NATURAL HISTORY BUILDIKG 21 



the east and west wings there are on each side of the south pavilion 

 eleven window openings in each story, at the ends of these wings five 

 openings, and in each front of the ranges nine openings. Two of the 

 basement openings at the outer ends of these wings, the second one 

 from each corner, have been carried down to the ground level and 

 made into wagon entrances for freight and coal. The window ar- 

 rangement in the courts agrees quite closely with that of the outer 

 walls except in the attic story. 



The building contains three public stairs of moderate but adequate 

 dimensions, so disposed as to encroach but little upon the floor space. 

 One is located directly east of the north entrance, while the other two 

 occupy tower-like constructions in the northeast and northwest comers 

 of the main pavilion. There are four passenger elevators in two 

 pairs, one of which is on the west of the north entrance, the other in 

 the main pavilion near the south entrance. Two large freight ele- 

 vators are also provided, being placed one on each side of the building 

 at the junction of the ranges with the wings and in close proximity 

 to the entrances for the delivery of freight. Service stairs adjoining 

 these elevators connect the several stories. 



A modern steam and electric plant, installed in the basement of 

 the east wing, provides for the heating and lighting of not only this 

 but also the other buildings occupied by the Museum and furnishes 

 such motive power as is required. The mains are carried through 

 tunnels under the basement floor, whence connections are made with 

 the several stories through the chases in the wall piers. Arrange- 

 ments likewise exist for ventilation, vacuum cleaning, the manufac- 

 ture of ice, the distribution of hot and cold water, announcing and 

 fighting fire, watchmen's signals, and for other purposes connected 

 with the maintenance and protection of so large a building with its 

 valuable contents. 



An important feature is a well appointed auditorium, with a seat- 

 ing capacity for 565 persons, located in the basement story of the 

 main pavilion. 



The ground area covered by the building, being the dimension of 

 the basement story, is 136,171 square feet, while the area enclosed by 

 the building, that is to say the area of the basement and of the courts 

 combined, is 168,752 feet. With the addition of the granite ap- 

 proaches, the space comprised within the area of the building con- 

 struction is increased to 176,834 square feet. 



The total extent of available floor space furnished by the building 

 is 468,118 square feet, distributed as follows: Basement, 121,173 

 square feet; first story, 119,480 square feet; second story, 86,357 

 square feet; attic story, 86,428 square feet; the lofts in the wings, 

 54,680 square feet. 



