REPORT OF kB&lBI \\T DIRECTOR. 37 



National Museum will be found under this heading in the report for 

 L883, 



The Superintendent of the Onited States Naval Observatory has in- 

 cluded tlif Smithsonian building and thai <>i* the National Museum in 

 the series of public establishments which receive telegraphic time at 

 noun on each successive day, and a clock, fitted up under the direction 

 of the Observatory, with an arrangement i>.\ which the Observatory 

 itself corrects any aberration in time, has been supplied. The money 

 expense has been borne by the Institution, but no charge has been 

 made for the time Bervice. 



Through the courtesy of Colonel Rockwell, Superintendent of Public 

 Buildingsand Grounds, connection has been made with the underground 

 telephone laid by his authority through the public grounds by the War- 

 ing Company. A special advantage in this was the opportunity of 

 making a more satisfactory connection between the National Museum 

 building and the United states car}) ponds, a service, that previously 

 had been inncli interrupted. Connection was also made through tin 1 , 

 same trench with the Fire Alarm Telegraph Company, and the neces- 

 sary permission to open North B street was promptly granted by the 

 District Commissioners. 



(c) Property and supplies. 



The property clerk has, as hitherto, been in charge of and held re- 

 sponsible for all articles of furniture-, and, in general, all Museum sup- 

 plies, and has been required to inspect the same and report upon them 

 to the Assistant Director. It is also his duty to keep in hand a stock 

 of such articles as are in most general use, issuing the same to any per- 

 son who presents a requisition duly endorsed. He is also required, when 



necessary, to buy special articles, whose purchase has been duly up- 

 proved. 



It is the duty of the property clerk to see that in the purchase of 

 goods two points are especially attended to, viz: quality and price. If 

 the cost of an article will probably exceed $10, the property clerk is 

 required to obtain estimates from several reliable dealers. 



(d) Accounts. 



Owing to the continued ill-health of Mr. George S. Hobbs, who had 

 been in charge of this department, it was found necessary to relieve 

 him of official duties, and on July 13 Mr. EL W. Spofford was engaged 

 to till his place temporarily, and also to assist Mr. William V. < 'OX, who 

 was acting as financial clerk on the special exposition staff. 



The administration of the Museum accounts has been carried on, as 

 heretofore, under the direction of the chief clerk of the Smil hsonian 

 institution, and all payments have been made through his office. A 

 statement of the receipts and expenditures of the Museum will be found, 

 as nsual, in the report of the executive committee of the Board of lo- 

 gouts of the Smithsonian I ustitution. 



