10 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



of suck a basement suitable for workshops and storage would be a cel- 

 lar ruuuiug around the outer walls of the buildiug aud extending in- 

 wards 30 feet, so that the rooms thus obtained might have light and 

 air. Provision was also made to floor with tiles all the rooms under 

 which these basements come. The total expense it is thought would 

 be $57,675, but by reason of the peculiar construction of the present 

 building the Architect has expressed the opinion that the work esti- 

 mated for would be one of unusual difficulty, and that a site for a store- 

 house and workshops required might be purchased in the neighborhood 

 of the Museum and a tire-i)roof building erected thereon for a less sum. 



The improvement of the Smithsonian building i)roper has been the 

 subject of careful consideration, more especially the fire-proofing of the 

 west wing, the urgent need of which has already been brought to the 

 attention of the Eegents. A bill was introduced in the Senate on Jan- 

 uary 15, 1890, by Senator Morrill, providing for an appropriation of 

 $45,000 for fire-i)roofing the roof of the main hall and that of the so- 

 called chapel in the west wing of the Smithsonian building, putting in 

 a sky-light and well hole for lighting tbe east wing, aud making certain 

 changes which would add greatly to the space available for office rooms 

 in that part of the building, as well as adding to the facility with which 

 the large amount of exchange publications could be handled. This 

 work was to be done under the direction of the j^ rchitect of the Capitol 

 with the approval of the Eegents. The bill passed the Senate on P^eb- 

 ruary 10, 1890, and was favorably reported on in the House March 3, 

 1890. The matter rested here at the close of the year. 



The temporary wooden buildiug for the protection of instruments for 

 astro-physical investigation, which was referred to as contemplated in 

 my last report, was begun on November 30, 1889, and was completed 

 about the 1st of March, 1890. This building is of the most inexpensive 

 character, and is simply intended to protect the instruments tempora- 

 rily, though it is also arranged so that certain i)reliminary work can be 

 done here. Its position however immediately south of the main Smith- 

 sonian building, is not well suited to refined physical investigations on 

 account of its proximity to city streets and its lack of seclusion. The 

 needs of this department are referred to more at leugth under the fol- 

 lowing head of research. 



RESEARCH. 



I take pleasure in reporting that the Institution has been able to do 

 rather more for the encouragement of original research than it has 

 done for several years past. 



Referring to my two previous reports in regard to the project of 

 Professor Baird for securing an astro-physical observatory and labora- 

 tory, I am able to say that this object has assumed definite shape in 

 the construction of the temporary shed, which has just been mentioned. 

 In this shed there have been built, as the most expensive part of the 



