10 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1947 



Natural History Building: All alcoves in the foyer, where all 

 special exhibitions are held, were re-covered with monks cloth and 

 all exposed woodwork repainted; to provide storage and working 

 space for the coral collection, a section of the second floor at the 

 northwest corner was remodeled, including changing partition walls, 

 erection of a gallery, and painting of walls, ceiling, and storage 

 cases. 



Freer Gallery of Art: The photographic studio and dark room 

 were constructed by remodeling a section of one of the existing stor- 

 age rooms. 



Heat^ lights and power. — Electric current used during the year 

 amounted to 1,664,710 kilowatt-hours. This figure represents an 

 increase of 120,571 kilowatt-hours over 1946 despite the "brown- 

 out" during the period November 23 to December 9, 1946, for the 

 purpose of conserving coal during the miners' strike. However, 

 this increase is not considered excessive because additional fixtures 

 were added and other improvements were made during the year. 



Steam consumption was held to the absolute minimum require- 

 ments during the year, and despite the fact that heating temperatures 

 were reduced 5° twice each day during the period November 23 to 

 December 9, 1946, steam consumption increased 1,502,900 pounds 

 over 1946. This increase was due to lower outside temperatures dur- 

 ing the heating season. Total steam consumption for the fiscal year 

 was 54,902,700 pounds. 



Ice production. — The Smithsonian ice plant produced 186.7 tons 

 of ice at a cost of $1.16 per ton, exclusive of labor. The plant was 

 closed down 10 days during May 1947 for overhauling. 



Fire protection. — The fire hose, couplings, nozzles, and hose racks 

 purchased during fiscal year 1946 were received and installed in the 

 Smithsonian Building. Plans have been made to install a central 

 control station for valving the standpipe lines in this building dur- 

 ing the fiscal year 1948. Inspections of apparatus were made each 

 month, and all soda and acid extinguishers were discharged and 

 recharged. 



Respectfully submitted. 



A. Wetmore, Secretary. 



