REPORT OF NATIOITAL. MUSEUM, 1923. 17 



ceding year. The electric load was greately increased by the 

 opening of the Freer Gallery of Art to the public near the close 

 of the year, so that on dark and cloudy days it is greater than 

 can be safely carried on the cables leading into the Natural His- 

 tory Building from the lines of the Potomac Electric Power Com- 

 pany. Additional cables will have to be installed to take care of 

 this increase. 



The ventilation plant in the Freer Building was operated in the 

 usual manner during the winter and up to the time the building 

 was opened to the public, since which time the speed of the fans 

 has been materially increased, to provide the additional air necessary 

 for properly ventilating the galleries. The result obtained by the 

 system has been more satisfactory than was anticipated. "^Vhile 

 the temperature of the galleries was somewhat high on extremely 

 hot days, the circulation of air was sufficient to produce the necessary 

 cooling effect in spite of the fact that no help was gained from the 

 air washers. 



The ice plant located in the Natural History Building was oper- 

 ated 5,234 hours during the year, producing a total of 279.6 tons 

 of ice, at a cost of $3.41 a ton exclusive of labor. The cost to the 

 ton is less than last year due to decrease in the cost of electric cur- 

 rent to the kilowatt hour. The machine was thoroughly over- 

 hauled in the spring. It is gradually growing less efficient from 

 year to year and there is no doubt that a great saving would be 

 effected if a new machine could be installed. An item covering the 

 purchase of one was unsuccessfully included in the estimates for 

 appropriation submitted to the Bureau of the Budget. 



The U. S. Bureau of Standards, by direction of the Bureau of 

 the Budget, conducted a survey of government telephone systems 

 during the year. As a result a reduction was made in the rental 

 of the leased telephone cables connected with the Museum switch- 

 board, effecting a saving of between 20 and 25 per cent for this 

 particular charge. 



The exterior walls of the Natural History Building were thoroughly 

 washed by the local Fire Department in August, 1922, through the 

 courtesy of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia. The 

 appearance of the building was materially improved as a great 

 amount of dirt had accumulated, including nests of caterpillars and 

 other insects not readily dislodged, on the rough surface and joints 

 of the stones especially under the cornices and other parts protected 

 from the weather. In attempting to get water for this purpose the 

 Fire Department discovered that all of the fire hydrants in the 

 Smithsonian Park were in bad condition and of an antiquated type, 

 leaving the buildings practically unprotected in the case of fire. The 



