The  Corporation  may enter into  forward  currency  contracts in order to
      hedge its exposure to changes in foreign  currency  exchange  rates on its
      foreign  portfolio  holdings,  or other  amounts  receivable or payable in
      foreign currency. A forward contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a
      foreign  currency at a future date at a negotiated  forward rate.  Certain
      risks may arise upon  entering  into these  contracts  from the  potential
      inability  of  counterparties  to meet the terms of their  contracts.  The
      contracts are valued daily at current  exchange  rates and any  unrealized
      gain or loss is included in net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on
      translation of assets and  liabilities  denominated in foreign  currencies
      and forward currency contracts. The gain or loss, if any, arising from the
      difference  between the settlement  value of the forward  contract and the
      closing of such  contract,  is included in net realized  gain or loss from
      foreign currency transactions.

   d. There is no provision  for federal  income or excise tax. The  Corporation
      has elected to be taxed as a regulated  investment  company and intends to
      distribute substantially all taxable net income and net gain realized.

   e. Investment  transactions  are recorded on trade dates.  Identified cost of
      investments sold is used for both financial  statements and federal income
      tax purposes. Dividends receivable and payable are recorded on ex-dividend
      dates. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis.

   f. The treatment  for  financial  statement  purposes of  distributions  made
      during  the year  from net  investment  income or net  realized  gains may
      differ from their  ultimate  treatment  for federal  income tax  purposes.
      These differences primarily are caused by differences in the timing of the
      recognition of certain components of income,  expense or capital gain, and
      the  recharacterization  of  foreign  exchange  gains or  losses to either
      ordinary income or realized  capital gain for federal income tax purposes.
      Where such  differences are permanent in nature,  they are reclassified in
      the  components  of  net   investment   assets  based  on  their  ultimate
      characterization    for   federal   income   tax   purposes.    Any   such
      reclassification will have no effect on net assets, results of operations,
      or net asset value per share of the Corporation.



                                       25
<PAGE>
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

2. Under the  Corporation's  Charter,  dividends  on the Common  Stock cannot be
declared  unless net assets,  after such  dividends  and  dividends on Preferred
Stock,  equal  at least  $100 per  share of  Preferred  Stock  outstanding.  The
Preferred Stock is subject to redemption at the Corporation's option at any time
on 30 days'  notice at $55 per share (or a total of  $41,400,700  for the shares
outstanding)  plus accrued  dividends,  and entitled in  liquidation  to $50 per
share plus accrued dividends.

   The  Corporation,  in connection with its Automatic  Dividend  Investment and
Cash Purchase Plan and other  stockholder  plans,  acquires and issues shares of
its own Common  Stock,  as needed,  to satisfy Plan  requirements.  For the year
ended December 31, 1994,  2,142,604 shares were purchased from Plan participants
and on the open market at a cost of  $47,855,965  which  represented  a weighted
average  discount of 14.7% from the net asset value of those acquired  shares. A
total of 2,106,411 shares were issued to Plan  participants  during the year for
proceeds of  $46,577,919,  a discount of 15.2% from the net asset value of those
shares.

   At December  31,  1994,  202,047  shares of Common  Stock were  reserved  for
issuance upon exercise of 15,822 Warrants,  each of which entitled the holder to
purchase 12.77 shares of Common Stock at $1.76 per share.  Assuming the exercise
of all Warrants  outstanding at December 31, 1994,  net investment  assets would
have  increased  by $355,603  and the net asset value of the Common  Stock would
have been $23.65 per share.  The number of Warrants  exercised  during the years
1994 and 1993, was 69 and 4,586, respectively.

3.   Purchases  and  sales  of  portfolio   securities,   excluding   short-term
investments,  amounted to $1,463,914,192 and  $1,530,670,979,  respectively.  At
December 31, 1994, the cost of  investments  for federal income tax purposes was
substantially the same as the cost for financial reporting purposes, and the tax
basis gross unrealized  appreciation  and depreciation of portfolio  securities,
including the effects of foreign currency transactions, amounted to $279,669,777
and $88,305,914, respectively.

