diff --git a/src/utils/refcntr.h b/src/utils/refcntr.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9889969b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/refcntr.h
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+#ifndef _REFCNTR_H_
+#define _REFCNTR_H_
+
+// See Stroustrup C++ 3rd ed, p. 783
+template <class X> class RefCntr {
+  X   *rep;
+  int *pcount;
+ public:
+  X * operator->() {return rep;}
+  RefCntr() : rep(0), pcount(0) {}
+  RefCntr(X *pp) : rep(pp), pcount(new int(1)) {}
+  RefCntr(const RefCntr &r) :rep(r.rep), pcount(r.pcount) { (*pcount)++;}
+  RefCntr& operator=(const RefCntr& r) {
+    if (rep == r.rep) return *this;
+    if (pcount && --(*pcount) == 0) {
+      delete rep;
+      delete pcount;
+    }
+    rep = r.rep;
+    pcount = r.pcount;
+    if (pcount)
+	(*pcount)++;
+    return  *this;
+  }
+  ~RefCntr() {if (--(*pcount) == 0) {delete rep;delete pcount;}}
+  int getcnt() const {return *pcount;}
+  const X * getptr() const {return rep;}
+};
+
+
+#endif /*_REFCNTR_H_ */