REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 41 



cost of 1.78 cents per kilowatt -hour, including interest on the plant, 

 depreciation, repairs, and material. The amount of electric current 

 produced represents an increase of approximately G,500 kilowatt- 

 hours over that of last year, and the j^lant is now operating at its 

 maxinuim capacity. As demands for electric current increase stead- 

 ily it will be necessary during the coming fiscal year to purchase a 

 limited amount from the local company during the winter season, in 

 addition to the regular purchase made during the summer season 

 when the Museum plant is not in operation. 



The ice plant manufactured 435.5 tons of ice at the average cost 

 of $1.71 per ton ; this cost represents a definite reduction over that 

 for the previous year. 



During the year 7 exhibition cases and bases, 308 pieces of storage, 

 laboratory, and other furniture, and 2,224 drawers of various kinds 

 were added, the greater part of these being manufactured in our 

 shops. 



MEETINGS AND RECEPTIONS 



The lecture rooms and auditorium of the National Museum were 

 used during the present year for 135 meetings covering the usual 

 wide range of activities. Government agencies that utilized these 

 facilities for hearings, meetings, lectures, and other special occa- 

 sions included the Bureau of Chemistry and Soils, the Forest Service, 

 the Graduate School, Food, Drug and Insecticide Administration, 

 the Extension Service of the United States Department of Agri- 

 culture, and the United States Public Health Service. The Graduate 

 School and the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture 

 arranged a series of addresses during the year on various matters 

 concerned Avith their work. Scientific societies that met regularly in 

 the auditorium or small lecture room included the Vivarium So- 

 ciety, the Entomological Society of Washington, the Society for 

 Philosophical Inquiry, the Anthropological Society of Washington, 

 and the Helminthological Society of Washington. Meetings were 

 held also by the Washington Academy of Sciences, the Wild Flower 

 Preservation Society, the Potomac Garden Club, the Twentieth 

 Century Club and Federation of Women's Clubs, the Washington 

 Society of Engineers, and the Washington Glider Club. The Na- 

 tional Association of Retired Federal Employers held regular meet- 

 ings through the year, as did groups of high schools for special 

 addresses. 



On December 26 Dr. Hcinrich Reis of Cornell University, retiring 

 president of the Geological Society of America, delivered an address 

 in the auditorium. A series of special meetings was held by the 

 Anthropological Society for lectures by Dr. Fay-Cooper Cole on 



