4 EEPOET OF THE SECEETARY. 



marked. The west basement, which has heretofore been occupied indis- 

 criminately for the preservation and elaboration of the collection of 

 birds and fishes, has been subdivided, and each subject confined strictly 

 to its own section, much to the improvement of the service. An open- 

 ing has been made from the northwestern tower of the main building 

 into the second story of the adjacent corridor; and a stairway placed 

 in the tower, ascending from the basement to the level of the gallery of 

 the main hall, permits ready access between the three floors. The spe- 

 cial object of this was to give to the curators of fishes and marine inver- 

 tebrates an opportunity of using the galleries of the main hall in their 

 •work of arrangement and cataloguing. The hall or corridor between 

 the main central room and the western or "pottery" room has been oc- 

 cupied by the collection of fishes, for which it was specially arranged. 



At the last meeting of the Board the Secretary called attention to the 

 combustible and insecure condition of the eastern portion of the Smith- 

 sonian building, and presented plans, prepared at his request by the 

 architects, Messrs. Cluss & Schulze, which, without materially changing 

 the architecture of the building, would provide largely increased accom- 

 modations for offices and work-rooms, the storage of publications, the 

 exchange system, &c. 



The Board unanimously adopted a resolution instructing the Secretary 

 and executive committee to present the subject to Congress and request 

 an appropriation for the purpose. The Secretary, in accordance with 

 this instruction, sent the following letter on the 13th of March to the 

 Speaker of the House of Eepresentatives : 



"By instruction of the Board of Eegents of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, I have the honor to transmit to Congress the following 

 resolution adopted at the last meeting of the Board, January 11, 1882 ; 

 and, in doing so, beg that it be referred to the appropriate committee 

 of the House of Representatives and receive that attention which the 

 urgency of the case requires : 



^^^ Resolved, That the Secretary and executive committee present SL 

 memorial to Congress showing the importance and necessity of render- 

 ing the east wing of the Smithsonian building fire-proof, requesting an 

 appropriation therefor, and, if the means are furnished, to proceed with 

 the work.' 



"It will be remembered that in January, 1865, a fire occurred in the 

 Smithsonian building, which destroyed a large portion of the main 

 edifice, with its adjacent towers, and a very large amount of valuable 

 public and private property. 



"The main building was restored with fire-proof materials; but the 

 east wing, composed entirely of wood and plaster, and which had es- 

 caped injury, remains in its previous dangerous condition. Originally 

 a lecture room, it was fitted up many years ago with apartments for 

 the residence of the late Secretary and liis family. This application of 

 the wing, however, was discontinued after Professor Henry's death ; 

 but the rooms thus set apart are entirely unsuited to the operations of 

 the establishment, and, while in every way objectionable, the timbers 

 have decayed, and no arrangements are provided for proper lighting, 

 heating, and ventilation. 



