REPOET OF THE SECRETARY. 9 



of any prominence in the United States has been visited, and samples 

 carefully selected, by experts. These have been analyzed under the di- 

 rection of Professor Pumpelly, and reports presented as to their chem- 

 ical, and metallurgical properties, and economical value. All the orig- 

 inals of this research are in charge of the Smithsonian Institution, 

 awaiting exhibition. The same may be said of similar researches in 

 regard to the ores of all the other metals. 



The work of the United States Geological Survey, also of enormous 

 magnitude — begun under Mr. Clarence King and continued under Maj. 

 J. W. Powell — has resulted in the accumulation of several tons of speci- 

 mens of fossils, rocks, minerals, ores, and the like. Very few of these 

 can at present be exhibited for want of the necessary space. The Sur- 

 vey requires a large number of experts and assistants, and is at pres- 

 ent very badly accommodated. Some twenty rooms in the new Mu- 

 seum building have been assigned as quarters for the Director of the 

 Survey and his assistants. 



This, however, causes great inconvenience to the other work of the 

 Museum, and as the survey now occupies a large building in Washing- 

 ton, for which it pays considerable rental, and for want of quarters in 

 "Washington is obliged to scatter its stations over various parts of the 

 United States, it is thought desirable to ask Congress for an appropria- 

 tion to erect a second museum building corresponding in general char- 

 acter to the first, but on the opposite side of the square, along the line 

 of Twelfth street. 



This building it is proposed to devote almost entirely to the mineral 

 department of the National Museum ; and when completed to transfer 

 to it everything of a geological and mineralogical nature, and also to 

 prepare a portion of it especially for the accommodation of the Geolog- 

 ical Survey, which is at present so inconveniently provided for. By 

 way of economy it is proposed at first to construct what will represent 

 the western side of the building, in which office-rooms and chemical 

 and other laboratories can be provided for. 



It had been proposed to erect a separate building for the Geological 

 Survey, disconnected from the National Museum ; but there being no 

 ground available for this purpose, it was thought expedient to ask for 

 an appropriation to furnish the required quarters on the Smithsonian 

 reservation, which is at present ample for the purpose. 



On the 10th of April last the following bill was accordingly intro- 

 duced into the House of Representatives and referred to the Committee 

 on Public Buildings and Grounds. The subject is still before that 

 committee, and it is impossible to state what will be its fate during 

 the present session. I would recommend action on the part of the Board 

 of Eegents in this connection, since long before the edifice can be com- 

 pleted the need for it will become extremely urgent. 



