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water plants, one of them to be provided with a heating sys- 
tem connected with that of the conservatories ; this contract 
also includes. the construction of two large and four small 
flights of cut stone steps at the edge of the terrace on which 
the conservatories stand, and will essentially complete all 
construction-work contemplated at the public conservatories, 
in accordance with the general plan of the Garden. The 
amount of this contract is $16,598. 
3. Power House and Subways. These, and the steam 
heating plant in general have required only ordinary repairs, 
and are in good order at the present time, the only incident 
in operation worthy of special remark having been a leak in 
the steam main to the museum building at a point about mid- 
way between that building and the power house, which was 
discovered and repaired late in the autumn. 
4. Propagating Houses. Only ordinary repairs have been 
necessary at the propagating houses. The increase in the 
number of plants to take care of has crowded them incon- 
veniently at times, but this will be relieved by the execution 
of a contract for the building of an additional propagating 
house, awarded by the Commissioner of Parks to Hitchings 
& Co. in the autumn, the amount of this contract being 
$7,593. This work will complete the range of propagating 
houses in accordance with the general plan of the Garden 
and will also supply a number of propagating pits, which 
have been much needed. Slight repairs to the present 
propagating houses will be included in this work. 
g. Stable. Only ordinary repairs have been needed to 
keep the stable in good order. 
6. Public Comfort Station. This building was built at the 
time the museum building and the power house were con- 
structed and it was included in the general contract for build- 
ings. Inasmuch as path approaches to it had never been 
completed, and it was located north of the museum building 
near the upper lake, at a place little frequented by visitors, 
it has never been opened for use by visitors and was kept 
securely locked and frequently inspected. It was tempora- 
