REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 7 



comparatively small. This may be accounted for by the fact that our 

 exhibition halls and storage rooms being filled to tlie'r utmost capacity, 

 it has seemed necessary to cease in a large degree the customary eflbrts 

 for the increase of the Museum. 



Unless more space is soon provided, the development of the Govern- 

 ment collections will of necessity be almost completely arrested. 



So long as there was room for storage, collections not immediately re- 

 quired could be received and packed away lor future use. This can not 

 longer be done. 



The Armory Building, since 1877 assigned to the Museum for storage 

 and workshops, is now entirely occupied by the U. S. Fish Commission, 

 with the exception of four rooms, and by some of the Museum tax- 

 idermists, who are now working in very contracted space, and whom it 

 is impossible to accommodate elsewhere. 



Increased space in the exhibition halls is needed, the educational 

 value of the collections being seriously diminished by the present 

 crowded system of installation. Still more necessary, however, is room 

 for storage, for re-arratiging the great reserve collections, for eliminating 

 duplicate material for distribution to college aud school museums, and 

 for the use of the taxidermists and preparators engaged in preparing 

 objects for exhibition. Space is also required for the proper handling 

 of the costly outfit of the Museum cases and appliances for installation, 

 of which there is always a considerable amount temporarily out of use 

 or in process of construction. 



The appended table (B) shows the amount of floor space now assigned 

 to the various collections and the amount required for the proper dis- 

 play of material already in hand, making a reasonable allowance for 

 the ex|)ansiou during the three years which would j)robal)ly pass before 

 a new building could be completed and provided with necessary cases. 



The appended table (C) shows the number of feet of floor space (the 

 average height being 10 feet) required for laboratories, workshops, 

 and for the several departments. This is in addition to storage space 

 under the cases in the exhibition halls, and a considerable portion may 

 be in cellars and attics. 



In summarizing what has just been said, it may be stated in general 

 terms that the amount of space already required for exhibition pur- 

 poses alone, being (table B) 207,500 feet as against 100,675 now occui)ied, 

 and this being exclusive of the (table C) 108,900 square feet needed for 

 other objects, the accumulations have now reached such ai)oitit of con- 

 gestion that the actual space needs to be doubled, even independently 

 of future increase; and 1 beg to repeat that, unless more si)ace is pro- 

 vided, the development of the Government collection, which is already 

 partly arrested, will be almost completely stopped. 

 Your obedient servant. 



S. P. Langley, 



^Secretary. 



Hon. Leland Stanford, 



Chairman Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, 



United IStates Senate. 



