REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. ' 5 



researches by Mr. J. D. McChesney, disbursing officer of the United 

 States Geological Survey ; those for the preservation of Government 

 collections, furniture, and fixtures, and other objects for the National 

 Museum, by Mr. George W. Evans, disbursing clerk of the Interior 

 Dei)artmeut. 



The voiTchers for all these expenditures are critically examined by 

 the proper Auditor and the Comptroller of the Treasury, and have been 

 formally passed by those officials. 



Every payment for the Institution and its dependencies is made by 

 bonded officers of the Government. 



BUILDINGS. 



The Smithsonian Building. — As stated in previous reports, two appro- 

 priations were made by Congress for fire-proofing the eastern portion of 

 the Smithsonian building and increasing its accommodations for doing 

 the Government work connected with the Museum, the International 

 Exchanges, &c. The whole has now been completed in a thoroughly 

 fire proof manner, with twice the original number of available office 

 rooms, and with every facility for doing the work mentioned in the best 

 possible manner. 



The rest of the Smithsonian building is in an unsightly and dilapi- 

 dated condition, and will before long require extensive repairs in the 

 way of a new ceiling to the second- story room, and the re-arrangement 

 of cases in the first floor, &c. ; an undertaking which, as being strictly 

 in the interest of the National Museum, will warrant the asking Con- 

 gress for the necessary aj)propriation. 



The exterior of the central portion of the building was in a very bad 

 condition, requiring rei^ainting, reglazing, &c., and this work has been 

 undertaken and practically completed at a moderate expense, greatly 

 improving its appearance. 



N'ational Museum Building. — This building is apparently in excellent 

 condition, and has required comparatively little in the way of repairs. 

 An appropriation was made in 1884 for a concrete walk along the south- 

 ern and eastern sides of the building, and was expended so as to furnish 

 a much -needed improvement in the facilities of access. 



Armory Building. — This building, which has been assigned bylaw for 

 the purposes of the Smithsonian Institution and the United States Fish 

 Com?nission, is occupied jjartlj' for the storage of collections and partly 

 for the active work of the Commission. It now constitutes what is 

 known as the central hatching station of the Commission, where the 

 work of propagation of food fishes is conducted on a very extensive 

 scale. It is also the dejiot from which shipments of fish are made from 

 Washington to all parts of the country, and for this purpose has a 

 branch track of the Baltimore and Potomac Kailroad, by means of which 

 the cars are brought alongside of the building and receive and deliver 

 their loads. 



