REPOKT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. . 53 



iam H. Eush, U. S. Navy, has been a valued friend to the Museum, 

 especially to the Department of Mollusks. Several i)ersons have, as 

 usual, received instruction in taxidermy and photography. A request 

 made by Mr. Eobert P. Bigelow for work room in the Museum was 

 granted. 



CURRENT ADMINISTRATIVE WORK. 



BUILDINGS AND LABOR: POLICE AND PUBLIC COMFORT. 



This department is under the charge of Henry Horan, superintendent 

 of buildings. 



At the beginning of the present fiscal year the staif employed for 

 po!ice and inspection, under the charge of Henry Horan, superinten- 

 dent of buildings, consisted of 1 assistant superintendent, 12 watch- 

 men, 5 door-keepers, 1 telephone operator, 1 copyist, 1 mail messenger ; 

 for construction, care of buildings and repairs, 4 carpenters, 2 paint- 

 ers ; for labor and cleaning, 3 skilled laborers, 16 laborers, 7 cleaners, 2 

 attendants. For heating and lighting there was employed 1 engineer, 

 with 6 firemen. Extra laborers have been employed from time to time, 

 and particularly in connection with the preparation of the exhibit for 

 the Cincinnati Exposition. 



The following paragraphs contain a condensed summary of the most 

 important work accomplished in each month : 



1887. 



July. — During this month the task of preparing an exhibit for the Minneapolis Ex- 

 position was commenced, under the general supervision of Mr. W. V. Cox, chief clerk. 

 Tlie work of packing ;ind shipping the exhibit occupied the time of the greater part 

 of the force until late in August, when Mr. C. A. Steuart, assistant superintendent of 

 buildings, was sent to Minuneapolis to superintend the work of unpacking and in- 

 stalling the exhibit. This work was completed on August 31, the opening day of the 

 Exposition. 



August. — During this month the work of removing the frame annex east of the 

 Museum building was completed. The material thus obtained was utilized in the 

 erection of work and storage sheds south of the Smithsonian building. Steam-pipes 

 were laid, in order to connect these sheds with the boilers in the Smithsonian build- 

 ing. The collection of scientiiic instruments was removed from the north hall of the 

 Museum building to a room specially fitted for its reception in the east wing of the 

 Smithsonian building. 



September: — Much of the time of the laborers during this month was occupied in re- 

 arranging the cases in the Anthropological hall of the Smithsonian building. A 

 large collection of stone images, models of cliff dwellings, and other objects of great 

 weight, was removed from the Museum building to this hall. This work necessitated 

 great care in its execution. A cast of a whale in the south hall of the Museum build- 

 ing was removed from its base and suspended from the ceiling, thus affording addi- 

 tional floor space. 



October. — During this month was commenced the erection of sheds south of the 

 Smithsonian building. The arrangement of the material which had been removed 

 from the Museum building to the Anthropological hall in the Smithsonian building 

 was finished. The walls and ceilings in the basement of the Smithsonian building 

 were whitewashed. The sewerage in the basement of the Smithsonian building was 

 repaired. Thirteen walnut cases, formerly used in the Smithsonian building, were re- 

 constructed, to conform to the needs of the Department of Metallurgy. The cases in 

 the Department of Lithology and Physical Geology were re-arranged. The signal 

 clocks throughout the buildings were put in order. Several pine cases were erected 

 in the basement of the Smithsonian building for the use of the Department of Fishes, 



