BEPORT OF NATIONAL. MUSEUM, 1910. 13 



"For the completion of the new building of the United States 

 National Museum and its surroundings, namel}", the construction of 

 roads and walks, grading and sodding, construction of a waterproof 

 granolithic platform along the outer walls of the building, and the 

 painting of the interior walls of the building, to be expended under 

 the direction of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, seventy- 

 seven thousand dollars." 



BUILDINGS. 



New building. — At the close of the year the entire exterior of the 

 new building had been completed, with the exception of the broad 

 steps leading to the main entrance, on which work was then in progress. 

 Much still remained to be done in the interior of the south pavilion, 

 including both the auditorium on the ground floor and the rotimda 

 above, but the main part of the building lacked only certain minor 

 features of construction and had been wholly in the possession of 

 the Museum during the greater part of the year. 



The abandonment of the rented buildings at the end of the previous 

 year had made it necessary to move their contents, comprising large 

 and valuable collections, to the new building in May and June, 1909. 

 This material was placed in several of the exhibition halls where 

 the floors had been laid and in one of the open courts, affording an 

 excellent opportunity for overhauling and assorting a large part of 

 the specimens. On August 10, 1909, occupation of the third story, 

 which is divided into rooms for laboratories, reserve collections, and 

 offices, was obtained from the superintendent of construction, 

 although at that time the story was improvided with doors, and 

 temporary expedients had to be adopted for the protection of such 

 property as was first moved. On November 9, following, the remain- 

 ing stories of the main building were turned over to the Museum, 

 and while constructive work of a subordinate character continued 

 to be carried on during most of the rest of the year, it can not be 

 said to have materially interfered with Museum operations. 



The mechanical plant was completed in ample time to meet the 

 requirements of themnter season, the boilers being put into permanent 

 service on October 15, 1909, and soon demonstrating their efficiency. 

 The heating system in the new building is by means of hot water. 

 Steam connections with the other buildings, through the medium of 

 an underground tunnel, were effected on November 3, and since then 

 all of the heating of the Smithsonian group of structures on the Mall 

 has been provided from the new plant. Electrical connections with 

 the generators of the plant by means of cables also running through 

 the tunnel, and finished in June, 1910, cover the same area. 



Certain minor, though important, mechanical and electrical fittings 

 have likewise been supplied. In view of the combustible nature of 

 parts of the collection, an effective fire system has been provided, 



