REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 5 



ses have for tbe last seven years, owing to increasing economies, been 

 diminishing until they are now (considerably less in proportion to the 

 amount administered than at any former time. It is doubtful whether 

 these economies can be advantageously pushed any further, as it has 

 become difficult, with the present force, to keep abreast of the actual 

 current demands, and there has been no considerable renewal of the 

 perishable furnitures of the building during the jieriod mentioned. It 

 seems probable, therefore, that the proportionate cost of these items 

 is not likely to be again lower than it is at present. 



BUILDINGS. 



It may perhaps seem superfluous, in consideration of the serious 

 reductions that have been made in the appropriations for the (current 

 expenses of the Museum, to repeat my recommendation that more 

 adequate accommodations should be provided for it by the erection of a 

 new and thoroughly fireproof building, but while this is needed for 

 many reasons, the repetition is opportune now, since valuable material 

 may come to the Museum at tlie close of the World's Columbian Expo- 

 sition in Chicago, and because if there are storage and exhibition rooms 

 available, many exhil)its*at Chicago may be secured, which it will 

 otherwise perhaps be necessary to refuse. 



I must repeat what I have stated in previous reports, that since the 

 present Museum building was finished and occupied in 1881, the col- 

 lections have increased to such an extent that a new building quite as 

 large as the present one could have been advantageously filled, and 

 that the need grows yet more pressing. 



The improvement of buildings in the Zoological Park to the limited 

 extent that the appropriations allowed, is detailed in the report of the 

 acting manager. 



REPAIRS TO THE SMITHS(JNIAN BUILDING. 



A restrictive clause contained in the appropriation of August 30, 

 1890, for repairs to the Smithsonian building was removed by a clause 

 in the sundry civil act for the year ending June 30, 1894, so that a por- 

 tion of tlie amount unexpended became available for making neces- 

 sary repairs to the roof of the eastern wing and improving the sanitary 

 condition of tlie building, as well as for increasing the space available 

 for storing documents and handling the Government exchanges. Tbe 

 plumbing in the eastern part of the building has been thoroughly over- 

 hauled, and a suite of dark and damp rooms in the basement on the 

 south side has been transformed into well-lighted and comfortable 

 offices, thus freeing several rooms upon the first floor, needed for other 

 purposes, and niaking it possible to handle more expeditiously the 

 great number of books passing through the exchange office; though 

 even with these new rooms, additional storeroom for the Government 

 exchanges will be called for at no distant day. 



