68 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1890. 



In the office of the chief clerk 1,451 orders for supplies have been sent 

 out during the year, over 1,000 letters have been written, 550 circular 

 letters and 265 proposals for supplies have been sent out, and 1,051 

 vouchers have been passed upon and paid. 



This work, which can be set down in numbers, is but a small part of 

 the labor which devolves upon this office, and upon the prompt and ac- 

 curate accomplishment of which the efficiency of the scientific branches 

 of Museum work largely depends. The force, which consists of two 

 clerks and one copyist, are so hard pressed that it has been this year, 

 as usual, a question if all would be able to take more than a fraction of 

 the annual leave which is accorded to employes in the Museum. 



CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTS. 



In the report for 1889 the work of this department was referred to 

 at some length in order to indicate, to those who might be interested, 

 the methods of administration which had been adopted in it, aud the 

 scope of the work assigned to it. There has been no material change 

 iu either during the year. 



Mr. K. I. Geare, chief of the division of correspondence and re- 

 ports, has rendered important aid iu this work. The clerical force of 

 the office has been increased, aud now consists of three stenographers, 

 two typewriters, an index clerk, and a messenger. 



During the year about 7,000 official papers have been prepared for 

 the signature of the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary. 



The following geographical statement of letters written in reply to 

 requests for information upon various subjects, may be of interest as 

 showing the amount of correspondence of this kind carried on in differ- 

 ent parts of the United States and in other countries. 



Locality. 



No. of 



letters 

 written. 



Locality. 



No. of 

 letters 

 written. 





27 

 41 

 26 

 64 

 31 

 59 

 11 



5 



1,478 



70 



12 



6 

 125 



7 





72 





Iowa 



68 





51 







34 







25 







63 







133 







209 







52 







39 







1C 







45 







24 







24 



