46 Report of the President 



to endeavor to increase attendance by special exhibitions. This 

 is particularly true of great museums with large, well arranged 

 exhibits, where such an effort diverts the attention of the staff 

 and of the mechanics and preparators from their regular and 

 systematic efforts to improve the museum collections. The 

 writer does not believe that any exhibit that can ordinarily be 

 made is of sufficient value to warrant the closing to visitors of 

 an orderly, well labeled collection for so long as a month even. 

 The number of incoming and outgoing shipments, aside from 

 mail packages, that have passed through the shipping room is 

 4,969, comprising 11,631 pieces. 



The need of the Museum for the new wing and court build- 

 ing is more pressing than ever, and there is continued call 

 for cases, especially for storage cases for the 

 ing ee s S f- Uc fy ser j e s. The unfortunate delay in pro- 

 viding for these has kept the case work just about six months 

 behind the need for new cases. 



The President in his report again shows the need of the 

 important additions to the Museum just noted, and the Direc- 

 tor feels the want of a third wing especially designed for 

 workroom, storage and temporary exhibitions. This is em- 

 phasized by the fact that because of the work on the various 

 large mural paintings, either actually in hand or projected, the 

 Museum must either put up a temporary building (and it is 

 very desirable that the work should be carried on near the 

 Museum) or pay rent— either directly or in increased price for 

 the paintings. 



An incidental but somewhat expensive need is that for two 



flagstaffs, with ornamental bases, whereon to fly the national 



and city flags. These are estimated to cost not less 



agpo es t ^ an (£3,000. As it is only recently that Americans 

 have awakened to the fact that they have a national flag, and 

 still more recently that civic feeling has called for a city flag, 

 it is to be hoped that this want may be filled. 



