102 UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



halls at night comprehends a general system and extensive provisions 

 for introducing such direct illumination of individual exhibits as may 

 be called for from time to time. 



A modern power plant supplies the steam and electric current for 

 heating and lighting and for operating such machinery as the build- 

 ing contains. There are electrical systems for recording the rounds 

 of the watchmen and for announcing the discovery of fire. Pipes 

 distribute water to all the floors, on each of which there are several 

 outlets with hose attachments in constant readiness for use, while a 

 powerful vacuum plant connected with all parts of the building 

 forms an important adjunct for cleaning purposes. 



In the furnishing of the building a great advance has been made in 

 the matter of museum equipment, which has largely been rendered 

 possible through the recent progress in metal workmanship. The 

 claims so strongly set forth in some quarters in favor of the use of 

 metal in the exhibition halls have, however, after thorough consider- 

 ation, been mostly disregarded, only a few small cases with steel 

 frames having been introduced. With the remote possibility of the 

 occurrence of a fire in the large open spaces and its early discovery 

 in any event, the employment of metal because of its non-combustible 

 nature is not called for. Wood, even of the best quality, and ma- 

 hogany was selected for the new building, is much more economical 

 than metal ; it lends itself more readily to artistic treatment, and the 

 different parts of cases retain their rigidity much better, being less 

 liable to warp and any tendency in that direction being more easily 

 corrected. 



The conditions surrounding the general and reserve collections are, 

 however, very different, since these are kept in closed rooms and in 

 the attic where their constant surveillance is not possible, and the 

 cases for their storage have been mainly constructed of or covered 

 with steel. This has not been done on the assumption that this 

 material is completely protective, as the contrary has often been 

 proved, but because, in proportion to the extent of its use, the chances 

 of a fire being started or gaining headway are greatly lessened. In 

 view of the further fact that the various storage rooms, either indi- 

 vidually or in small suites, are entirely enclosed by fireproof walls, 

 it would seem that every reasonable precaution had been taken to 

 insure the safe-keeping of these, the more valuable, parts of the 

 national collections. 



A detailed account of the furnishing of the building must be left 

 for a future report. Briefly, it may be said that, with the exception 

 of the desks, tables, file cases, chairs, etc., used in the laboratories and 

 offices, which are of commercial patterns, the bulk of all the furni- 

 ture has of necessity been specially made to meet the various and 

 particular needs of the Museum. In the construction of cases and 



