REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR I914 



CONDITION OF THE SCIENTIFIC MUSEUM 



In the report of the preceding year, attention was directed to 

 the progress made in the case equipment of the Museum and the 

 installation of the exhibits therein. The first contract for Museum 

 eases was entered into with George W. Cobb, jr, and under this 

 contract 384 cases of 28 different types were called for and de- 

 livered. Some extended account with illustrations was given last 

 year of these various types of Museum cases, it being thought that 

 the information would be of service to other museums. As a 

 matter of record it may be here put down that the workmanship 

 on these cases was of a high grade and is proving not only sub- 

 stantial but satisfactory in all except a few minor particulars. 



The installation has now proceeded to practically the complete 

 equipment of all the cases that have been installed in the main hall, 

 Mineralogy — Geology — ■ Paleontology, there being in this hall only 

 a few remaining where the exhibits have yet to be completed. In 

 the Zoology Hall a number of cases have yet to be filled, especially 

 those which were designed to hold the entomological collections. 

 The designs of the State Architect for these cases were never 

 complete and upon their receipt it was necessary to add new con- 

 struction which required 450 joined and veneered panels which it 

 proved very difficult to get satisfactorily made. The work upon 

 these entomological cases is now approaching conclusion and in- 

 stallation will presently begin. 



It became evident a year ago that the case equipment for the 

 paleontology hall was inadequate and a contract was made with 

 the Ely J. Rieser Company of New York for the construction of 

 37 additional cases of a new type designated as "AA," which have 

 now been delivered and are in the process of equipment. These 

 cases are of small size, with a straight back and desk front, designed 

 to be placed against the walls, and have them arranged about the 

 long walls of the paleontology hall. 



The installation of the collections in archeology was for a long 

 time obstructed by pending plans for the execution of the Iroquois 

 group cases, and in the uncertainty as to the final form of these 

 and their date of completion no progress could be made in this 

 division of the Museum exhibits. The exhibits for this division 

 have been assigned to the eastern and western mezzanine floors, 

 an area which, except for the intervention of the rotunda, has the 



