REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 29 



try and abroad is extremely interesting, and brings out very strongly 

 the inadequacy of the appropriations, especially with reference to the 

 salaries paid to all classes of its employees. The scientific staff is 

 paid from 40 to 50 per cent less than scientific men of the same grade 

 in similar museums elsewhere. 



The upkeep of the buildings during the year involved the usual 

 repair work, including the painting of walls and ceilings in several 

 halls, the painting of all the exterior window frames of the Natural 

 History Building, those of the east end of the Smithsonian Building, 

 and a beginning on those of the Arts and Industries Building ; and 

 the painting of the roofs of the latter. A locker room for the en- 

 gineer force was constructed at the east entrance, ground floor, of the 

 Natural History Building, and the east court of that building was 

 seeded with grass. 



When the Freer Building was being planned, arrangements were 

 made to procure heat, light, and power from the central heating 

 plant, which the Institution was assured would be in a position to 

 furnish the same before needed. In the absence of such service, 

 however, the Freer Gallery was connected with the Museum power 

 plant, from which was furnished this year the necessary heat, light, 

 and power. This additional load on the Museum plant required the 

 use of the old boilers in the Arts and Industries Building during the 

 coldest portion of the heating season. By the removal of the old 

 flat grates for burning anthracite coal in these boilers and the instal- 

 lation of hand-operated stokers, bituminous coal could be used with- 

 out the production of unlawful smoke. The antiquated blow-off 

 valve combination on the boilers in the Natural History Building 

 was also replaced. Though the winter was a comparatively mild 

 one, heat was supplied the buildings from October 6, 1920, to May 

 20, 1921, with a consumption of 3,224 tons of coal. The ice plant, in 

 operation for 4,017 hours, produced 324.7 tons of ice. As a matter of 

 economy the power plant was shut down as usual during July and 

 August, 1920, and was again closed on June 4, 1921, the electric 

 current being purchased from a private concern during the summer 

 months. 



The Museum acquired 62 exhibition cases and 165 pieces of storage, 

 laboratory, and office furniture. 



COLLECTIONS. 



The total number of specimens acquired by the Museum during the 

 year was approximately 338,120. Additional material to the extent 

 of 794 lots, mainly geological, was received for special examination 

 and report. About 25,000 specimens were sent out in exchange, for 

 which the Museum received much valuable material. 



