REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1910. 13 
“For the completion of the new building of the United States 
National Museum and its surroundings, namely, the construction of 
roads and walks, grading and sodding, construction of a waterproof 
granolithic platform along the outer walls of the building, and the 
painting of the interior walls of the building, to be expended under 
the direction of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, seventy- 
seven thousand dollars.” 
BUILDINGS. 
New building.—At the close of the year the entire exterior of the 
new building had been completed, with the exception of the broad 
steps leading to the main entrance, on which work was then in progress. 
Much still remained to be done in the interior of the south pavilion, 
including both the auditorium on the ground floor and the rotunda 
above, but the main part of the building lacked only certain minor 
features of construction and had been wholly in the possession of 
the Museum during the greater part of the year. 
The abandonment of the rented buildings at the end of the previous 
year had made it necessary to move their contents, comprising large 
and valuable collections, to the new building in May and June, 1909. 
This material was placed in several’of the exhibition halls where 
the floors had been laid and in one of the open courts, affording an 
excellent opportunity for overhauling and assorting a large part of 
the specimens. On August 10, 1909, occupation of the third story, 
which is divided into rooms for laboratories, reserve collections, and 
offices, was obtained from the superintendent of construction, 
although at that time the story was unprovided with doors, and 
temporary expedients had to be adopted for the protection of such 
property as was first moved. On November 9, following, the remain- 
ing stories of the main building were turned over to the Museum, 
and while constructive work of a subordinate character continued 
to be carried on during most of the rest of the year, it can not be 
said to have materially interfered with Museum operations. 
The mechanical plant was completed in ample time to meet the 
requirements of the winter season, the boilers being put into permanent 
service on October 15, 1909, and soon demonstrating their efficiency. 
The heating system in the new building is by means of hot water. 
Steam connections with the other buildings, through the medium of 
an underground tunnel, were effected on November 3, and since then 
all of the heating of the Smithsonian group of structures on the Mall 
has been provided from the new plant. Electrical connections with 
the generators of the plant by means of cables also running through 
the tunnel, and finished in June, 1910, cover the same area. 
Certain minor, though important, mechanical and electrical fittings 
have likewise been supplied. In view of the combustible nature of 
parts of the collection, an effective fire system has been provided, 
