Letter of the Day: April 11

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 05863

Repair of Skylight

Surgeon General's Office,
U.S.Army Medical Museum and Library,
Corner of 7th and B Streets SW.,
Washington, April 11, 1902

To the Surgeon General,
U.S. Army

General:

I have the honor to report that two panes of glass of the skylight of the photograph gallery of this building, need replacing . The panes, not being perfectly straight (always more or less concave), seem to rest on the four corners with result, that with every heavy windstorm the corners break off. Thus it has been necessary to have the glass repaired every year since the occupation of this building. I would therefore recommend that the glass of the entire skylight (18 x 12 ft.) be replaced with straight heavy ribbed glass, a sample of which, furnished by C.E. Hodgkin, 918 Seventh St., N.W. is herewith submitted. I understand that the cost of this change would not exceed $40.00.

Very respectfully,
Calvin DeWitt
Col. & Asst. Surgeon General, U.S.A.
In charge of Museum & Library Division

Letter of the Day: March 25

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 03775

Subject: Repair of Army Medical Museum Building.

War Department,
Surgeon General's Office,
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library
Corner of 7th and B Streets SW

Washington, March 25, 1899

To the Surgeon General,
U.S. Army

General

I have the honor to state that the following repairs are necessary at the Army Medical Museum Building.
1. Repairing metal work of entire roof including new spouts where necessary
2. Painting entire roof of building.
3. Kalsoming Museum Hall in conformity with present color.
4. Kalsoming entrance hall, corridors, photograph gallery and 3 rooms.

As regards No. 1, the recent storms here damaged the metal work of the roof in a number of places, allowing the rains to penetrate into the photograph gallery, the museum and library halls, and room No. 7 on third floor. It is estimated that the necessary the repairs, including several new spouts will cost about $35.00.

When repairs to the metal work of the roof have been made, roofs of main as well as rear building should be repainted. They were last painted in 1895. The estimated cost of this work is $130.

In regard to the Museum hall, I would state that it has not been rekalsomined since its first occupation in 1887. During this time a number of repairs have been made to the plastering, and the rain has leaked through the roof leaving the walls very much defaced. It is estimated that the area to be kalsomioed [sic] is 2000 square yards (more or less), which, in tints, at 11 cents per square yard would account to $220.00.

The walls of the entrance hall, of the stairs, and main corridors, which were kalsomined three years ago, are open to the public in all kinds of weather, and are much defaced and worn. Rains have spoiled the kalsomining in the photograph gallery and in room No. 7, of third floor, and the removal of stationary wall cases from the new faculty and school room has left the walls marred. This area to rekalsomined contains about 4300 square yards, and at 7 cents per yard would require $301.00. To this should be added for repainting the skirting (washboards) in Museum Hall, corridors and rooms, about 1500 running feet, at 1 cent per foot, $15.00.

The repair of the metal work and the re-painting of the roof should be done as soon as possible, and I would suggest, as the best time for kalsomining, the middle or latter part of April.

Very respectfully,
Dallas Bache
Col. & Asst. Surgeon General, U.S.A.
In charge of Museum and Library Division.