36 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884. 



the National Museum. For instance, seventeen boxes were returned to the Signal 

 Office, fifteen boxes to the Light-House Board, &c. 



Toward the end of January it was found necessary to add to the force two carpen- 

 ters, two painters, four laborers, and one fireman. In February and April farther 

 additions were rendered necessary. 



Daring the latter month two additional carpenters^ one painter, one stone-cutter, 

 and ten laborers were employed. On account of lack of convenient quarters, it was 

 found necessary in April to clear out a portion of the southeast court for the use of 

 painters. The extra force was discharged on May 21. 



On the 14th of May the entire force of laborers was very busily engaged in making 

 preparations for the opening of the fisheries section, which took place in the evening 

 of that date. It had been necessary for several days previous to keep the men at 

 work until midnight, and it was only by most strenuous efforts that the fisheries hall 

 was ready for the visitors a minute or two before the appointed time. 



On the 10th of July the work of preparation for the Louisville and Cincinnati Ex- 

 positions was commenced. Three extra carpenters were employed. On this day the 

 construction of a workshop was begun in the grounds east of the Museum building 

 for the use of the stone-cutters, and a few days later the ground was broken for the 

 erection of an annex building, it having been found that the preparations for these 

 expositions demanded more space than could x>ossibly be found in the Museum build- 

 ing. This annex was finished on August 4, and the taxidermist's laboratory was im- 

 mediately removed to it from the Museum building. A portion of the annex was 

 alloted to the Bureau of Ethnology. On the 5th of August all the ethnological speci- 

 mens in the northeast court were taken to the new building. 



On August 6 the work of packing the Louisville exhibits was commenced in the 

 northeast court, and on August 12 two car-loads, containing 112 packages, were shipped 

 to the exposition. On the following day the superintendent left Washington for 

 Louisville for the purpose of assisting in the reception and arrangement of the ex- 

 hibits. 



On August 2G two car-loads of exhibits, numbering 76 packages, were shipped to 

 the Cincinnati Exposition, and the superintendent was also requested to go there 

 and render similar assistance. During this month the force of laborers and mechanics 

 was kept unusually busy, and at the end of the month the extra hands were all dis- 

 charged. 



On the first of September a small frame building was erected east of the stone-cut- 

 ters' house for the purpose of poisoning skins, &c. 



In the middle of October the National Museum received from the Botanical Gar- 

 dens some very fine tropical plants, which have been placed around the fountain in 

 the rotunda. Smaller plants were also arranged on the four balconies overlooking 

 the rotunda. These plants have added very much to the appearance of the Museum. 



On November 24 the work of shipping the exhibits intended for the New Orleans 

 Exposition was commenced. On the 30th the superintendent left for New Orleans, 

 in order to help in the arrangement of specimens. 



The preparation of the exhibit for New Orleans necessitated a large addition to 

 the force of mechanics and laborers, and during July 31 names were added to this 

 roll, distributed as follows: 4 carpenters, 1 painter, 4 masons, 10 laborers, and 12 

 aids, assigned to various departments for special duty. In August this force was in- 

 creased by 4 painters, 1 brass finisher, 1 laborer, and several aids. 



During the absence of the superintendent at Cincinnati, Louisville, and New 

 Orleans, Mr. C. P. Crandell acted in his place. On account of sickness Mr. Crandell 

 was forced to temporarily resign his duties, arid Mr. C. A. Steuart was then placed 

 in charge. 



(b) Electric service. 



There have been no important additions to tins service during the 

 year, and a statement of the electrical apparatus now in use in the 



