REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 7 



It thus appearing thattbe appropriation was adequate to the demand, 

 a contract was entered into with Messrs. Bright, Humphrey & Co., and 

 the work ordered by the Secretary of War to be prosecuted with the 

 utmost possible diligence. 



Necessity of new buildings for the National Museum. — An application 

 was made to Congress a year or two ago for an appropriation with 

 which to commence the construction of a second building for museum 

 purposes, and also to accommodate the offices of the United States Geo- 

 logical Survey, an establishment which in its close affiliation to the 

 work of the Smithsonian Institution and the National Museum would 

 be appropriately quartered in connection therewith. This application 

 however was not granted ; but the need is now much greater than be- 

 fore, as there is enough material in the way of valuable specimens of 

 economical interest to fill a second building the size of the present one. 

 This unexhibited surplus is now stored in several buildings, 'Some in 

 Washington and some elsewlLere, and consists of important illustra- 

 tions of the economical geology, metallurgy, and other resources of the 

 United States. In addition to what has been on hand for some time, 

 very large collections were presented to the Government at the New 

 Orleans Exhibition, which embraced a great deal of intrinsic value as 

 well as of popular and scientific interest. It is earnestly to be hoped 

 that this requirement will be met by Congress by the speedy appropri- 

 ation of an amount suitable for the purpose. 



For the safet}' of the general collections of the National Museum a 

 separate building is also very much needed for the accommodation of 

 the alcoholic specimens, such as are now provided by most first- class 

 museums. Although the present building is practically fire-i)roof, yet 

 should a fire be started in the vicinity of these specimens it is probable 

 that much damage would be done by the ignition of the many thou- 

 sands of gallons of alcohol, and the destruction of the specimens and of 

 the jars in which they are contained. 



EXPLORATIONS. 



As the present report, in view of the change of the fiscal year of 

 the Smithsonian Institution, covers only the period from January 1 to 

 June 30, 1885, the account of explorations will necessarily be much 

 shorter than usual, especially as such work frequently does not begin 

 until midsummer. The completion of the history of 1885 must there- 

 fore be deferred until the next report. 



Greenland, Labrador, and the British Provinces. — Eeference has been 

 made in a i^revious report to the return of the Greely expedition and to 

 the general results accomplished. Specimens illustrating the botany of 

 the region in the vicinity of Lady Franklin Bay have been sent to the 

 National Museum by Lieutenant Greely. 



