20 REPORT OF NATIONAL, MUSEUM, 1920. 



the Army Medical Museum and the National Parks Service, Washing- 

 ton; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Western Uni- 

 versity, London, Ontario; Department of Mines, Geological Survey, 

 Ottawa; Canterbury Museum, Christchurch, New Zealand, at the 

 request of Captain Gilbert Archey; and the Bernice Pauahi Bishop 

 Museum of Polynesian Ethnology and Natural History, Honolulu, 

 Hawaii. 



The power plant was closed for two months and eight days, be- 

 ginning July 1, during which time the electric current for light and 

 power was furnished by the Potomac Electric Power Co. at 2^ cents 

 a kilowatt, under contract made by the Treasury Department. While 

 the plant was closed the employees connected therewith took the 

 greater part of their leave so that during the remainder of the year 

 the Museum would not be deprived of their services except for short 

 periods. 



There were only two major changes or repairs made during the 

 year: one consisting of the installation of a forced oil feed system 

 for the engines, which had been purchased the previous year, and 

 the other, of the purchase and installation of asbestos covers for four 

 boiler drums, together with the repairing of the covering on the 

 pipes and smoke breeching in the engine room. The installation of 

 this oil feed system, in addition to increasing the efficiency of the 

 engines and reducing cost of repairs, will result in an actual saving 

 of about $100 a year on the cost of oil. 



A new Worthington Duplex pump purchased for removing water 

 of condensation from the main exhaust pipe was also installed. For 

 the first time since the installation of the plant, in 1909, it became 

 necessary to replace the tubes in two of the boilers, and also to have 

 the main bearings of two engines rebabbited. Notwithstanding that 

 the entire plant has been operated under pressure — on account of the 

 requirements of the Bureau of War Risk Insurance in 1917 to 1919 

 and the addition of the Freer Building to the heating and lighting 

 system — the deterioration is, in the opinion of the engineer, largely 

 due to the inability of the Museum to secure competent men as 

 stokers, firemen, and assistant engineers at the very small salaries 

 paid. 



The ice plant, which supplies ice for all of the buildings occupied 

 by the National Museum, was operated for 4,923 hours, producing a 

 total of 31T.6 tons. t 



Owing to the fact that the plant has been thoroughly overhauled 

 and the old oil and ammonia removed, its operation was much more 

 satisfactory than for several years. The cost of repairs, and the 

 material purchased, such as calcium chloride, oil, and ammonia, was 

 $152.09, so that the actual cost of the ice was less than 50 cents a ton. 



