REPORT OF THE SECRETARY: NATIONAL MUSEUM 83 



Building, the radiators of the taller type, some of which were badly 

 situated. Work has progressed, too, on the installation, begun last 

 year, of new pipe in the hot-water system in the Natural History 

 Building. This pipe, brass instead of galvanized iron, will tend to 

 retard the accumulation of scale and dirt and thus aid in the proper 

 flow and distribution of the water. Because of the congested location 

 of the old equipment, the tank and other new apparatus are to be 

 placed in the east end of the engine room. 



Ice production. — The refrigerating machine, located in the base- 

 ment of the Natural History Building, for manufacturing ice for all 

 the Museum buildings, was operated a total of 4,058 hours during 

 the year and produced 413.9 tons of ice at a cost of $827. G8, or at the 

 rate of $2 a ton (35 cents a ton less than for last year). During the 

 extremel}^ hot weather, it was necessary to purchase 12K tons of ice, 

 at a cost of $3.80 a ton. 



Fire 'protection. — The fire alarms in the various Museum buildings 

 have been regularly inspected and tested, the fire hose examined and 

 the plugs flushed, and the sprinkler system in the Aircraft Building 

 properly cared for. 



In the Arts and Industries Building some progress was made in 

 reducing fire hazards along lines recommended by the Federal Fire 

 Council. The improvements include filling window openings and 

 open arches with plaster block, replacing wooden partitions with 

 plaster block, replacing old electric wiring with modern wiring, and 

 replacing wooden library shelves with steel shelves. Although many 

 of the fire hazards still remain, especially in the Smithsonian Building 

 and the Arts and Industries Building, they are being removed as 

 rapidly as funds permit, and fire protection is being generally improved. 



Furniture and fixtures.— The furniture added during the year in- 

 cluded 10 exhibition cases, 3G5 pieces of storage, office, laboratory, 

 and other furniture, and 2,373 drawers, boxes, and frames of various 

 kinds. During the same period, 19 exhibition cases and bases, 93 

 pieces of storage, office, and laboratory furniture, and 112 wooden 

 drawers were condemned as unfit for further use. 



An inventory of furniture on hand June 30, 1933, showed 3,743 

 exhibition cases and bases, 17,001 pieces of storage, office, and lab- 

 oratory furniture, and 103,062 drawers, boxes, and frames. 



MEETINGS AND RECEPTIONS 



The facilities of the auditorium and lecture room are offered by the 

 Museum to scientific and educational organizations for regular and 

 special meetings, and whenever possible it assists in carrying out 

 their programs. Ninety-five such meetings were held in the audi- 

 torium and lecture room during the year by a wide range of societies 

 and organizations. 



72774—35 7 