4. At December 31, 1994, the  Corporation  owned  short-term  investments  which
matured in less than 7 days.

5. J. & W. Seligman & Co.  Incorporated  (the "Manager")  manages the affairs of
the Corporation and provides necessary personnel and facilities. Compensation of
all  officers of the  Corporation,  all  directors  of the  Corporation  who are
employees or  consultants of the Manager,  and all personnel of the  Corporation
and the Manager is paid by the Manager.  The Manager receives a fee,  calculated
daily and payable monthly,  equal to a percentage of the Corporation's daily net
assets at the close of business on the previous business day. The management fee
rate is calculated on a sliding scale of 0.45% to 0.375%, based on average daily
net  assets  of  all  the  investment  companies  managed  by the  Manager.  The
management fee for the year ended December 31, 1994, was equivalent to an annual
rate of 0.44% of the average daily net assets of the Corporation. Effective June
1, 1994, Seligman Henderson Co. (the "Subadviser"), a 50% owned affiliate of the
Manager,  is entitled to a portion of the Manager's fee for acting as subadviser
for certain of the international investments of the Corporation.


                                       26
<PAGE>
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

   Seligman  Data  Corp.,  owned  by  the  Corporation  and  certain  associated
investment companies, charged the Corporation at cost $2,939,129 for stockholder
account  services.  The  Corporation's  investment  in  Seligman  Data Corp.  is
recorded at a cost of $43,681.
   Certain  officers and directors of the  Corporation are officers or directors
of the Manager, the Subadviser, and/or Seligman Data Corp.
   Fees of $55,500  were  incurred  by the  Corporation  for legal  services  of
Sullivan & Cromwell, a member of which firm is a director of the Corporation.
   The  Corporation  has a compensation  arrangement  under which  directors who
receive fees may elect to defer receiving such fees.  Interest is accrued on the
deferred  balances.  The annual  cost of such fees and  interest  is included in
directors' fees and expenses,  and the  accumulated  balance thereof at December
31, 1994,  of $331,035 is included in other  liabilities.  Deferred fees and the
related  accrued  interest are not  deductible  for federal  income tax purposes
until such  amounts  are paid.  

6.  At  December  31,  1994,  the  Tri-Continental  Financial  Division  of  the
Corporation  was  comprised  of four  investments  that were  purchased  through
private  offerings  and  cannot be sold  without  prior  registration  under the
Securities Act of 1933 or pursuant to an exemption therefrom.  These investments
are valued at fair value as determined in accordance with procedures approved by
the Board of Directors of the Corporation.  The acquisition dates of investments
in the  limited  partnerships  and  stock,  along  with their cost and values at
December 31, 1994, are as follows:  

   Investments           Acquisition Date(s)       Cost         Value
- - --------------------     --------------------   ----------   ----------
Tempest Reinsurance 
  Company Ltd.           9/13/93                $10,000,000  $10,600,000 
Water Street
 Corporate Recovery  
  Fund I, L.P.           10/9/90 to 4/8/94        2,292,011    2,545,713 
WCAS Capital 
  Partners  II, L.P.     12/11/90  to 2/19/93     4,352,677    5,404,110  
Whitney Subordinated 
  Debt Fund, L.P.        7/12/89 to 12/20/94      8,564,914    9,141,075
                                                 ----------   ---------- 
    Total                                       $25,209,602  $27,690,898
                                                ===========  ===========


                                       27
<PAGE>
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

7.  Following  is a summary of unaudited  quarterly  results of  operations,  in
thousands of dollars except for per share amounts:

                                    For quarters ended in the year 1994
                               -----------------------------------------------
                              March 31      June 30     Sept. 30       Dec. 31
                              --------      -------     --------       -------
Total investment income....   $17,474      $20,844      $20,662      $20,697
Net investment income for
  Common Stock.............   $13,479      $16,919      $16,847      $16,845
  Per Common share.........     $0.17        $0.21        $0.21        $0.21
Net realized and unrealized
  investment gain (loss)...  $(79,263)    $(58,099)     $48,127     $(41,343)
  Per Common Share.........    $(1.00)      $(0.74)       $0.60       $(0.53)


