REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 13 
tesy of the Supervising Architect of the Treasury Department, how- 
ever, plans were drawn up during the year under which new tin roofs 
may be substituted for the slate over the exhibition halls without 
materially interfering with the collections below. While much of the 
framework is scarcely strong enough to support slate, it is entirely 
adequate for the lighter metal covering. It was not until late in the 
year that the arrangements to this end were perfected, but contracts 
were let for roofs over the east hall and the adjoining courts, the work 
to continue during the summer. It is expected that as much, if not 
more, can be accomplished under the appropriation for 1907. 
Some attention has also been given to the gutters and down spouts 
on the Smithsonian building, which have for a long time been in such 
bad condition that during the spring thaws a great deal of water backs 
into the archeological hall, causing injury to the walls and the dis- 
figurement of the painting. Much of the old tin roof on the Museum 
building was painted, and the old slate on the northwest pavilion was 
replaced by other of a better quality. 
The partitions which separate the halls, courts, and ranges in the 
Museum building are broken by so many large, arched openings, reach- 
ing nearly to the roofs, as to make of the exhibition space practically 
one large room, about two acres in extent. While the building itself, 
including these interior partitions, was constructed of freproof 
materials, yet the immense collection, now greatly crowded, contains 
much that is combustible. Every possible means of detecting the 
occurrence of a fire and of preventing its spread have been introduced, 
but as an additional and very necessary precaution it has been decided 
to isolate the different sections as far as possible. The only way to 
accomplish this effectively is to close all openings, except the few 
necessary passageways, with some fireproof material, and macite has 
been selected for the purpose after subjecting it to a thorough test. 
Much was done in this direction during the year, the following places 
having been already isolated wholly or in part: The story over the south- 
east range, occupied by a part of the herbarium and of the collections 
of the Biological Survey; the gallery in the west-north range used by 
the library and the division of history; the pueblo court, and the west 
‘side of the south hall. 
Among other items of repair may be mentioned the entire renova- 
tion, including the plumbing, of the toilet rooms in the Museum build- 
ing; the laying of a broad water table along the north front of the 
same building to check the seepage of water into the conduits con- 
taining the steam pipes and electric wires; the repainting of all the 
woodwork on the outside of this building; the renewal of the 42 win- 
dows in the clearstory of the west corridor of the Smithsonian build- 
ing, and the repainting of many walls, disigured by water or by time. 
NAT Mus 1906——2 
