IG KEPORT OP THE SECKETARY. 



roadway between it and the latter of not less than forty feet, with tlie 

 north front on a line with the south face of the building of the Agricult- 

 ural Department and of tlie Smithsonian Institution; and all expendi- 

 tures for the purpose herein mentioned shall be audited by the proper 

 ofiBcers of the Treasury De])artinent. 



The buikling-, as proposed, covers the same area as the present 

 Museum, and is of the same general style, so far as is consistent with 

 the introduction of a second story, thus affording nearly three times as 

 much accommodation under the same area of roof as the building now 

 in use. The arrangement of the interior of the proposed new structure 

 is, however, considerably modiiied, as the result of the experience of 

 seven years' occupation of the present building. The eighteen exhi- 

 bition halls, on the two main floors are completely isolated from each 

 other, and are capable of subdivision into smaller halls. The lighting 

 will be equally as good as in the present building, the ventilation will 

 be much better, and in other important respects the sanitary arrange- 

 ments will be far more satisfactory. 



A basement story is absolutely necessary, not only with a view to 

 j)romotivig the comfort and health of visitors and employes, as well as 

 for securing greater dryness and better preservation of tbe specimens, 

 but also for the purpose of providing large apartments for store-rooms 

 and workshops. These proposed improvements in arrangement will 

 not, however, interfere with the possibility of constructing a building 

 which shall conform in the essential points of exterior proportion with 

 the main features of the present building. 



The present building contains about 80,000 square feet of floor space 

 available for exhibition and storage. The building proposed will con- 

 tain about 220,000 square feet. The amount of room for offices and 

 laboratories would be about the same in each. The net area in the new 

 building available for exhibition, storage, and office rooms, as esti- 

 mated, would be between 5 and" 6 acres. 



For the oonstruction of the present Museum Building an appropria- 

 tion of $250,000 was made. This sum was supplemented by the follow- 

 ing special appropriations: $25,000 for steam-heating apparatus, 

 $26,000 for marble floors, $12,500 for water and gas fixtures and elec- 

 trical apparatus, and $1,900 for special sewer connections. The total 

 amount expended on this building was therefore $315,400, and it is 

 generally admitted that the cost of its construction was considerably 

 less than that of any other similar building in existence; in ftict, per- 

 haps too cheap to secure the truest economy. 



The proposed structure can be erected at a proportionately smaller 

 cost. I have obtained from responsible bidders, who are willing to give 

 bonds for the completion of the work in accordance with the bids which 

 they have submitted, estimates for the erection of the building com- 

 plete, with steam-heating apparatus and all other essential appliances, 

 excepting the electrical equipment, amounting in the aggregate to 

 $473,000. These bids, upon which the estimates of cQSt have been made, 



