REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 47 



distributed as speedily as possible to the various points tbrougliout the 

 country requiring them. Of course, this cannot be done under present 

 circumstances. 



Nature of increased accommodations required. — In view of the fact that 

 the collections for which provision is needed represent a bulk of at least 

 three times the present capacity of the Smithsonian building, it is evi- 

 dent that to accommodate these, and to make reasonable provision 

 for probable increase in the future, a building of great magnitude will 

 be required. If, however, this be constructed according to the usual 

 plan of Government buildings in Washington, the expense would be so 

 very great as to render it doubtful whether the necessary appropriation 

 can be obtained, and in any event the period of time reqiiired for com- 

 pleting the edifice would extend over so many years that the greater 

 part of the collections now boxed might be destroyed by rust, decay, the 

 attacks of insects, &c., while the country would lose the stimulus of the 

 exhibition and the benefits of its study. 



Any new edifice should be in connection with the present Smithsonian 

 building, and, in a measure, form its extension, so that the entire Na- 

 tional Museum might be together, and a single supervision extended 

 over the whole. 



After a careful consideration of the problems relating to the subject 

 of a building, a plan has been settled upon to be presented to Congress 

 for its consideration, which, it is believed, embraces, in a very marked 

 degree, the requirements of economy, space, convenience, comfort, and 

 freedom from danger of fire. The idea of this was suggested by Gen- 

 eral Meigs as the result of his special inquiries into public buildings 

 and museums abroad, and the details have been worked out by Mr. 

 Cluss. This involves an edifice with a floor area 300 feet square, 

 and so arranged as to be capable of being excellently lighted. A concrete 

 floor is proposed, for the purpose of keeping out moisture and preventing 

 the lodgement of vermin, w ith brick walls and an iron, slate, or metal roof. 

 It is believed that such a building can be completed and provided with the 

 necessary heating-apparatus at a cost not to exceed $250,000, or about 

 $2.84 per square foot. By its simplicity and uniformity of structure, and 

 the absence of cut-stone or carving, it is thought that the whole can be 

 completed and ready for occupation within ten months' time from its 

 commencement. — S. F. Baird. 



GOVERNMENT EXPLORATIONS AND SURVEYS. 



The following are brief accounts of the principal explorations of the 

 Government in 1876, from which specimens will be derived for increas- 

 ing the collections of the National Museum. They are furnished by the 

 several directors of the explorations. 



1. Under Lieut. George M. Wheeler, Engineer Department, U. S. Army. — 

 The geographical surveys west of the one hundredth meridian, under 



