REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. < 



entered into ^vitU Mr. George L. Damon, of Boston. After considerable 

 delay in the performance of this contract, the doors were delivered and 

 put in place bv Mr. Damon, to tlie entire satisfaction of the executive 

 committee. This arrangement has greatly promoted the safety of the 

 buildino- and its contents from the risk of the spreading of any fires which 

 might accidentallv occur within its walls. A few additional changes 

 are stLll desirable to give still further security to the public property 

 placed in the charge of the Institution. 



For the purpose of fticilitatiug the operations of the freight and trans- 

 portation department of the Institution, an elevator was constructed in 

 1879, by which packages could be carried irom the southeastern entrance 

 of the building, either to the basement iloor below, or to the document 

 room above. During 1880, the work has been completed by the erec- 

 tion of a very substantial platform outside' of the door, on which boxes 

 can be conveniently delivered, or from which they can be shipped. 

 From the rapidly increasing amount of transportation connected with 

 the natural history operations and the scientifui exchanges, every fVicility 

 in the handling of packages, by economizing labor, becomes an item 



of importance. 



For many years a pump at the southeastern corner of the Smithsonian 

 building has furnished a supply of excellent water, esteemed throughout 

 the neighborhood. Although the introduction of the Potomac water 

 naturally reduced considerably the demand upon this pump it was still 

 constantly drawn upon by persons passing by, and was used for supply- 

 ing the water-coolers in the building. A chemical and microscopic ex- 

 amination of the water made during the summer showed that it was not 

 entirely wholesome, in consequi nee as was thought, of the rotting of the 

 inner wooden lining of the well. As a necessary step to the improve- 

 ment of the sanitary condition of the water the original lining was 

 replaced by one of brick. An iron pump was also substituted for the 

 former wooden one. These repairs have been satisiactorily completed, 

 and the water is now restored to its original quality. 



The protection of the buildings in charge of the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion and the preservation of the property contained therein require, of 

 course, the vigilance of competent watchmen, both day and night. 

 One of these, Mr. T. S. Nelligar, a night watchman in the new 

 museum building, has been made a special policeman by the Board of 



police. 



The situation of the Smithsonian building, so far to the south of the 

 principal avenues of travel in Washington, renders it somewhat incon- 

 A-euient of access, especially during inclement weather. At present 

 the nearest street railways are those along Seventh street and along 

 Twelfth street. The completion of the new building for the ac- 

 commodation of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing of the 

 Treasury Department, on South B street (at the corner of Four- 

 teenth street), as also of the new National Museum building, on 



