j NATIONAL MHSEUM BTTILDINGS. 259 



can be pernianently installed. Movable armchairs arc used For seats, 

 and a series of screens are in readiness to reduce or enlaroe the lecture 

 si)acc, iiccordino- to the reciiiirenients. The furniture is entirely of 

 oak. The preparation of this new lecture hall was accomplished in 

 1J*(>1, under a special Cong-ressional appropriation. 



The thre(> Hoor i-oonis of the east tower soutii of tiie entrance, with 

 a slio-ht addition for kitdien purposes, were utilized for a lunch room 

 until iJXtl. In that year, however, the addition referred to was 

 extended southward to a total length of 77 feet, thus somewhat enlarg-- 

 u)<4- and inii)rovin.o- the conditions, but there is no way of providing a 

 suitable lunch room in the present building, important as this feature 

 is to the employees and to such visitors as spend nuich time about the 

 Museum. 



In connection with the plans of the building (pp. :^lH)-8()2) a list is 

 given of the halls and of all the rooms contained in the several towers 

 and pavilions, together with their sizes and an explanation of the uses 

 to which each is put. The exhibitions in geology and in anthi-opology, 

 except the single division of arclKoology, are entirely in this building.' 

 In biology only the mammals, reptiles, fishes, and comparative anat- 

 omy are represented here, the remaining divisions being provided for 

 in the Smithsonian building. All of the galleries as well as the halls 

 were designed for exhibition purposes, but three or four of the former 

 are now used for storage, and one for the library. The administra- 

 tive offices and the head(juarters for the three scientific departments 

 are in this building, as well as most of the scientific laboratories. 



BUILDING FOR THE ALCOHOLIC COLLECTIONS. 



Professor Baird stated in his report for 1S.S4 that— 



The presence of alcoholic sjiecimens in larjie nnmbers, so important in a scien- 

 tific point of view, fircatly endangers the safety of mnseiun Iniildings and their con- 

 tents, and most of the e8ta1)lishments in Europe have lately taken the precaution to 

 construct separate buildings peculiarly adapted for the purpose. An application was 

 nia.le at the last session of Congress for an appropriation to put up a similar build- 

 ing in the grounds of the Institution, but it was not acted upon favorably. 



The estimate was as follows: 



For the erection ..f a fireproof brick storage building east of the National Museum, 

 for receiving, unpacking, a.ssorting, and storing the natural-historv collections of the 

 Government, to replace the wooden structures now used for the puri^ose, $10,000. 



The estimates were renewed for 1S8H and 1887 in the following 

 terms: 



For the erection of a fireproof building f,.r storing the alcoholic .•oUections of the 

 National ^luscum, Sl.5,000. 



(Note. -The safety of the interior of the National Museum and the Smithsonian 

 building IS en<langer..d by thr large nunil)er of alcoholic specimens kept therein, and 

 .t is considered by public museums, both at home and abroad, vorv iuiportant to 



