THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 71 



the furniture, which must be purchased by degrees out of the accruing 

 interest on the above mentioned sum. 



At the last session of the Board of Regents a resolution was adopted 

 authorizing the erection of a small building for a Magnetic Observatory. 

 This structure has been completed, and is now furnished with instru- 

 ments, and will soon be in successful operation. It consists of a small 

 room twelve feet by sixteen, under ground, enclosed by a nine inch 

 brick wall, within which the instruments are placed. This room is 

 surrounded by a rough stone wall, leaving a space of two feet in width 

 on each side to permit a free circulation of air, for keeping the interior 

 apartment dry. Above ground the structure is of wood, so finished 

 as to correspond to some extent with the architecture of the Smithso- 

 nian Building, and consists principally of an entry and one room sixteen 

 feet square, to serve as an office, and computing room for the observer. 

 The whole cost of this building was SI, 578 28. The entire expendi- 

 ture on the building during the past year, exclusive of die magneti<_- 

 observatory, is as follows : 



Pay on contracts S25,500 00 



Architect and draughtsmen ." . . 1,580 70 



Miscellaneous incidentals 261 84 



Furniture - 471 16 



27,813 70 



Eespectfully submitted, 



RICHARD RUSH, ) 



JOHN W. INIAURY, } Exceutim Committu. 



JOSEPH HENRY, ) 



