Oct. 1895. Annual Report of the Director. ig 



has rendered valuable assistance. About sixty large photographs 

 have been obtained and a number of fossils and specimens illustrat- 

 ing glacial and other phenomena. 



South Park Commissioners — The appropriation by the Board of 

 South Park Commissioners of $15,000 per annum, to be applied to the 

 maintenance of the Museum has been one of the gratifying and 

 encouraging incidents of the year. It is a substantial evidence of the 

 co-operative and helpful attitude of the Commissioners. The Di- 

 rector begs to acknowledge the very friendly and cordial attitude 

 maintained at all times, and often under very trying circumstances, by 

 the Superintendent of the South Park system, and his subordinates. 

 They have aided the Museum effectively whenever the opportunity 

 presented itself. 



Photography. — The necessity arising for photographic work 

 of a nature that the general photographer could not execute, such 

 for example as illustrating publications and lectures, as well as 

 preserving numerous conditions and objects that could in no other 

 way be illustrated in the collections of the Museum, it was deter- 

 tnined, in October, to establish a photographic section for work 

 for all the departments of the institution. The Curator of the Depart 

 ment of Botany, who is skilled in the required processes, consented 

 to take charge of the work. One of the rooms in the North Bal- 

 cony makes an excellent dark chamber, and three cameras with 

 the necessary lenses, one micro-camera and microscope, and the 

 materials and chemicals needed were procured. The work soon 

 became of greater volume than could be performed without assist- 

 ance in the detail and routine, and an assistant was given Dr. 

 Millspaugh from the staff of the Librarian. The results of the photo- 

 graphic work are as follows: Negatives made, 310; photo-prints, 

 115; lantern slides for lectures, 119; prints to illustrate publications^ 

 42; photographs taken on expeditions, 131. Fully as much work 

 as was performed in the last year is already on hand for immediate 

 attention. 



Printing. — A printing office was established in the latter 

 part of March to execute the large amount of labels and general 

 printing that is so necessary in the Museum. The intention is to 

 replace all of the hand-written, and in many cases, illegible 

 labels, with printed ones, and each department of the Museum has 

 commenced upon this process of substitution. The amount of labor 

 involved in such an undertaking is, of course, very large, and the 

 •establishment of an office was, therefore, not only a necessary but an 



