206 iip:port of national museum, 1903. 



feet square, one of which is appropriated to a musenni of apparatus and the other, 

 at present, to a gallery of art. Both are occasionally used as minor lecture rooms 

 and for the meetings of scientific, educational, or industrial associations. 



The lower story of the main building consists of one large hall, to be appropriated 

 to a museum or a library. It is at present unoccupied, but will be brought into use 

 as soon as the means are provided for furnishing it with proper cases for containing 

 the objects to which it may be appropriated. « 



The ])asen)ent of this portion of the building is used as a lumber room and as a 

 receptacle for fuel. 



The west wing is at present occupied as a library, and is sufficiently large to 

 accommodate all the books which will probably be received during the next ten 

 years. The west connecting range is appropriated to a reading room. 



The principal towers are divided into stories, and thus furnish a large number of 

 rooms of different sizes, which will all come into use in the varied operations of the 

 Institution. A large room in the main south tower is appropriated to the meetings 

 of the "Establishment" and the Board of Regents; three rooms in one range, in the 

 main front towers, are used as offices; and two rooms below, in the same towers, are 

 occupied by one of the assistants and the janitor; other rooms in the towers are used 

 for drawing, engraving, and workshops. There are in the whole building, of all 

 sizes, 90 different apartments; of these 8 are of a large size, and are intended for 

 public exhibitions. 



The delay in finishing the building has not only been attended with advantage in 

 husbanding the funds, but also in allowing a more complete adaptation of the inte- 

 rior to the purposes of the Institution. It is surely better, in the construction of 

 such an edifice, to imitate the example of the mollusk, who, in fashioning his shell, 

 adapts it to the form and dimensions of his V)ody, rather than that of another animal 

 who forces himself into a house intended for a different occupant. The first point 

 to be settled in commencing a building is the uses to which it is to be applied. 

 This, however, could not be definitely ascertained at the beginning of the Institution, 

 and hence the next wisest step to that of not commencing to build immediately was 

 to defer the completion of the structure until the plan of operations and the wants of 

 the establishment were more precisely known. 



* * * The whole amount expended on the building, grounds, and objects con- 

 nected with them is f318,727.01. This exceeds considerately the original estimate 

 and the limit which was at first adopted by the Regents. 



The excess has been principally oi'casioned by substituting fire-proof materials for 

 the interior of the main l)uilding instead of wood and plaster, which were originally 

 intended. 



* * * We should not forget that the ordinary expenses of the Institution have 

 constantly increased, and that, while the nominal income has remained the same, 

 the value of money has depreciated; and, consequently, the capability of the original 



«The ceiling is supported by two rows of columns extending the whole length. At 

 the middle of the space corresponding to the principal entrances are two wing walls, 

 by which, with the addition of screens, the whole space may be divided into two 

 large rooms, with a hall extending across the building between them. This story 

 may be used for a library or a museum, or for both, as the wants of the Institution 

 may require. It is finished in a simple but chaste style and has received general 

 commendation. Indeed, it is, perhaps, in appearance one of the most imposing 

 rooms in this country, apart from adaptation to its purposes. The floor through 

 the middle part is formed of cut stone, that of the other parts is of wood, which, 

 resting on the arches beneath, without space between to contain air, is considered 

 sufliciently fireproof and not subject to dampness from the variation of temperature 

 9,nd humidity of the atmosphere. 



