42 



REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1886 



(c) Cases and Fixtures. 



During the year ending June 30, 18SG, $21,521.24* was expended out 

 of the $40,000 appropriated for furniture and fixtures, for exhibition 

 cases, screens, unit drawers and trays, tablets, stands, unit boxes, lum- 

 ber, plate glass, locks, brackets, and other necessary fittings ; $3,171.93 

 has been expended for glass jars for holding specimens; $G32.91 was 

 expended for furniture for exhibition halls and offices; $1,771.90 was 

 expended for apparatus for laboratories, halls, and repairs ; $278 was 

 expended for grate and boiler fixtures — a total of $27,370.04. 



There was also expended, out of the furniture and fixtures appropria- 

 tion, for wages of mechanics and laborers, and salaries of property clerk, 

 accountant, copyist, and other necessary employes, $12,578.91, t leaving 

 a balance of $45.05. 



(d) Pkoperty and Supplies. 



The methods employed in the department of supplies have been 

 greatly improved during the year under the administration of W. V. Cox, 

 chief clerk of the Museum. The force of clerks has been temporarily 

 increased, and steps have been taken toward the completion of the 

 records, some of which were in an imperfect condition, owing to the 

 rapid growth of the Museum since its reorganization. 



Experience has proven that when a large supply of articles is kept 

 in stock there is a greater tendency to waste and extravagance than 

 when the supply is limited. In other words, no economy has been found 



* Tho following cases, screens, unit drawers, etc., liave been made for the Museum 

 during tho year by outside constructors : 



25 mahogany unit table cases $2, 150. 00 



15 wh repine unit table cases 672.45 



16 mahogany half unit table cases 768.00 



5 wh tfe pine half unit table cases 150. 00 



2 wbito pine Salvin bird cases 157. 88 



1 wbite pino sectional library case 21.00 



4 wbito pi no £-unit table cases 78. 40 



1 white pine card catalogue case 1 6. 00 



7 Kensington cases 478. 00 



1 wh ito pine photo-microscope case 36. 00 



1 wbito pine tile case 32.50 



2 herbarium cases 165. 00 



10 redwood insect cases 607. 00 



1 ash seal case 135.00 



1 walnut case remodeled 85. 00 



9 fold screens, one-half pillars 667. 00 



10 poplar arch screens 150.00 



1 oak mosaic screen 59. 00 



30 fold screens 69.00 



1 mineral dresser 24.00 



and 



1 pair storm doors 



15 mahogany and ash frames 



1 white pine base 



5,429 unit drawers and trays 



54,440 pasteboard trays, boxes, 



covers 



14,984 tablets for mounting specimens 



763 bird stands and wire nests 



100 insect boxes and cork for lining . . 



18, 200 label-bolders 



1,689 plate glass 



530 locks 



1,000 brackets and hooks 



File boxes and holders 



Drawings lor cases, etc 



Traveling expenses to inspect cases. . 

 Interior and other necessary fittings . 

 Lumber 



83. 50 



26. 26 



20.00 



2, 871. 74 



1,309.69 



9i5. 18 



95. 96 



128.50 



85.55 



2, 324. 43 



817. 95 



199. 00 



50.48 



896. 60 



12.91 



2, 674. 55 



2, 467. 71 



Total 21,521.24 



The following cases, diaphragms, pedestals, etc., have been made in the Museum 

 carpenter shop. 



7 mahogany slope cases, half size. 



3 storage cases. 

 7 poplar arch-screens. 

 10 oak settees. 

 26 white pine bases. 



4 oak bases. 

 16 diapbragms. 



t The highest salary paid was that of property clork, $100 per month ; lowest, copyist, $30 per month ; 

 average, $62.50. The greatest number of employes in a month was 30 ; the smallest, 7; an average of 

 16 T V The highest wages paid mechanics and laborers was $3 per day ; lowest, $1.50 ; average, $2.25. 



1 cherry desk. 



1 walnut file case. 



1 mahogany file case. 



1 mahogany case for maps. 



1 mahogany file and drawers for case. 



20 walnut pedestals, assorted sizes. 



