8 EEPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



the same street (near Ninth street), occasioning a large increase of travel 

 in that direction, induced the i^roprietors of the so called " Belt Line" 

 of railway to memorialize Congress for permission to change the track of 

 their road by extending it down Fourteenth street to South B street, 

 thence along South B street past the entrance to the National Museum, 

 and thence south along Ninth street to Maryland avenue, along which 

 it now passes. Congress has not yet taken any action on this memorial. 

 Should that body authorize the proposed change of route it will add 

 greatly to the convenience of all who are interested in that line of travel. 



Armory Building. — The Armory building is still in use as the deposi- 

 tory of the Ceuteunial and other collectious belonging to the govern- 

 ment. These articles will be removed to the new Museum during the 

 present year, but as there is no j)rovision in this building for storage of 

 boxes, packing materials, &c., a part of the Armory will always be re- 

 quired for this purpose. It is also contemj)lated to use one of the halls 

 or stories of the Armory for the storage of the large amount of property 

 belonging to the United States Fish Commission, and the lower tloor 

 may perhaps be occupied by aquaria, hatching apparatus, &g. 



Laboratory of Natural History. — The building erected as a laboratory 

 of natural history and a photographic atelier in which to prepare speci- 

 mens, illustrations, &c., for the Centennial Exhibition is still devoted to 

 similar uses. A large number of photographs of tish, ethnologica, «&;c., 

 have been made during the year by the artist of the Institutiou, Mr. 

 T. W. Smillie. 



Mr. Josepli Palmer and his son have contiuued in this building the 

 preparation of plaster casts of hsh, reptiles, and antiquities, and in 

 another apartment these have been colored by the artist, Mr. A. Z. 

 Shindler, the reproductions thus furnished being admirable fac-similes 

 of the living or original objects, and attracting general commendation. 



Another large room occui)ied by Mr. Henry Marshall, the taxidermist, 

 has mainly been devoted to the mounting of birds and mammals. 



In the new Museum building very commodious apartments have been 

 assigned to the photographer and other artists, a large and well arranged 

 sky-light has been i)rovided, and everything will be done by the 

 Institution to secure the best possible results with all the apparatus 

 and appliances obtainable. To obtain ample working rooms in case 

 of an emergency, liowever, the tanks, dark-room, sky-light, &c., in the 

 old building will be left undisturbed so that if necessary an extra force 

 of photographers may be enabled to carry on their work. 



ROUTINE WORK OF THE INSTITUTION. 



Administration. — No change has been made in the officers and assist- 

 ants of the Institution since the death of the late Secretary. Mr. Wil- 

 liam J. Ehees, who has been chief clerk since June, 1853, still discharges 



