( 256) 
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF 
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. 
‘To THE DrrEcToR-IN-CHIEF. 
Szv: I have the honor to submit herewith my report for 
ithe year ending December 31, 1903. 
Buildings. 
1. Museum. All the columns under the dome of the build- 
ing have been painted with a mixture of white lead and zinc. 
The woodwork, such as sashes and doors, has been painted 
one coat throughout the building. 
The sills of the windows have been puttied and made 
watertight with waterproof cement. Plaster has been re- 
paired where it was needed and the iron rails of stairways 
painted. 
On the exterior, doors and window frames have been 
painted. Shelving has been built for storage of books in the 
triangular room attached to the library. 
Two sinks with water-supply and drainage for waste water 
have been constructed on the first and second floors, enclosed 
in oak wood lockers which are used for the storage of janitor’s 
supplies. 
On the roof about 160 square feet of tiles have been relaid 
in cement, and skylights repaired, cornices and gutters sold- 
ered and painted with metallic paint. 
On the second day of July the flagpole in front of the dome 
was struck by lightning, which broke off several feet of it. 
2. Public Conservatories. The exterior of the whole 
range, and doors and frames wherever it was practicable 
without deranging or moving plants in the interior, have been 
repaired and painted during the summer months, as well as 
other minor repairs such as glazing; the repair of doors has 
required constant attention, and it would be desirable to have 
those at the main entrance under the dome replaced by new 
ones made of seasoned cypress. 
