ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. 

 L902-1903. 



To the Trustees ol the Field Columbian Museum : 



I have the honor to present the report of the operations of the 

 Museum during the year closing September 30, 1903. 



Maintenance. — The sum of $102,000 was appropriated by the 

 Executive Committee for the necessary expenses of maintenance 

 during the fiscal year, and it is a matter of congratulation to report 

 that the actual amount expended for this purpose was but $83,101, 

 leaving a satisfactory margin of $18,899. This is more especially 

 noteworthy, as numerous additions were made during the year to 

 the force of departmental assistants. There were, however, several 

 sums expended for collections, expeditions, and research work, spe- 

 cially authorized by the Executive Committee, which brings the 

 1 total of disbursements during the year to $145,066. When 



parisons are made between the expenditures of the year just 

 closed and those of previous years, it is noted that there is a 

 substantial reduction in the outlay for repairs to the building. It 

 was stated in my last report that the building was perfectly safe, and 

 I have no hesitation in re-iterating that statement, and no anxiety 

 need be felt as to any accidents occurring either to visitors or to 

 those employed in the building, but the periodical attempts to 

 improve the outside appearance of the walls have ceased, as it has 

 been conclusively proven that such efforts were ineffectual. In fact, 

 the introduction of new plaster in patching seemed to loosen a larger 

 area than was repaired. The roof of the Museum building is, per- 

 haps, to-day in better order than it ever has been, and it is doubtful 

 if the interior has been so well protected from leakages since the 

 construction of the building; but this condition is due to constant 

 vigilance. 



Lecture Courses. — The attendance at the two courses given was 

 highly gratifying, but the poor ventilation of the hall undoubtedly 



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