THE DIRECTOR S REPORT. 23 



completion and equipment of the building. When the bids for 

 the building were received and the estimates for equipment added 

 the total requirements were found to be $748,886.71 divided as 

 follows : 



General Construction, Geo. A. Fuller Co $478,120.00 



Plumbing, C. H. Cronin, Inc 54,860.92 



Heating and ventilating, Cleghorn Co 3L534-OO 



Electric work, Hixon Electric Co 65,875.00 



Elevator and book lift, Otis Elevator Co 6,970.00 



Architects and engineers' commissions 36,526.79 



Furniture, equipment, etc 65,000.00 



Alterations in course of construction 10,000.00 



$748,886.71 



The Friendship Fund accordingly appropriated a sum not in 

 excess of $248,886.71, and not in excess of the cost of the items 

 enumerated, above the contribution of $500,000.00 for building 

 by the Rockefeller Foundation and interest on this fund. The 

 Building Committee has made every effort to keep within the 

 available funds with the result now clearly in sight of entirely 

 avoiding the necessity of any additional payment for alterations 

 in the course of construction and of some probable slight savings 

 in other directions. The great care with which the plans and 

 specifications were prepared by the architects, and especially Dr. 

 Drew's constant oversight of the building operations and purchase 

 of equipment have been notable factors in the achievement of this 

 result. 



It has certainly very rarely happened that an institution has 

 received such signally generous treatment and confidence as the 

 Marine Biological Laboratory has received from the donors of the 

 building fund. The action of the Rockefeller Foundation in 

 paying over their entire contribution in cash before building 

 operations were begun amounted to an increase of their contri- 

 bution by the interest received during construction. The action 

 of the Friendship Fund in guaranteeing the completion and equip- 

 ment of the Laboratory insured the hearty cooperation of the 

 other contributors, created a notable spirit of confidence, and 

 aroused our own organization to the highest state of morale. 



Ground was broken for the new building on March 20, 1924. 

 No serious difficulties were experienced during the course of con- 



