EEPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 131 



Third quarter of 1878, July- ( Preservation. . |5, 423 Gl 

 September ( Armory 643 78 



Fourth quarter of 1878, Octo- ( Preservation. . G, 187 09 

 ber-December ( Armory 684 98 



Total expenditures $27, 781 82 



The balance on hand for the purposes of the Museum for the remain- 

 ing six months of the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1879, is $12,560.54; 

 of which $11,389.30 belong to the "i)reservation" account, and $1,171.24 

 to the "Armory." 



On the 27th of September, 1877, a commission was appointed by the 

 President to examine the jiublic buildings and report what additional 

 means should be provided to secure them from destruction or injmy by 

 fire. This commission consisted of Col. Thomas L. Casey, United States 

 Engineers, Commissioner of Public Buildings; Mr. Clark, Architect of 

 the Cajiitol, and Mr. Hill, Architect of the Treasury. This Commission 

 visited and inspected the Smithsonian Institution, and made the follow- 

 ing report in regard to it, which was submitted to Congress on the lOtli 

 of December, 1877:* 



''Smithsonian Institution. — All the combustible materials used in tlio construc- 

 tiou of the museum portion of the building should be removed and the parts renewed 

 of fire-proof construction, and the openings comrectcd with other xiarts of the building- 

 should be supplied with lire-proof doors." 



An estimate has been submitted to Congress by the Hon. Secretary of 

 the Interior for an appropriation of $3,000 to provide additional security 

 against fire in the Smithsonian building for the government collections, 

 in accordance with the foregoing report. 



All payments on account of the "National Museum " are made by the 

 disbursing-ofificer of the Department of the Interior on the presentation 

 of the usual vouchers, approved by the Secretary of the Smithsonian 

 Institution. 



SUMMARY. 



The Executive Committee have examined 755 vouchers for j)ayments 

 made from the Smithson income during the year 1878, and 578 vouchers 

 for payments made from appropriations by Congress for the JSTational 

 Museum, making a total of 1,333 vouchers. All these vouchers bear the 

 approval of the Secretary of the Institution, and a certificate that the 

 materials and services charged were applied to the purposes of the 

 Institution. 



The committee have also examined the account books of the National 

 Museum, and find the balance as before stated, viz, $12,560.54, to cor- 

 respond with the certificates of the disbursing-ofificer of the Department 

 of the Interior. 



*Ex. Doc. No. 10, Forty-lifth Congress, Second session, House of Kei^reseutatives. 



