282 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896. 



the east balcony. A workroom was fitted up for the plumber and pipe fitter. 

 Incandescent electric lamps were put up in the coal vault and other cellars of the 

 Museum. The work of painting the outside of the Museum building was com- 

 menced. 



Deceinher. — Incandescent electric lamps were put up in the library. All the 

 locks on the doors in the Museum were put in order, keys refitted, new ones made 

 where necessary, and the records revised to correspond with the alterations and 

 additions. The exhibition cases in the mineral hall were rearranged and four 

 additional cases placed therein. The work of painting the outside of the Museum 

 was continued: the walls in the east hall were also painted. The exhibition cases 

 in the fisheries hall were rearranged. Two iron hitching-posts were placed at 

 the east entrance of the Museum. A platform for the exhibition of certain large 

 specimens was constructed in the east hall, and a heavy base for the serpent 

 column of Delphi was made and set up. 



1806. 



January. — The lecture hall was put in order for the meeting of the National 

 Science Club. An excavation was made in the basement of the Smithsonian build- 

 ing, and the space thus obtained, after having the floor and sides bricked up, 

 was used for the reception of a small heating boiler. Six fire extinguishers were 

 placed in different parts of the Museum building. Some additional cases were set 

 up in the north hall. The fisheries hall was screened off for the reception of the 

 exhibits returned from the Atlanta Exposition. The erection of a small gallery, to 

 be used for storage cases for the herbarium, was commenced. 



February. — Much time was spent during this month in receiving, making space 

 for, unpacking, and setting up in their proper departments the exhibits returned 

 from the Atlanta Exjjosition. The three cases containing the Copp collection of 

 New England historical and domestic objects were removed from the north hall 

 to the lecture hall, to be x)hotographed . The work of putting up the gallery for 

 the herbarium was completed, and work commenced on the cases to be placed 

 thereon. A large group belonging to the department of ethnology was installed 

 in a case and placed in the rotunda of the Museum. The skeleton of Zeuglodon 

 was hung from the ceiling of the southeast court. In the departments of minerals 

 and comparative anatomy workmen were engaged in putting down concrete bases 

 upon which to erect wall cases. 



March. — In addition to the large amount of work required of the laborers in con- 

 nection with the arrangement and installation of the material returned from the 

 Atlanta Exposition, much other work was performed. The old Mexican cart was 

 suspended from the ceiling of the east hall, and the platform on which it formerly 

 rested was removed. All the material from the Third-street annex was transferred 

 to the new storage hoiTse on Ninth street. The model of the locomotive exhibited 

 on the platform over one of the windows in the east hall was taken down, and the 

 platform removed. The Siamese cart was suspended from the ceiling, opposite 

 the Mexican cart. All the material stored in the lecture hall was removed, and 

 the hall cleaned and put in complete order for the regular course of Saturday after- 

 noon lectures. Several of the pier screens in the mineral hall were lowered to con- 

 form with the others. Wires were placed under the floor of the lecture hall, from 

 the desk to the stand used by the lantern operator. 



April. — Material from the osteological and other work rooms was removed to 

 the Ninth street annex. The plaster casts of the winged bull and lion were placed 

 in i^osition at the entrance to the east hall, and two large wooden idols were taken 

 off their bases and placed on the balconies west of the rotunda. The three large 

 railroad maps which were mounted on the south wall of the east hall were taken 

 down and placed on the front of east balcony. All the cases were removed from 



