NATIONAL MUSETTM BUTLDINGS. 271 



The present l)uil(liri^ contains about S(),()00 S(|nare feet of floor space available for 

 exhi})ition and storage. Tlie buildinj^ proposed will contain about 220,000 srpiare 

 feet. The anioinit of room for offices and laboratories would be about the same in 

 each. The net area in tlie new building available for exhibition, storage, and office 

 rooms, as estimated, would be between five and six acres. 



For the construction of the present Museum building an appro[)riati()n of $250,000 

 was made. This sum was supplemented by the following special appropriations: 

 $25,000 for steam-heating apparatus, $2(1,000 for marl)le floors, $12,500 for water and 

 gas fixtures and electrical apparatus, and $1,900 for sjiecial sewer connections. The 

 total amount expended on this l)uilding was therefore $315,400, and it is generally 

 admitted that tlie cost of its construction was considerably less than that of any 

 other similar l)uilding in existence; in fact, jierhaps too cheap to secure the ^uest 

 economy. 



The proposed structuri' can be erected at a proportionately smaller cost. I have 

 obtained from responsible l)idders, who are willing to give bonds for the completion 

 of the work in acconlance with the bids whit'h they have submitted, estimates for 

 the erection of the l>uilding complete, with steam-heating apjiaratus and all other 

 essential appliances, excepting the electrical equipment, amounting in the aggregate 

 to $473,000. These bids, upon which the estimates of cost have been made, were 

 not competitive, and it is possible that something may be saved through competi- 

 tion. It is, however, necessary to provide also for the architect's superintendence, 

 and for the removal and reconstruction of the Smithsonian stable, which now occu- 

 pies the site. I therefore think it advisable to make request for the smn of $500,000, 

 in onler that these additional items and other contingencies may he covered. 



The ]ilans, thoiigh drawn in the limited time imposed, represent the results of an 

 exhaustive study — which has extended over several years — of plans of the best 

 modern museum buildings in Europe and America, nearly all of which have been 

 personally inspected l)y officers of the Bmithsonian Institution. 



Senate bill No. 813-1:, above ((noted, when presented to the Senate 

 on June 12, 1888, was aet'onn)anied b}' a favorable report from the 

 Senate Committee on Public Building's and Grounds (No. 1539), and 

 contained two letters from Secretary Ijangley, dated June 2 and 8, 

 1888. The former referred mainly to the plans for the proposed 

 ])uilding, the latter to the collections and needs of the Museum. On 

 June 21. an effort was made to have this bill attached to the sundry 

 civil bill, an amendment to that effect being proposed b}^ Senator 

 Morrill, but no progress was gained l)y this action, and the bill went 

 over to th(^ next session. 



On January 17, 188t), Senator ]\lorrill again su])mitted the measure 

 as an amendment to the sundry civil l)ill for 1890, and it was referred 

 to the Connnittee on Appropriations, ))ut no action was taken. In his 

 report for the same year Secretary Langley shows the increased 

 necessity for additional spac(\ in that Congress at its previous session 

 had graided the Armory building to the Fish (^onnnission as its head- 

 (|uarters, re([uiring the Museum to remove therefrom all but a few of 

 its preparator's workrooms. 



On December 10, 1S88, and December 19, 1889, bills were intro- 

 duced in both houses of Congress for the erection of a fireproof 

 building for the U. S. Geological Survey independently of the National 



