REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 5 



The work has progressed satisfactorily and without interruption, and 

 the building will be ready for occupancy in a few weeks. 



The appropriation was found sufficient to secure the fire-proofing 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 bells, telephones; a 

 concrete floor in the basement, an underground communication between 

 the Smithsonian and the new Museum buildings, &c, for which an 

 additional appropriation of $15,000 has been asked. 



As the whole interior of the eastern end of the Smithsonian building, 

 including both range and wing, was to be torn out, it of course became 

 necessary to provide accommodations elsewhere for the officers and 

 employes, and as already stated the lower museum hall of the center 

 building was made use of for this purpose. The table cases in the 

 alcoves Were removed elsewhere, and the spaces fitted up for the pur- 

 poses in question. The Regents' room was re-occupied by the librarian, 

 and my own offices were established in the northwest pavilion of the 

 Museum building. 



The greatest difficulty was experienced in properly providing for the 

 archives and the books and packages in storage. This matter was, 

 however, ultimately arranged, and with much less inconvenience to the 

 current work of the Institution than might be reasonably expected. It 

 is hoped that by the 1st of April, 1884, a portion, at least, of the recon- 

 structed part of the building can be occupied. 



The principal work of repair in the main building has been the 

 renewal of the water-closets on the lower floors of the northeastern 

 tower of the central edifice, the old ones having become unfit for use. 

 Connections were prepared for closets on the upper stories of the recon- 

 structed portion, should they be considered necessary. 



The west basement was provided with wire screens, dividing the room 

 into two apartments — one for the storage of bird skins, and the other 

 for alcoholic specimens of fishes. 



National Museum Building. — This building continues to preserve the 

 reputation it has acquired as representing the maximum of convenience 

 and adaptation to its purposes with the minimum of original cost and 

 expense for repairs. The principal expenditure during the year for 

 the latter object has been made in the tinting of the walls, mending of 

 broken glass, occasional slight repairs to the plumbing, &c. 



Some of the down-spouts carrying off the water from the roofs were 

 frozen up and burst during the cold of the past winter, causing leaks in 

 the walls, which have all been duly repaired. 



Ever since the completion of the Museum building there has been 

 more or less trouble in regard to the drainage, especially on the west- 

 ern side, where the rain or melting snow banks up against the building 

 and soaking down enters the basement rooms, and produces very serious 

 inconvenience. Several temporary arrangements were made to obviate 



