REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM. 1G9 



During his absence in Europe the assistant director made studies of 

 exhibition cases used in the best arranged museums, and a number of 

 additional forms of cases are now being made for trial. It may be said, 

 however, that in most of the European museums the cases are far in- 

 ferior in workmanship and in adaptation to the needs of the museum 

 to those already in use in our buildings. This opinion is confirmed by 

 the experience of Prof. Edward S. Morse, director of the Peabody Museum 

 of Salem, Mass., who also visited the European museums in 1883, and 

 who states in his annual report that he saw no cases which he considered 

 preferable to those used by the Smithsonian Institution aud the Pea- 

 body Museum of Archaeology at Cambridge. Many of our standard 

 museum cases were used in connection with the London Fisheries Exhi- 

 bition, and their construction and the manner in which the specimens 

 were mounted in them met with general approbation among museum 

 administrators. 



Tbe system of purchase and issue of general supplies was described 

 in last year's report. Minor modifications have been introduced during 

 the year and others are in contemplation. Mr. C. W. Schuermann has 

 rendered efficient service as property clerk. He has submitted inven- 

 tories of all articles in the several buildings, and also statements of the 

 exact quantity of each kind of article received during the year, balanced 

 by a report of the quantity of each article now in stock, and the exact 

 disposition of such articles as have been issued upon requisition. He 

 has also been charged with the duty of inspecting and reporting upon 

 each article of furniture and all supplies purchased for the Museum, 

 and of unpacking and cataloguing these articles when received, of issu- 

 ing the same upon "house requisitions," and of preparing a semi-annual 

 report. 



Department H: Accounts. — As heretofore, all accounts have been ad- 

 ministered under the direction of the chief clerk of the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution, and all payments have been made through his office. The 

 question of receipts and expenditures will not be discussed in this report, 

 since it is included, as hitherto, in the report of the Executive Com- 

 mittee of the Board of Eegents of the Smithsonian Institution. 



Department I: Buildings and labor. — The administrative staff for po- 

 lice and inspection now consists of one superintendent of buildings, two 



Cask L. — WaD uprights: 



f Corner sections 12 



I Door sections 14 



1 case j P ane l sections 12 



• Triangle sections 3 



| Panel sections 5 



^Door sections 4 



Door sections 4 



1 case \ 



Panel sections & 



Case P. — Sectional library cases 44 



Case S.— Quarter tables 51 



