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SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM
WASHINGTON, D. C.

OFFICE OF
ASSISTANT SECRETARY.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
IN CHARGE U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM

December 19, 1910.

Mr. George W. Alger,
915 Union Trust Building,
Detroit, Michigan,

Dear Sir:
I have your letter of the 16th instant, and will say, in reply, that I would interpret Mr. Freer's order to the Biele Company as you have done. His dimensions certainly relate to the glass and not to the frame. The exact outside measurements of the cases show the lengths to be as follow:
One large case: Glass top, 94 inches; wood frame at base, 95 13/16 inches.
Two smaller cases: Glass top, 69 3/4 inches; wood frame at base 71 3/4 inches.
I do not know how to advise in this matter. The rules of the Museum are very rigid, and any furniture which does not measure up to the fraction of an inch is returned to the contractor. The Biele Company should at least make some deduction in their price.

Very truly yours,
R. Rathbun.
Assistant Secretary
in charge of National Museum.