12 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



the price of labor and the decrease in the cost of many articles of gen- 

 eral supply leaves the Institution in a correspondingly better financial 

 condition than before. 



The following is a statement of the condition of the Smithson fund at 

 the beginning of the year 1879 : 



The amount originally received as the bequest of James 



Smithson, of England, deposited in the Treasury of the 



■ United States in accordance with the act of Congress of 



August 10, 1846 $515, 16^ 00 



The residuary legacy of Smithson, received in 18G5, depos- 

 ited in the Treasury of the United States in accordance 

 with the act of Congress of February 8, 1867 26, 210 63 



Total bequest of Smithson 541, 379 63 



Amount deposited in the Treasury of the United States, 

 as authorized by act of Congress of February 8, 1867, 

 derived from savings of income and increase in value of 



investments 108, 620 37 



Amount received as the bequest of James Hamilton, of 

 Carlisle, Pa., February 24, 1874 1, 000 00 



Total permanent Smithson fund in the Treasury of 

 the United States, bearing interest at 6 jDer cent., 



payable semi-annually in gold 651, 000 00 



In addition to the above, there remains of the extra fund 

 from savings, &c., in Virginia bonds and certificates, 

 viz: Consolidated bonds, $58,700; deferred certificates, 

 $29,375.07; fractional certificate, $50.13; total, $88,125.20, 



valued January, 1879, at 34, 000 00 



Cash balance in United States Treasury at the beginning 

 of the year 1879, for current expenses 19, 632 57 



Total Smithson funds January 8, 1879 704, 632 57 



BUILDING. 



Some damage was done to the Smithsonian building by the severe 

 storms of the summer of 1878, and considerable expense incurred in re- 

 pairs. The finial on the west tower was blown ofi" and a large number 

 of slates torn away, all of which required reconstruction. The occasion 

 was taken to give the gutters, spouts, and lightning-rods a thorough 

 overhauling, leaving everything, it is believed, in the best condition. 

 The basement has been cleaned and whitewashed, and all unserviceable 

 material, including scrax)-iron, &c., has been suitably disposed of. 



PUBLICATIONS. 



As has been frequently stated in former reports, the publications of 

 the Institution consist of three classes : The first, the " Smithsonian Con- 

 tributions to Knowledge"; the second, the "Smithsonian Miscellaneous 



