thus protect the walls from further water damage. The cost of 

 removing the present tin roof from the whole building, repairing 

 sheathing, etc., laying plastic tile, and repairing guttering is es- 

 timated at $4300. The cost of this work with a good quality of 

 tin roofing is about $7536. It is imperative that this work be 

 undertaken immediately. 



The Museum is without funds to pay for a new roof. The 

 maintenance expenses already exceed the City appropriation by 

 $313.50, in spite of the most rigid economy. Minor repairs 

 are regularly charged to this account, but it cannot be expected 

 that the efficiency of the Museum can be maintained, or even that 

 it can be kept open, and at the same time pay for a new roof. 

 The general account is at best inadequate to keep the shops run- 

 ning and make the progress in installation necessary to protect 

 specimens and sustain public interest. Only by a special ap- 

 propriation for the roof can the structural integrity of the build- 

 ing be preserved and the activity of the Museum be maintained. 



Since the defects in the roof are either inherent or had devel- 

 oped prior to the acquisition of the building by the Museum, the 

 cost of the new roof should be considered as properly a part of the 

 general remodeling and repairs for which City Council made its 

 original appropriation in 1907, with supplementary appropria- 

 tions in 1908 and 1909. In 1911 Council also made a special ap- 

 propriation to cover storm damages. These appropriations indi- 

 cate the readiness with which the City has always supported the 

 Museum, both for general maintenance expense, and for special 

 needs. This procedure is also in accord with the relation of 

 many of the most important and successful museums to their 

 municipalities. This relation is briefly as follows: the City pro- 

 vides the land, erects and maintains the buildings, and defrays 

 the running expenses; the museum authorities provide and in- 

 crease the collections and defray the cost of scientific expeditions 

 and publications. 



Improvements to the building during the year include the ad- 

 dition of another window in the carpenter shop to secure more 



5 



