100 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1889. 



This places the total number of label forms printed for the National 

 Museum during the year at 3,991. 



BUILDINGS AND LABOR. — POLICE AND PUBLIC COMFORT. 



The staff employed for police and inspection has remained under the 

 charge of Henry Horau, superintendent of buildings. 



From the reports of the superintendent are quoted in brief the follow- 

 ing statements, which will serve to show in part the character of the 

 work accomplished by the laboring force during the year : 



18S8. 



July. — During the first part of the mouth the mechanics aud laborers were occupied 

 iu making preparations for the shipment of exhibits to the Cincinnati Exposition, 

 which were finally shipped in twelve car-loads. Later in the month twenty-two 

 boxes, containing the photographic exhibit, were forwarded by freight. This com- 

 pleted the work of packing and shipping the exhibit from the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion. 



On July 9, the work of preparing material, packing and shipping an exhibit to the 

 Marietta exposition was begun. This was completed on July 14. 



On July 1G, additional mechanics and laborers, who had been hired for work in 

 connection with the Cincinnati exposition, were discharged. In order to afford better 

 light in the main hall of the Smithsonian building, one end of each of the galleries 

 was cut off. The fence inclosing the buffalo yard was painted. New steps were made 

 and placed in the annex east entrance leading to the basement. 



Storage-cases for specimens were built for the Department of Ethnology ; two card- 

 catalogue boxes for the executive clerk's office, and two cases for the metallurgical 

 department. 



August. — Scaffolding was erected in the main hall of the Smithsonian building to 

 facilitate the preparation of the walls and ceiling for painting. The painting of the 

 exhibition hall of the Department of Fishes was finished. Iu the carpenter and paint 

 shops, the following work has been completed : Construction of one large storage- 

 case for unit trays, one frame for mounting tiles, cutting and fitting glass for cable- 

 frames, putting mahogany casing around plaster casts ; making pedestals for the de- 

 partment of mammals ; construction of two large tubs for holding trees in the rotunda. 

 New mahogany label-frames were made. Mahogany panel ends have been put in 

 four door-screen cases in the department of lithology. 



The alteration of the galleries in the main hall of the Smithsonian building has 

 been continued this month. 



The followiug work has also been completed : Putting uew floor in the cafe" ; shel- 

 lacing and painting wall cases; extending wall-cases and polishing specimen blocks 

 for the department of comparative anatomy ; repairiug broken cases and making 

 frames for the department of ethnology. For the executive clerk's office there has 

 been made one case of drawers with shelving, and one case for letter-books. The 

 refitting of doors to cases in several departments has been continued from day to day. 



September. — Several repairs in different parts of the Museum building and in the 

 Armory building were rendered necessary by the results of a severe storm which oc- 

 curred on September 10. The cases formerly occupying the wall space at the south 

 entrauce of the Smithsonian building, were removed to the northeast court of the 

 Museum building. A great many blocks for specimens have been painted and ebon- 

 i zed for the various departntents, and the work of fitting shelves to cases has been 

 continued. 



The platform in the lecture room has been repaired, and a large book-case made for 

 the Department of Buildings and Labor. Five pier upright cases have been remod- 

 eled for the Department of Ethnology, and several catalogue boxes have been made 

 for the executive clerk's office. Oak frames for transparencies have been made. The 

 office of the engineer of property has been furnished with a brass wire screen. The 

 extension and remodeling of" the bird cases still continue. 



October.— The stained glass in the circle over the south entrance of the Smithsonian 

 building has been removed and replaced with plain glass. The radiators in the 

 southeast court were removed from the walls to make room lor wall cases, and were 

 placed I'uil her hack towards I lie center of the hall. This work necessitated some ex- 

 cavating in connection with the fitting of the steam-pipes. Anew shed was built 

 for the collection of living turtles and other specimens. Repairs were made to the 

 floor in the southeast court. One of the upper rooms of the north tower in the Smith- 



