224 KKl'OHT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1903. 



cient prosecution of the work of the Institution and tlio various interests intrusted 

 to its management l)y Congress. 



Inclosed I beg to send a copy of the report of the board of fire inspectors (appointed 

 by the District Connnissioners) upon the condition of the Smithsonian building. I 

 have the honor to ask, in the name and on behalf of the Board of Kegents that the 

 following a2)propriation l)c made at the present session of Congress, viz, " For con- 

 tinuing and coinjileting the tireprooting of the Smithsonian Institution, $50,000." 

 I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



Si'ENCEK K. Baiku, Secrdari/. 

 [Extract.] 



Washinciton, D. C, March IS, 188^. 

 The Commissioners of the District of Colimbia. 



Gentlemen: The commission to inspect buildings in the District beg leave to sub- 

 mit herewith report No. 5. 



By invitation of Professor Baird, the east wing and connecting corridor to the main 

 building of the Smithsonian Institution was visited and Inspected. In this portion 

 of the building are all the records and valuable documents belonging to the Institu- 

 tion. The interior is entirely of wood and illy arranged, making it especially unsafe 

 and liable to accident from tire, thus endangering the entire building. As a matter 

 of safety, this wing and corrider should be completely cleared out and rebuilt of fire- 

 proof material and furnished with improved modes of communication and egress. 

 Official extract furnished Prof. S. F. Baird. 



William Tindall, 

 Secrddrij CoiiDiiU^iuners Dhtrict of ColumhUt. 



The above memorial received favorable consideration by the Forty- 

 seventh Congress, resulting in the passage of the following item in the 

 sundry civil act for 1884: 



For completing the reconstruction, in a fireproof manner, of the interior of the 

 eastern portion of the Smithsonian Institution, $50,000. (Stat. XXII, 628.) 



The preparation of plans, the details of construction, etc., were 

 placed in charge of Messrs. Cluss & Schuize, architects. Proposals 

 were asked and the bids opened on April 26, 1883. The removal of 

 the contents of the east wing and corridor was soon eli'ected, the offices 

 of clerks and others were transferred to the large adjacent exhibition 

 hall, and accommodations for storage were provided ])y the erection of 

 a temporary shed on the south side of the Smithsonian building. 



In 1883 Secretary Baird reported that — 



The appropriation was found sufficient to secure the fireprooting of the building, 

 but a number of other desirable objects remain to be secured, such as a heating 

 apparatus, a passenger elevator, a freight lift; the introduction of speaking tubes, 

 electric l:)ells, telephones, a concrete floor in the basement, an underground communi- 

 cation between the Smithsonian and the new Museum buildings, etc., for which an 

 additional appropriation of $15,000 has been asked. 



Two subsequent appropriations were granted by Congress with 

 reference to these changes, as follows: 



For finishing, heating, gas fitting, plumbing, and comj)letely furnishing the eastern 

 portion of the Smithsonian Institution, and for finishing the fourth and fifth stories, 

 including liabilities already incurred, $15,000. (Sundry civil act for 18S5. ) 



