Oct.  1897. 
Annual  Report  of  the  Director. 
i95 
ence  in  the  light  dispersement.  It  is  the  intention  to  carry  out  this 
plan  of  substituting  iron  for  glass  in  all  of  the  exposed  parts  of  the 
roof  where  the  glass  is  not  essential  as  a  means  of  conveying  light  to 
the  interior.  The  figures  immediately  over  the  south  entrance  have 
been  removed  and  the  two  ornaments  on  the  grounds  north  of  the 
building  have  been  razed.  The  roof  has  had  a  constant  and  very 
careful  inspection  and  has  been  kept  in  such  condition  that  the  coming 
winter  is  regarded  with  no  apprehension  whatever.  The  interior  of 
the  building  has  been  constantly  drawing  upon  the  labor  resources  of 
the  institution.  The  plaster  work  not  only  of  the  columns  but  of  the 
coves  and  the  cornices  requires  constant  attention.  The  offices  of  the 
Director,  the  Librarian,  the  Curator  of  Anthropology,  and  the  Super- 
intendent have  all  been  repaired,  repainted  and  generally  renovated 
during  the  year.  The  toilet  rooms  have  also  been  placed  in  better 
condition.  A  waiting  room  has  been  constructed  at  the  south  entrance 
for  the  accommodation  of  visitors  who  desire  to  send  their  card  to 
some  officer  of  the  institution  or  head  of  a  department.  The  three 
caravels  moored  in  the  south  pond  have  recently  received  two  coats 
of  lead  and  oil,  the  hatches  nailed  down,  the  seams  caulked  and  placed 
in  general  repair.  The  boats  are  now  in  a  very  presentable  condition. 
A  contract  has  been  entered  into,  with  the  consent  of  the  Board  of 
South  Park  Commissioners,  to  install  the  Viking  ship  in  a  permanent 
iron  pavilion  at  the  southeast  corner  of  the  main  building.  The 
tracings  of  all  drawings  for  new  installation  work,  cases,  etc.,  are  now 
kept  by  the  Superintendent,  and  plans  and  drawings  of  the  buildings 
and  the  water,  gas  and  steam  systems  have  also  been  made  of  per- 
manent record. 
Photography  and  Illustrations. — This  important  division  of  the 
Museum  has  added  measurably  to  its  proportions  the  past  year,  and, 
under  the  direction  of  the  Curator  of  Botany,  who  has  voluntarily 
taken  charge  of  it,  has  introduced  methods  and  inaugurated  facilities 
that  its  increasing  importance  seem  to  demand.  Large  cabinets  for 
the  storage  of  cuts  and  electrotypes  have  been  constructed  near  the 
Botanical  Laboratory,  and  all  of  the  blocks  illustrating  the  different 
publications  of  the  Museum  have  been  inventoried,  inscribed  and 
stored  in  intelligent  order,  whence  they  may  be  withdrawn  easily  from 
time  to  time,  if  required.  The  work  in  photography  was  discontinued 
for  a  part  of  the  year,  owing  to  the  absence  of  the  operator  on  the 
expedition  in  the  Northwest.  The  work  of  this  division,  however,  is 
becoming  constantly  of  a  higher  character,  and,  as  instruments  and 
appliances  are  provided,  its  scope  is  enlarged,  and  the  Museum  does 
