38 ANNUAL EEPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 19 31 



excess heat radiation m winter was installed in the ceiling in the 

 main herbarium hall. 



The power plant was in operation from September 29, 1930, until 

 Jilay 27, 1931. The consumption of coal during the year was 3,329 

 tons, at an average cost per ton of $5.65. The amount required was 

 somewhat less than that of last year, due primarily to the mild winter, 

 and secondarily to the fact that some of our electric current was 

 purchased from the Potomac Electric Power Co., thus relieving the 

 load on the boilers at such times as all of the exhaust steam was not 

 needed for heating the Natural History Building. The Steamboat 

 Inspection Service has examined the boilers and tb-"". elevators have 

 been regularly inspected by the District of Columbia inspector. The 

 total electric current produced amounted to 613,000 kilowatt-hours, 

 manufactured at a cost of 1.78 cents per kilowatt-hour, including 

 interest on the plant, depreciation, repairs, and material. In addi- 

 tion electric current to the amount of 73,250 kilowatt-hours was pur- 

 chased and used in the exhibition halls of the Arts and Industries 

 Building. Needs for electrical current are steadily increasing, par- 

 ticularly to iDrovide favorable lighting in our exhibition halls during 

 dark days in winter, and increased purchases will be required in the 

 future. 



The ice plant manufactured 406.8 tons of ice, at an average cost 

 of $] .67 per ton, a reduction from the expense for the previous year. 

 With the plant operating at full capacity it is not practicable at the 

 present time to manufacture the entire amount of ice required during 

 the hottest weather of summer, so that it is necessary to purchase a 

 certain amount at that time. 



During the year 20 exhibition cases and bases, 439 pieces of storage, 

 laboratory, and other furniture, and 1,667 drawers of various kinds 

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

 shops. 



MEETINGS AND BECEPTIONS 



The lecture rooms and auditorium were used during the present 

 year for 103 meetings, covering the usual wide range of activities. 

 Government agencies that utilized these facilities for hearings, meet- 

 ings, lectures, and other special occasions included the Bureau of 

 Agricultural Economics, the Plant Quarantine and Control Adminis- 

 tration, the Forest Service, the Bureau of Dairy Industry of the 

 department of Agriculture, and the United States Public Health 

 Service. In addition a meeting was arranged by the Director of 

 Scientific Work of the Department of Agriculture for an address 

 bj^ Dr. Samuel C. May, of the University of California, on the work- 

 ings of the Government. There were various conferences held from 



