24 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1904. 



this part of the building had been made more secure, was also in prog- 

 ress at the close of the year. 



Many persistent leaks about the roof of the Smithsonian building, 

 which previous repairs had not corrected, were found to be mainly 

 due to the imperfect condition of the old tin gutters and down spouts, 

 which were repiired during the year, copper being generally substi- 

 tuted where a renewal of material was necessary. 



Reference has been made in earlier reports to the unsafe condition 

 of the plastering in Archeological Hall, which began to show innumer- 

 able large cracks several years ago. At times small pieces of the 

 plaster would fall, but in September, 1902, several such large masses 

 gave way from the ceiling as to damage the cases underneath and 

 emphasize the fact that the hall should be closed to the public. It was 

 only during the past year that the damage could be repaired, and this 

 necessitated a very considerable undertaking. The entire area of 

 plaster was carefully tested and all loose parts were removed. The 

 bare places were carefully pointed up, but the plaster cornices of the 

 large central panels were replaced by others of galvanized iron, as 

 being the cheaper method. Subsequently the room was painted in 

 water color, the walls green, the ceiling in light tints of green to ivory. 

 This extensive repair greatly disturbed the arrangement of the arche- 

 ological collections, and a considerable period will be required for the 

 renovation of the cases and the reinstallation of their contents. 



The number of cases made during the } r ear was 212, the number of 

 specimen drawers 3,378, these having been chiefly required for the 

 storage and arrangement of collections received from Government sur- 

 veys. A large part of the work done under the head of "Furniture 

 and fixtures," however, has consisted in the repair and renovation of 

 cases; the making and inserting of fittings in the exhibition cases, 

 including the shelving and their supports, and the tablets and other 

 devices on which the specimens are mounted; the more extensive 

 supports for the mounting of large exhibits, such as recent and fossil 

 vertebrates and ethnological and archeological objects; the making of 

 label-holders and the painting of large labels and signs for the cases 

 and halls, and the construction of laboratory and office furniture. 



Rearrangements in certain parts of the building have necessitated a 

 few readjustments of the electric-light wiring, and there have been 

 some minor extensions of this system into storerooms and laboratories 

 not previously so provided. A small ' electric motor has also been 

 installed in the geological workshops in the Emery building. 



The high-pressure steam boilers placed in the Museum building in 

 the summer of 1901 have continued to give satisfaction. From this 

 source both of the large buildings, as well as the several smaller ones 

 adjacent, are now heated. There has been the usual amount of repairs 

 in connection with the heating apparatus, and it has been found neces- 



