44 Report of the President 



the Frog, San Joaquin Valley, and Newark Marsh Groups. 

 It was not possible to repair all of these without neglecting 

 other equally important work, but three of them have been re- 

 stored to their original condition. 



The more evident work of the Department of Construction 

 has been the completion of four fine concrete storage rooms 

 across the gallery of the West Wing, of twelve 

 Care of desk cases, fifth floor, for minerals, and thirteen 



Equipment^ metal frame cases for exhibits, the casing of the 

 Florida, Wolf and Lemur Groups, the making 

 of 500 glazed drawers for insects and 1,600 storage trays. But 

 these are simply the more evident things, and repairs and 

 alterations are steadily going on everywhere. Few realize the 

 amount of time required for the mere care of the building and 

 keeping it and the multitudinous cases in good order; fewer 

 still appreciate the amount of work and material involved in 

 the minor changes and improvements in the exhibits that are 

 continually taking place. 



By virtue of a special appropriation for the purpose, the wall 

 and floor cases of the Department of Geology have been re- 

 finished, having been in continuous use for about fifty years, 

 and the walls of the Woodland, Plains Indian, and Insect Halls 

 painted. -j .\ 



Extensive and much needed alterations have been made on 

 the window casings of the Philippine Hall, which, owing to 

 poor workmanship, have never been satisfactory, and the 

 upper windows in the Tertiary Hall have been made tight. 

 These are simply some of the major repairs but give an idea of 

 the many demands on the mechanic force, the roof of the 

 building alone calling for practically the continuous services of 

 one man, and repairs to floors and walls are steadily called for. 



Owing to the seriously corroded condition of the smokestack 

 of the heating and lighting plant and to the failure of the City 

 to provide for its immediate repair, the Executive Committee 

 authorized the President to order the work done, at a cost of 

 $3,350. It is expected that the City will ultimately reimburse 

 the Trustees for this necessary expenditure. 



On May 21, lightning struck the east tower of the Museum, 



