170 REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



assistant superintendents, thirteen watchmen, and three doorkeepers ; 

 for construction, care of building, and repairs : two carpenters, a painter, 

 and a mason; for labor and cleaning: sixteen laborers and six attend- 

 ants and cleaners. For heating and lighting there are employed one 

 engineer and four firemen ; for messenger service, one messenger and 

 three office boys. The messenger service is almost entirely replaced by 

 the electric service. For out-door messenger service the District Tele- 

 graph Company has been made use of. This is advantageous in respect 

 to both economy and efficiency, the whole cost to the Museum for all 

 outside messenger work not exceeding $10 a month. The messenger 

 employed in the building is engaged in circulating packages between 

 the different laboratories, and in receiving and distributing mail, recep- 

 tacles for which have been placed in every executive office. 



To expedite communication between the various officers, one special 

 messenger has been detailed to go from office to office, taking in and 

 carrying out mail, memoranda, &c. In almost every office has been 

 established a mail box or tray, made in two partitions, one of which is 

 labeled " incoming," and the other " outgoing." By this means all un- 

 necessary delay is avoided. He simply deposits in the former whatever 

 he may have collected in the other offices for the one in which he may 

 happen*o be, and takes from the latter all letters, &c, intended for 

 other offices, arranging them alphabetically in a large folding case, con- 

 taining 26 sections, one for each letter of the alphabet. 



In addition to the regular force of laborers and mechanics, it was found 

 necessary during the spring to employ additional help on account of the 

 extra work involved in the preparation and packing of the exhibit for 

 the London International Fisheries Exhibition. Notwithstanding the 

 increase, however, the men were obliged to work night and day, in order 

 that the material might be in London in time for the opening day of the 

 exhibition. 



The carpenter shop has been transferred from the southeast court to 

 the frame building east of, and adj oining, the Museum. This has materi- 

 ally increased the storage facilities for specimens in the Museum. 



Extensive improvements have been made in the drainage. Addi- 

 tional sewers have been laid, and connected with the main on B street 

 immediately south of the Museum. This action was hastened by the 

 backing up of the water in the basement of the cafe" and southeast pavil- 

 ion, during sudden, and severe rain storms, which caused considerable 

 damage to flooring and traps. 



Department E : Electric Service. — Under the management of Mr. W. J. 

 Green the electrical service has been improved and extended during 

 1883. There are now 40 separate telephone lines connecting the resi- 

 dences of the chief officers of the Smithsonian and Museum buildings, 

 and lines have also been put up connecting the Armory building, carp 

 ponds, and the Central Telephone Exchange with the Museum. 



