REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1918. 17 



machine was $1,197.31, of which $301.91 was expended for labor in 

 making repairs and material purchased, such as calcium chloride, 

 oils, ammonia, etc., and $982 was charged for the current used in 

 manufacturing ice. As the demand for ice has increased the plant 

 has become too small, and it is probable that a new plant will have 

 to be purchased soon. 



The installation of the steam and return mains for furnishing heat 

 to the building for the Freer Collections made material changes nec- 

 essary in the pipes leading from the power plant to the entrance of 

 the tunnel connecting that building with the Smithsonian building. A 

 new 6-inch steam main was installed in the tunnel connecting the power 

 plant and Smithsonian building, and the old 4-inch steam main was 

 used for returning the condensation from the buildings on the south 

 side of the park to the power plant in the natural history building. 

 It was expected that this work would have been completed during 

 the summer, but owing to lack of labor and other causes the pipes 

 were not covered until December. Steam was turned on the build- 

 ings on October 2 and turned off May 18. 



Few other changes were made in the heating system, and the repairs 

 were less than in any preceding year, due to scarcity of material and 

 the fact that the temperature in the exhibition halls was kept lower 

 than ever before. Great care had to be taken not to leave the steam 

 on in the buildings any longer than was absolutely necessary to pre- 

 vent freezing and to provide for the comfort of the occupants. 



The occupancy of certain parts of the natural history building, not 

 heretofore used as offices, by the Bureau of War Risk Insurance, made 

 necessary a considerable amount of electrical work, which was done 

 by the employees of the Museum under the direction of the engineer, 

 as it was impossible to secure skilled men, and also in order to be as- 

 sured that the work would be satisfactorily done from the standpoint 

 of safety. The 115 special fixtures purchased during the previous 

 year for installation under the galleries in the exhibition halls of the 

 arts and industries building were installed, besides 22 additional ones 

 purchased from this year's appropriation. 



It became evident early in the autumn, owing to the increased cost 

 of coal, that the appropriation for heating and lighting would not be 

 sufficient, and an additional estimate of $5,674 was submitted to Con- 

 gress, which was granted. Owing to still further increases in the 

 price of coal, later in the winter this sum also proved inadequate and 

 it became necessary to request the Bureau of War Risk Insurance to 

 furnish 448 additional tons. 



Furniture was acquired during the year as follows: Twenty-five 

 exhibition cases and 153 pieces of storage and laboratory furniture, 

 nnd 19 pieces of office and other furniture were purchased or con- 



91933°— nat Mrs 1918 2 



