[ 108 ] 84 



In view of appropriating a portion of the main building to the purposes 

 of a large lectare room, the committee have directed that, the large doors 

 of the main entrance shall be made to open outward, in order to avoid the 

 fatal consequences sometimes occasioned by the rushing out in a panic of a 

 large crowd of individuals. 



To facilitate the approach to the Institution from Pennsylvania avenue, 

 the corporation of the city have appropriated $2,500 to the construction 

 ot an iron foot bridge across the canal at Tenth street, and the necessary 

 footways. This bridge but for an accident would have been finished before 

 this time and will probably be completed in the course of a few weeks. To 

 connect this bridge with the centre of the Smithsonian building, Mr. Down- 

 ing has constructed a gravel walk underlaid with coarse stone to serve as 

 a drain. Across the bridge and along this path a series of iron pipes have 

 been laid for conveying gas to the Smithsonian Institution from the main 

 pipe along Pennsylvania avenue. 



The. plan of the improvement of the public grounds mentioned in the 

 last report of the committee has been adopted by the President, and is now 

 in the process of rapid execution under the direction of Mr. Downing. 

 When it is completed, the whole of the area known as the mall, extending 

 from the foot of Capitol hill to the Potomac river, will be converted into a 

 beautiful park adorned with evergreen and other ornamental trees, and tra- 

 versed with carriage drives and gravel walks. In the midst of this varie- 

 gated landscape the Smithsonian building will occupy a prominent position, 

 and wnth its picturesque architecture will produce a harmonious effect. 



The President of the United States in 1847 appropriated to the use of the 

 Institution nineteen acres of land, in the middle of which the building has 

 been erected. This space was enclosed with a fence and planted with trees 

 at the expense of the Smithsonian fund. The whole amount of expendi- 

 ture for these objects was about four thousand dollars, but the execution of 

 the plan before mentioned, at the expense of the general government, will 

 render unnecessary any farther disbursements on this acc^ount. 



Without surrendering the right of use of the ground appropriated to the 

 Institution, the partition fence between it and the other part of the mall has 

 been removed and the whole given in charge to Mr. Downing, and his able 

 assistant Mr. Breckenridge. 



The committee recommend that the interior of the north and south 

 towers, which connect with the rooms hereafter to be used for the library 

 and museum, shall be made as far as possible fire-proof. It is also suggested 

 that the gas and water-pipes be laid in the building as it progresses. 



The attention of the Board is invited to the consideration of such mea- 

 sures as may b^ deemed preparatory to proceeding with the completion of 

 the centre building, such as plans and estimates. 



