REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1921. 7 
on the roofs were repaired, the roofs painted, and a beginning made 
of painting the exterior woodwork of all windows of the building. 
On the Smithsonian Building the only work of importance was the 
painting of the exterior woodwork of the windows in the east end. 
When the Freer Building was planned, arrangements were made to 
procure heat, light, and power from the central heating plant, which 
the Institution was assured would be in a position to supply the same 
before needed. In the absence of such service, however, the Freer 
Gallery was connected with the Museum power plant, which necessi- 
tated the operation of the old boilers in the Arts and Industries 
Building during the coldest portion of the heating season. During 
this year the use of bituminous coal in these boilers was made possi- 
ble by the removal of the old flat grates and the installation of hand- 
operated stokers. The antiquated blow-off valve combination on the 
boilers in the Natural History Building was also replaced. 
Though the winter was a comparatively mild one, heat was fur- 
nished the buildings from October 6, 1920, to May 20, 1921, with a 
consumption of 3,224 tons of coal. While the cheapest grade is used, 
the cost of coal averaged $9.59 a ton. At one time it reached $10.70 a 
ton, about three times the contract price of 1916. The amount of 
electric current generated was 367,875 kilowatt hours, at a cost of 
3.285 cents a kilowatt hour. The ice plant, in operation for 4,017 
hours, produced 324.7 tons of ice, supplying all the buildings under 
the Smithsonian Institution on the Mall. The increasing demand 
for ice will necessitate a new machine within a few years. 
The power plant remained shut down during July and August, 
1920, and from June 4 to 30, 1921. It is more economical to purchase 
needed electric current than to operate the Museum plant, since cur- 
rent can be bought during the summer months at 2} cents a kilowatt 
hour by Government departments owning generating plants. This 
closing down of the plant permits also its operation during the year 
with fewer men—as the employees then take the greater portion of 
their leave—and allows a general overhauling of the machinery, 
obviating trouble during the heating season. 
Less trouble was experienced during the year than in the past 
four years in procuring the necessary labor, and for the first time in 
several years all of the men employed met the civil-service require- 
ments. While the quality of service rendered was not as high 
standard as desired, it proved fairly satisfactory. This can be read- 
ily understood when it is considered that the salaries of the assistant 
engineers and electricians are from 75 to 90 per cent less than those 
paid in private business in Washington. 
