42 



REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1886 



(c) Cases and Fixtures. 



During the year ending June 30, 1886, $21,521.24* was expended out 

 of the $40,000 appropriated for furnituro and fixtures, for exhibition 

 eases, screens, unit drawers and trays, tiiblets, stands, unit boxes, lum- 

 ber, plate glass, locks, brackets, and other necessary fittings ; $3,171.93 

 has been expended for glass jars for holding specimens; $G32.91 was 

 expended for furniture for exhibition halls and oflicesj $1,771.90 was 

 expended lor apparatus for laboratories, halls, and repairs ; $278 was 

 expended for grate and boiler fixtures — a total of $27,370.04. 



There was also exi)ended, out of the furniture and fixtures ai^projiria- 

 tion, for wages of mechanics and laborers, and salaries of property' clerk, 

 accountant, copyist, and other necessary employes, $12,578.91, f leaving 

 a balance of $45.05. 



(d) IMlOPERTY AND SUPPLIES. 



The methods employed in the department of supplies have been 

 greatly im])roved during theyear under the administration of W. V. Cox, 

 chief clerk of the Museum. The force of clerks has been temporarily 

 increased, and steps have been taken toward the completion of the 

 records, some of which were in an imperfect condition, owing to the 

 rapid growth of the Museum since its reorganization. 



Experience has proven that when a large supply of articles is kept 

 in stock there is a greater tendency to waste and extravagance than 

 when the supply is limited. In other words, no economy has been found 



* The following cases, screens, unit drawers, etc., have been made for the Museum 

 during the year by outside coustructors : 



25 m.iliogany unit table cases $2, 1 50. 00 



1.5 wlno piuo unit tablo cases C72. 4.j 



IG inalioiiany balf unit table cases 768.00 



fi wb »'.o jiiuo bait unit taljlo cases 150.00 



2 white jiiuo Salviu bird cases LOT. 8H 



1 %vliito p:no sectional library case 21.00 



4 white pino J-uiiit table cases 78. 40 



1 white pine caul catalogue case 10. (lO 



7 JvenHiuuton ca.ses 478.00 



1 white pnie plioto-niieroscopo case 3G. (10 



1 white pino lilo case 32. fiO 



2 berliariinn cases 165. 00 



10 leilwood insect cases 607.00 



1 ash seal case 135.00 



1 walnut case remodeled 8.'). 00 



9 told screens, onc-balf pillars GOT. 00 



10 poplar arch screens ].')0. 00 



1 oak mosaic screen 59.00 



30 fold screens 09.00 



1 mineral dresser 24.00 



1 pair sfonii doors 



15 niabojiany and ash frames 



1 while pine base 



5,429 unit drawois and trays 



54,440 i)asteboard Iraya, boxes, and 



covers 



14,984 tablets for niountins; specimens. . 



7(i:! biid Hiands and wito nests 



100 insect, lioxes and cork lor lininn; 



1 8,200 label-holders 



],G89 plate glass 



.5:!0 locks 



1,000 brackets and hooks 



Kilo boxes and holdeis 



Drawiuiis lor cases, etc 



Travebns; expenses to inspect co/ses 



Interior and other necessary fittings . . . 

 Lumber , 



83. 50 



20. 26 



20.00 



2, 871. 74 



1,309.G9 



9 i5. 18 



9.^. 96 



128. .50 



85. 55 



2, 324. 43 



817. 95 



109. 00 



50. 48 



896. 60 



12.91 



2, 674. 55 



2,467.71 



Total 21,.5J1.24 



The following cases, diaphragms, pedestals, etc., have been made in the Mn.seuni 

 carpenter shop. 



7 mahogany slope cases, half size. 



3 storage cases. 

 7 po])lur arch-screens. 

 10 oak settees. 

 26 white pino bases. 



4 oak bases. 

 16 diapliragros. 



t The highest salary paid was that of property clerk, $100 per montli ; lowest, copyist, $10 per month ; 

 average, $62.50. The greatest number of employ^^'s in a month was 30; the .smallest, 7; an average of 

 ICj^. The highest wages paid mecb.auics and labort-rs wa.s $"> per day; lowest, $1.. 50; average, $2.25. 



1 cb(>rry desk. 



I walnut lilo case. 



1 mahogany file case. 



1 mahogany case for maps. 



1 mahogany tile and drawers for case. 



20 walnut pedestals, .issorled sizes. 



