120 REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 



For publications and researches $18, 000 



For excnanges - 8, 000 



For books and apparatus 2, 000 



For contingencies aOO 



$43, 500 

 NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



The collections of the surveying and exploring expeditions of the 

 Government forming the National Museum continue to be in charge of 

 the Smithsonian Institution, Congress making annual appropriations for 

 the care and preservation of the specimens. The estimate submitted 

 for this purpose for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877, was $25,000, 

 but the amount granted was only $10,000. This large reduction in the 

 appropriation rendered it necessary to discharge the larger portion of 

 the scientific and laboring force of the museum, and to retain scarcely 

 enough to exhibit and preserve the specimens without attempting any 

 work in the way of making up sets of specimens for distribution to 

 other museums, colleges, and academies. 



To provide for the temporary storage of the large collections which 

 would be received from the Centennial Exhibition, Congress at its last 

 session granted to the Institution the use of an edifice on the mall, 

 known as the " Armory building,'^ and appropriated $4,500 for its 

 repair. The building was in a dilapidated condition, and required all 

 of this appropriation to put it in substantial repair, leaving nothing 

 for heating and other arrangements. A small additional appropriation 

 is recommended to be asked for at the present session of Congress to 

 complete the repairs. 



It was stated in the last report that it had been found necessary for 

 properly carrying on operations connected with natural history, for 

 which no conveniences existed in the Smithsonian edifice, that a sepa- 

 rate building should be erected on the grounds ; and the necessity for 

 this was the more urgent on account of the large preparation of new 

 specimens required for the Centennial Exhibition. 



For this purpose $3,000 were granted by Congress. This sum was 

 expended, but was found insufficient, and the remainder, to complete the 

 building, was advanced from the income of the Smithson fund. 



The amount thus advanced, $3,927.84, it is hoped, will be refunded to 

 the Institution by an appropriation in the deficiency bill of this session. 

 The following is a tat?ular statement of the condition of the National 

 Museum appropriations, January, 1877: 

 Appropriation for preservation of the Government collec- 

 tions for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876, (Digest of 



Appropriations 1876, p. 105) '. $20,000 00 



Expenditure from July 1, 1875, to December 31, 1875 10, 381 32 



Balance unexpended January 1, 1876 9, 618 68 



Expenditure from January 1 to June 30, 1876 9, 618 68 