                                    For quarters ended in the year 1993
                               -----------------------------------------------
                              March 31      June 30     Sept. 30       Dec. 31
                              --------      -------     --------       -------
Total investment income....   $16,912      $19,807      $18,857      $20,807
Net investment income for
  Common Stock.............   $12,867      $15,694      $14,946      $16,853
  Per Common share.........     $0.17        $0.21        $0.20        $0.22
Net realized and unrealized
  investment gain (loss)...   $34,822     $(26,511)     $71,369      $31,245
  Per Common Share.........     $0.46       $(0.36)       $0.95        $0.41



                                       28
<PAGE>


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The  Corporation's  financial  highlights  are  presented  below.  The per share
operating performance data is designed to allow investors to trace the operating
performance,  on a per Common share basis, from the Corporation's  beginning net
asset  value to the  ending  net asset  value so that they can  understand  what
effect the  individual  items  have on their  investment,  assuming  it was held
throughout the year. Generally,  the per share amounts are derived by converting
the actual dollar amounts  incurred for each item, as disclosed in the financial
statements,  to their  equivalent per Common share amount.  

The total  investment  return based on market value  measures the  Corporation's
performance assuming investors purchased shares of the Corporation at the market
value as of the  beginning of the period,  invested  dividends and capital gains
paid as provided for in the  Corporation's  Prospectus  and  Automatic  Dividend
Investment  and Cash  Purchase  Plan,  and then sold their shares at the closing
market  value per  share on the last day of the  period.  The  total  investment
return  based  on  net  asset  value  is  similarly  computed  except  that  the
Corporation's net asset value is substituted for the corresponding market value.
The total investment  return  computations do not reflect any sales  commissions
investors may incur in purchasing or selling shares of the Corporation.

The ratios of  expenses  to average  net  assets  and net  investment  income to
average  net  assets  for the  years  presented  do not  reflect  the  effect of
dividends paid to Preferred Stockholders.

                                               Year Ended December 31,
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                      1994     1993     1992    1991     1990
                                     ------   ------  ------   ------   ------

Per Share Operating Performance:
Net asset value,
  beginning of year................. $27.49   $28.03  $28.57   $24.60   $27.44
                                     ------   ------  ------   ------   ------
Net investment income...............    .83      .83     .81      .81      .81
Net realized and unrealized
  investment gain (loss)............  (1.69)    1.46    1.19     5.79    (1.05)
Net realized and unrealized
  gain on foreign currency 
   transactions                         .02       --      --       --       --
                                     ------   ------  ------   ------   ------
Increase (decrease) from
  investment operations.............   (.84)    2.29    2.00     6.60     (.24)
Dividends paid on
  Preferred Stock...................   (.03)    (.03)   (.03)    (.03)    (.03)
Dividends paid on
  Common Stock......................   (.79)    (.80)   (.78)    (.78)    (.86)
Distribution from
  net gain realized.................  (1.90)   (1.80)   (.70)   (1.80)   (1.60)
Issuance of Common Stock
  in gain distributions.............   (.23)    (.19)   (.05)    (.02)    (.11)
Issuance of Common Stock
  upon Warrant exercise.............     --     (.01)     --       --       --
Issuance of Common Stock
  from exercise of Rights...........     --       --    (.97)      --       --
Rights offering costs...............     --       --    (.01)      --       --
                                     ------   ------  ------   ------   ------
Net increase (decrease)
  in net asset value................  (3.79)    (.54)   (.54)    3.97    (2.84)
                                     ------   ------  ------   ------   ------
Net asset value,
  end of year....................... $23.70   $27.49  $28.03   $28.57   $24.60
                                     ======   ======  ======   ======   ======


