44 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY, 



among Indian mounds in Soutliern Florida, by S. T. Walker ; Eeport on 

 the sbell-heaps of Tampa Bay, Florida, by S. T, Walker; and Mounds on 

 Gideon's farm, near Excelsior, Hennepin County, Minnesota, by Frank 

 H. Nutter. 



The whole forms a volume of 631 pages, with 205 illustrations. 



Of the documents published annually by the United States Govern- 

 ment, those of the Agricultural Department and of the Smithsonian 

 Institution are most in demand, as furnishing general information, 

 much sought after by various classes of the community. There is no 

 person of general literary or scientific taste who does not find in the 

 Smithsonian Reports something of interest, especially in the copious 

 store of archaeological information and the statements of the present 

 condition and progress of science. The demand for tne Smithsonian 

 Reports has been responded to by the publication of quite large editions 

 and the occasional reprints from the authorized stereotype plates. It 

 has been found, however, impossible of late years to meet the demands 

 in the increasing amount of interest manifested by the growing xwpula- 

 tion of the United States ,• and although a liberal edition is published by 

 Congress, of which about 0,500 have been assigned to the Institution 

 for years, copies of the Report for 1877 are entirely exhausted. 



Fully realizing this fact. Senator Hamlin, a Regent of the Institution, 

 introduced a resolution providing for the increase of the printing of the 

 number of copies to 15,500, of which 7,000 were to be distributed to 

 the Institution. This resolution became a law, and it is ho^jed that 

 the demand for the volume for 1879 now about being delivered by the 

 Public Printer will be met. 



The series of the stereotype plates of the volumes begins with 1862, 

 and it is proposed to make application to Congress for the printing of a 

 small edition of the volumes extending from that year to 1878, inclu- 

 sive, so that sets can be furnished to the many new public libraries 

 which have made their appearance within the last few years. 



NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



The reasons for asking Congress for a museum building of suitable 

 magnitude, and the steps by which this end was accomplished, have been 

 duly presented in the iireceding reports. I am happy to announce at 

 the present time that the edifice has been substantially completed, and 

 that preparations are being made to occupy it. In the accompanying 

 report of the architect of the building commission all the necessary de- 

 tails of the plan, cost, &c., will be found. 



The magnitude of the edifice, and the complexity of the organization 

 necessary to fully occupy it, it is expected will require a considerable 

 time, but it is hoped that the work will be complete by* the end of the 

 year 1881, and that the establishment will thereafter be in full tide of 

 success. 



