REPORT OF PROFESSOR BAIRD, 



SECEETAEY OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, FOR 18S0. 



To the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution: 



Gentlemen: I Lave the honor to present herewith a report of the 

 condition of the Smithsonian Institution for the year 1880. 



As heretofore, in addition to matters pertaining strictly to the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, I shall give an account of the operations connected 

 with the National Museum, placed by Congress in charge of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, as well as of those of the United States Fish Com- 

 mission, of which the present Secretary is the chief officer. 



THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



In the report for 1879 the announcement was made of an appropria- 

 tion by Congress for the purpose of constructing a new building for the 

 service of the National Museum, and of the commencement and rapid 

 progress of the work upon the same. I now have the pleasure of stat- 

 ing that the work has been in the greater part comjileted during the 

 year 1880, and that a portion of the building is already occupied for its 

 legitimate objects. 



The details of i^rogress and completion will be given in full in the 

 report of the building committee and of the architect, to which I would 

 refer. It will be sufficient to say here that the work has all been done 

 within the estimates, and that it promises to be even more suitable to 

 its purpose than was anticipated. All the requirements in regard to 

 light and heat are fully met ; and in this respect, and in that of its slight 

 cost in i)roportion to the space obtained, the building Is believed to have 

 no i)arallel in the country. Including the building proper, the steam 

 heating apparatus, the gas and water fixtures, and all their accessories, 

 the cost has amounted to less than $3 per square foot of ground floor, 

 and to about 6 cents per cubic foot of entire capacity. 



Another noteworthy event of the year has been the election of Mr. 

 James A. Garfield, one of the Eegents of the Institution, to the office of 

 President of the United States. 

 S. Mis. 31 1 



