NATIONAL MUSEUM KUILDTNGR. 227 



hereliy is, appropriated out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appro- 

 jiriated. 



Oil March 6, 1890, Secretary Langley addressed a letter to the 

 chairman of the House Conmiittee on Public Buildinj^^s and Grounds, 

 on the subject of the a])ove bill, in which he says that the $45,000 is 

 asked to complete the lireprooting and repair of a part of the build- 

 ing which for a long period has been almost entirely given over to 

 Government purposes rent free. Following are quotations from the 

 same letter: 



The portions of the building which are not fireiiroof are — 



The roof of the so-called "chapel" in the west wing, which contains collections 

 whose mere money value is estimated at over $250,000, but whose value to science is 

 inestimable. This is also the only portion of the building wliich is suitable to devote 

 to donations of art objects, which may be expected when the Government provides 

 a safe depository for them. 



The ceiling and part of the roof of the main exhibition hall, now occupied bj' prolv 

 ably the most extensive and valuable archpeological collection in the United States, 

 is of combustible material and in urgent need of repairs, the ceiling threatening to 

 fall, in part, and crush the cases and their valuable contents and possibly endanger 

 the safety of visitors and einployees. Both roofs are leaking, and these changes 

 involve the replastering and repainting of the walls. 



The floor of the main hall, 200 l>y 50 feet, is worn out and needs renewal, and all 

 this implies special temporary provision for the collection. 



The lower hall is now very dark, and in replacing the roof and ceiling of the 

 upper story it is desirable that a large skylight and wellhole be inserted, which 

 would greatly add to the comfort of visitors by increasing the light and providing 

 better ventilation. 



The rooms occupied by the Bureau of International Exchanges are in less need of 

 repair, but some portion of the amount asked is intended to be devoted to the 

 extreme east wing, occupied l)y these offices. 



In addition to what has been mentioned, there are wooden floors and other wood- 

 work in the towers which are a source of danger, and it is to be observed that, owing 

 to the crowded condition of the Museum, it has been necessary to erect a paint shop 

 tilled with combustible material immediately against the south wall of the building 

 and close to the roof, whose dangerous condition has just been described. The 

 present state of things is one of continual menace. 



The bill as finally enacted into law, as an item in the sundry civil 

 act for 1891, was as follows: 



For fireproofing the so-called chapel of the west wing of the Smithsonian build- 

 ing, and for repairing the roof of the main building and the ceiling and plastering of 

 the main hall of the building, $25,000, said work to be done under the supervision 

 of the Architect of the Capitol, with the approval of the Regents of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, and no portion of the appropriation to be used for skylights in the roof 

 nor for wellhole in the floor of the main building, $25,000. (Stat. XXVI, 383. ) 



In his report for 1891 Secretary Langlc}^ announces gratifying 

 progress in the changes and repairs up to June 30, 1891, consisting in 

 the entire replacement of the roof of the west wing with a sul)stantial 

 construction of iron and slate and the repairing of the roof and of 



