20 EEPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1915. 



have been erected at each end, extending to the ceiling and encroach- 

 ing upon the floor space to an extent of 59 feet. Steel bookcases also 

 occupy the wall space on both sides of the remaining area, but there 

 is left a grand hall 141 feet long by 50 feet wide, broken only by the 

 two longitudinal rows of large piers joined by arches above. The 

 nave and aisles thus formed will be available for Museum exhibits 

 as heretofore, though not to the same extent. 



As has been customary for several years, the steam and power 

 plant was shut down during the months of July and August to per- 

 mit of the uninterrupted repair and cleaning of the plant, the elec- 

 tric current required during that period being supplied by one of 

 the local power companies at the low rate of 2| cents per kilowatt 

 hour. The repairs called for were mostly unimportant, but con- 

 siderable changes were made in the steam connections with the older 

 buildings. By the introduction of a reducing and other valves the 

 steam pressure in those buildings has been reduced from 100 to 60 

 pounds, resulting in an appreciable saving in the amount of steam 

 consumed, and permitting the keeping on of steam in those build- 

 ings continuously throughout the cold weather. This latter advan- 

 tage has made it possible to eliminate a considerable proportion of 

 the radiators in the older Museum building, while in the Smith- 

 sonian building the radiator system in the main hall was entirely 

 changed to accommodate it to the other alterations there in progress. 

 Improvements were also made in the heating conduits to the older 

 and outlying buildings. The total amount of coal used for both 

 heating and electric generating purposes was 2,989 tons. 



It is gratifying to note a considerable reduction in the cost of 

 producing electric current during the year, which was at the rate 

 of 2.4208 cents per kilowatt hour, as compared with 2.736 cents the 

 previous year. This was owing to the lower price of coal and to a 

 more uniform electric load. The ice i)lant also continued to work 

 satisfactorily and economically, 302 tons of ice having been pro- 

 duced at a total expense of $716,21, or at the rate of $2.37 a ton. The 

 fire apparatus was maintained in good condition, and additional 

 extinguishers were provided for the older buildings. The ventila- 

 tion of the public toilet rooms in the basement of the Smithsonian 

 building having been noticeably imperfect, new ducts were con- 

 structed, connected with the old smoke flue from the furnace, and a 

 fan for producing forced draft was introduced, which will greatly 

 improve the conditions. The motors attached to the large ventilat- 

 ing fans in the attic of the new building have given such constant 

 trouble that steps were under way at the close of the year to replace 

 them with others of an improved pattern. Many minor changes 

 and improvements were made in connection with the plumbing, 

 especially in the matter of furnishing hot water for the comfort 



