OPERATIONS OF THE YEAR. 



APPROPRIATIONS. 



The appropriations for the maintenance and operations of the 

 National Museum for the year covered by this report, namely, from 

 July 1, 1912, to June 30, 1913, inclusive, contained in the sundry 

 civil act approved August 24, 1912, were as follows: 



Preservation of collections $300, 000 



Furniture and fixtures 50, 000 



Heating and lighting 50, 000 



Building repairs 10, 000 



Purchase of books 2, 000 



Postage 500 



Printing and binding 34, 000 



Total 446, 500 



The sundry civil act approved June 23, 1913, makes the followdng 

 provisions for the year ending June 30, 1914: 



Preservation of collections $300, 000 



Furniture and fixtures 50, 000 



Heating and lighting 50, 000 



Building repaks 10, 000 



Purchase of books 2, 000 



Postage 500 



Printing and binding 37, 500 



Total 450, 000 



BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT. 



The most important repau* work of the year consisted in further 

 remedying certain defects in the roofs of the new building, to which 

 attention was called in the last report. The remainder of the inse- 

 cure copper cresting, amounting to about 736 running feet, was 

 refastened in what is regarded as a thoroughly satisfactory manner, 

 and some 1,524 lineal feet of the damaged copper gutters were 

 replaced with the best quality of tin, which it is confidently expected 

 will be lasting. The repairs to the older Museum building were 

 mostly in the interior. The ceihngs in this structure consist mainly 

 of wooden lathing attached to the under side of the roofs and filled 

 in with plaster which has gradually disintegrated and from time to 

 time has fallen in such quantities as to menace the collections. A 

 covering of thin sheet steel has proved the best and most economical 



37 



