REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 71 



tlie facility possible under the eircumstiuices, and in cliangini;' the po- 

 sition of the eiigiue '• John Bull," it was found uecessaiy to construet a 

 railway track for tlie purpose. 



It is worthy of mention that the painters in the superintendent's 

 force are frecpieutly called on to trace, color, and hotter the large charts 

 and maps required by the different curators, or used in illnstrating the 

 scientific lectures given in the Museum hall. 



By economy of adiuiuistration, the Museum hasbeeu able to increase 

 its insufficient electric-light phmt, so that now it has a small dynamo, 

 Wiiich supplies twenty five arc lights, of 2,000 candle power each. This 

 is only about one-half the number required for a satisfactory illumina- 

 tion, but by screening oft* the courts it was found possible to light tlie 

 halls so that the building could be opened for the admission of the 

 American Medical Association on the evening of May 7, and for the 

 Natiomd Geograjdiic Society on the evening of May 29, 1801. 



With the limited means available, no elaborate form of installation of 

 the electric-light plant could be adopted, and it was necessary to pass 

 the wires loosely from burner to burner around the building. It is 

 hoped that a future approi)riation will make it possible to remedy the 

 defects in the present system, and will permit the purchase of a dynamo 

 of such power that the whole building can occasionally be thrown open 

 at night, for the acconunodation of those who can not avail themselves 

 of the regular hours of admission, as well as for the various scientilic 

 associations of Washington and the country, as often earnestly re- 

 quested. 



The changes found necessary in the heating apj^aratus, such as ad- 

 justing radiators, making connections with steam pipes, etc., have this 

 year, as last, been made by the regular force without outside heli^. Sev- 

 eral improvements in the boiler room, among which may be mentioned 

 inclosing the pipes in a wooden easing, removing partitions and fitting 

 up the vault for dyamo used to run the system of electric lights in the 

 building, have been completed in the same way. 



As stated in the report of last year, the boilers, especially those of the 

 Smithsonian building, have been for some time in an extremely unsatis- 

 factory condition. Proposals have accordingly been invited tor the pur- 

 chase and setting in place of new ones, and an appropriation of $3,000, 

 which becomes available at the close of the present fiscal year, has been 

 made by Congress for this purpose. 



Mention was also made in my last report of the necessity for remov- 

 ing the decayed wooden floors in the Museum and substituting therefor 

 granolithic or artificial stone piwement. Five thousand dollars having 

 been appropriated for this object, proposals for the necessary pavement 

 have been invited. 



The appointment by the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, of 

 Mr. J. M. Parkhurst as engineer, dates from December 1, 1800. In 



