78 . UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



lockers, while the other has a shower bath attached. White Vermont 

 marble has been used extensively in the finishing, all floors being 

 of this material in 10 by 20-inch tiles with an 8-inch border. The 

 aiiterooms, except in some cases where they are separated from the 

 toilet rooms by Y-foot high marble partitions, have a 12-inch marble 

 base, but the toilet rooms proper and the anterooms referred to are 

 wainscoted with marble to a height of 7 feet. The plumbing parti- 

 tions, also of marble, line with the wainscoting. All wall surfaces 

 above the marble, as well as the ceilings, are plastered. 



A number of the smaller rooms in each of the four main stories 

 have been fitted up for housekeeping purposes. They have cement 

 floors and contain slop sinks of painted cast iron. Wash basins and 

 sinks are provided in the laboratories, work rooms and offices where 

 required. They are of enameled iron except in the case of some of 

 the sinks which are of soapstone. The plumbing pipes for hot and 

 cold water and the waste pipes are contained in the pier chases of 

 the outer and court walls and may be tapped as additional fixtures 

 are called for. 



TUNNELS 



The ground floor of the building having been constructed with 

 reference to its use for regular museum purposes, although contain- 

 ing the boilers and machinery of the mechanical plant, and the site 

 being too low in respect tO' the sewerage system of the city to permit 

 of the addition of an underground story, the distribution of the heat- 

 ing and other mains has been provided for in a series of tunnels 

 directly underneath the ground floor. These tunnels follow the ex- 

 terior and court walls of the building, except at the outer ends of 

 the wings and under the south pavilion, where their continuance is 

 obstructed, while cross branches at intervals afford additional means 

 for passing from one side to the other of the wings and ranges. The 

 side tunnels are built against the foundations and as one with them. 

 All are of concrete and measure in the clear at least 4 feet 6 inches 

 both in width and height. The thickness of the bottom is 6 inches, 

 and of the side walls and top 9 inches. The roof is flat and reenf orced 

 with expanded metal ; its upper surface is 7 inches below the ground 

 floor, through which access to the tunnels is had by means of cast- 

 iron trap doors. Terra cotta cellular conduits for the electric wires 

 extend along both sides, while the pipes are supported on brackets 

 and hangers. Connection with the several floors is made through the 

 vertical chases in the outer and court wall piers, which extend from 

 the tunnels to the attic. 



