NATIONAL MUSEITM BUILDINGS. 229 



is mentioned here it will always be understood that it is essentially the work of the 

 carpenter in providing for larger inside frames and larger lights in the sashes and in 

 like alterations. 



Tims, in the east wing of the building, in the fourth story, a room for containing 

 the archives of the Institution has been provided, which is well lighted by one of 

 the few large windows the building possesses and which has been fitted for more 

 convenient reference to the records of the Institution. The second floor has been 

 made brighter by repainting and by some additional floor lights in the third floor, 

 and the windows in the room especially set ai)art for the safe-keeping of the engrav- 

 ings and books of art belonging to the Institution have been thus enlarged, while 

 some of the rooms on the second floor have been improved by slight alterations in 

 the window frames. On the first floor additional quarters were provided for the 

 library in the rooms which were vacated by the transfer of the (exchange department 

 to the lower floor. 



In continuing much-needed improvements in the east wing of the Smithsonian 

 building, especially with a view to better light and ventilation, the lighting of the 

 rooms on the first floor occupied by the library has been greatly improved by 

 enlarging the window frames and replacing the small diamond panes by single 

 sheets of glass. Similar changes have been made in the Secretary's office, on the 

 second floor, as well as in some of the rooms on the third and fourth floors. Several 

 rooms on the fourth floor, heretofore of no use except for storage, have been made 

 habitable and have proved useful for various needed purposes. 



The sanitary condition of the building has been improved by the removal of cer- 

 tain objectionable features and by the installation of a comprehensive system of ven- 

 tilation by which pure air at an equable temperature is assured in most of the office 

 rooms. Work upon this was well advanced at the close of the year. 



Another great improvement added during the year is the introduction of electric 

 lights in all tJie offices of the east wing, the electric power being supplied by a spe- 

 cial plant, which, with the ventilating apparatus, has been placed in the basement 

 of the south tower, where considerable changes were made for their accommodation. 



Since the above dates the only alterations which need ])e mentioned 

 in this connection have been the replacement of the wooden floor in 

 the lower main exhibition hall with a terrazzo pavement, the fitting 

 up of the children's room on the main floor of the south tower, the 

 improvement of the conditions on all the other floors of the same 

 tower, and the construction of a tunnel between the Smithsonian and 

 Museiun buildings, which, while intended primarily for the heating 

 pipes, electric wires, etc., has been made sufliciently large to serve as 

 a general passageway. 



On the other hand, it is to be noted, with regret, that the upper 

 main exhibition hall, devoted to prehistoric archieolog}-, had to be 

 closed in 1902 because of the loosening and fall of plaster over a large 

 part of the ceiling and walls. The room was at once recognized to 

 be unsafe for the admission of the public, and its appearance was 

 extremel}^ unsightly. Provisional repairs, to the extent possible from 

 the regular appropriation, have recently been completed, and the hall 

 will soon again be made serviceable, but a considerable expenditure 

 would be required to place it in thoroughly good condition. 