                                       29
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                  Year Ended December 31,
                               --------------------------------------------------------------
                                   1994       1993           1992        1991          1990
                                  ------     ------         ------      ------         -----
<S>                              <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>           <C>       
Adjusted net asset value,
  end of year*................   $ 23.65       $27.42        $27.95      $28.48         $ 24.52
Market value, end of year.....   $19.875       $23.75        $25.50       $27.75        $21.375
 
Total investment return:
  Based upon market value.....     (5.07)%       3.47%          .61%+      42.98%          3.46%
  Based upon net asset value..     (2.20)%       8.95%         7.42%+      27.91%          (.20)%

Ratios/Supplemental Data:
Expenses to average
  net assets..................       .64%         .66%          .67%         .67%           .56%
Net investment income to
  average net assets..........      3.08%        2.88%         2.86%        2.90%          3.01%
Portfolio turnover rate.......     70.38%       69.24%        44.35%       49.02%         41.23%
Net investment assets, 
 end of year 
  (000's omitted):
  For Common Stock ...........$1,994,098   $2,166,212   $2,088,102   $1,833,664      $1,500,281
  For Preferred Stock ........    37,637       37,637       37,637       37,637          37,637
                                  ------       ------       ------       ------          ------

Total net investment 
  assets .....................$2,031,735   $2,203,849   $2,125,739   $1,871,301      $1,537,918
                              ==========   ==========   ==========   ==========      ==========
</TABLE>
- - ------------------
*  Assumes the exercise of outstanding warrants.
+  The total  investment  returns for 1992 have been  adjusted for the effect of
   the  exercise  of Rights  (equivalent  to  approximately  $0.97  per  share),
   assuming full subscription by Common Stockholders.

See notes to financial statements.



                                       30
<PAGE>


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Board of Directors and Security Holders,
Tri-Continental Corporation:
   We have  audited  the  accompanying  statement  of  assets  and  liabilities,
including the portfolio of  investments,  and the statement of capital stock and
surplus of  Tri-Continental  Corporation  as of December 31,  1994,  the related
statements  of  operations  for  the  year  then  ended  and of  changes  in net
investment  assets  for the  two-year  period  then  ended,  and  the  financial
highlights  for each of the years in the  five-year  period  then  ended.  These
financial  statements  and financial  highlights are the  responsibility  of the
Corporation's  management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.
   We  conducted  our audits in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable  assurance  about  whether the  financial  statements  and  financial
highlights are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a
test basis,  evidence  supporting  the amounts and  disclosures in the financial
statements.  Our  procedures  included  confirmation  of securities  owned as of
December 31, 1994,  by  correspondence  with the  Corporation's  custodians  and
brokers;  where  replies  were not received  from  brokers,  we performed  other
auditing procedures.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles
used and  significant  estimates made by  management,  as well as evaluating the
overall financial statement  presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
   In our opinion,  such financial  statements and financial  highlights present
fairly,  in all material  respects,  the financial  position of  Tri-Continental
Corporation as of December 31, 1994, the results of its operations,  the changes
in its net  investment  assets and the financial  highlights  for the respective
stated periods in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

/s/   Deloitte & Touche LLP
      ---------------------  

Deloitte & Touche LLP
New York, New York
February 3, 1995

- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manager
J. & W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated
100 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017

Subadviser
Seligman Henderson Co.
100 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017


Stockholder Service Agent
Seligman Data Corp.
100 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017

Important Telephone Numbers

(800) TRI-1092  Stockholder
                Services

(800) 445-1777  Retirement Plan
                Services

(800) 622-4597  24-Hour Automated
                Telephone Access
                Service


                                       31
<PAGE>

                          TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION
                                   Managed by
                                     [Logo]
                             J. & W. SELIGMAN & CO.
                                  INCORPORATED
                        Investment Managers and Advisors
                                ESTABLISHED 1864
                      100 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017


This report is intended only for the  information of  stockholders  or those who
have  received  the  current  prospectus  covering  shares  of  Common  Stock of
Tri-Continental  Corporation,  which contains  information about management fees
                                and other costs.


                                                                    CETRI2 12/94



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