The older buildings have required only ordinary repairs, 

 but these have increased in total amount from previous 

 years and will doubtless still further increase as the build- 

 ings become older. The entire exterior of conservatory 

 range no. I was painted, as well as that of the propagating 

 houses. Some interior painting was done in the museum 

 building in carrying out the general scheme of tinting the 

 walls of the museum halls, during such time as the painters 

 were not required, during cold weather, on the green- 

 houses. The necessary increase in expense for repairs 

 is especially evident in the steam-heating plant; several 

 hundred feet of new radiating pipe has been required in 

 conservatory range no. I and more will be required this 

 year; furnace grates have to be replaced and are an item 

 of considerable expense. 



The extent of repairs required has become such that a 

 shop for mechanics is desirable. At present the carpenter 

 shop is in the basement of the museum building, the paint 

 shop in the basement of conservatory range no. i, and the 

 blacksmith shop a temporary wooden house near the 

 Upper Lake. It would be economical and convenient if 

 a shop were built, located preferably in the vicinity of the 

 stable and propagating houses on the east side of the 

 grounds. 



The shelter house, planned for construction on the shore 

 of the Upper Lake, was built during the season; its com- 

 pletion was greatly delayed on account of inefficient con- 

 tractors, and some work on it still remains to be done under 

 the terms of the contract, the time limit of which has been 

 much exceeded. It is a pleasing little building of concrete 

 with a tile roof, and will be very useful. It is desirable 

 that several shelter houses be built at other points of the 



The extension of conservatory range no. 2, made possible 

 by an appropriation of $25,000 by the city, was begun in 

 November under a Park Department contract with John 



