REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 7 



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

 exhibition halls and storage rooms being filled to iuvlv utmost capacity, 

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

 for the increase of the Museum. 



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

 ment collections will of ne(;essity be almost completely arrested. 



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

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

 longer be done. 



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

 and workshops, is now entirely occupie(l 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-arraiiging the great reserve collections, for eliminating 

 duplicate material for distribution to college and school uuiseums, and 

 for the use of the taxidermists and preparators engaged in j)reparing 

 objects for exhibition. S])ace is also required for the proper handling 

 of the costly outfit of the Museum cases and api)liauces for installation, 

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

 or in process of construction. 



Theapi)ended table (B) shows the amount of floor space now assigned 

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

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

 the exi)ansion during the three years which would probably pass before 

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



The appended table (C) shows the number of feet of floor si)ace (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 100,075 now occupied, 

 and this being exclusive of the (table 0) 108,900 square feet needed for 

 other objects, the accumulations have now reached such a point of con- 

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

 of future increase; and I beg to repeat that, unless more s[)ace is pro- 

 vided, the develoi)ment of the Government collection, which is already 

 partly arrested, will be almost completely stopped. 

 Your obedient servant. 



S. P. Langley, 



iSecretary. 



Hon. Leland Stanford, 



Chairman Committee on Public Buildimja and Grounds, 



Uiiited /States benate. 



