REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 81 



committee, to serve in the place of Mr. Lucas, wlio had been assioned 

 to special duties iu counection with the Fur-Seal Commission. The 

 cbairmau was relieved ou June 5 by Mr. Willige, acting" chief clerk. 

 Contracts for the construction of the galleries were duly awarded and 

 the work has progressed satisfactorily. In the aj)i»r()priation for the 

 fiscal year ending June 30, 1898, an additional sum of >=8,0(H) has been 

 provided for the continuation of the construction of galleries, thus 

 allowing for their extension into the oast, west and soutli halls. 



A reference was made in the last Keport to the lease of new prem- 

 ises for workshops and storage purposes. A formal agreement was 

 entered into on July 1, 189G, for the present fiscal year, with the privi- 

 lege of renewal for five years, if desired. Two frame buildings, each 

 100 feet long, 25 feet wide, and one story high, were erected by the 

 owner. It was hoped that it would be possible to transfer the material 

 in the shed adjacent to the armory buihling to the new storage quar- 

 ters, but this was found to be impracticable, and it was therefore 

 recommended that an additional building be erected between the two 

 existing sheds on Ninth street, and that these two sheds be extended. 



Provision has been made in the appropriations for the coming year 

 for the removal of the sheds south of the Smithsonian buihling. They 

 will probably be rebuilt on the ground leased by the Museum on Ninth 

 street. The need for suitable fire protection for the Museum property 

 stored at this place is urgent. 



A number of applications for the use of the lecture hall have been 

 granted during the year. When lectures are given at night, it is 

 necessary that additional watchmen, firemen, and other attendants be 

 provided, and if the lantern is used, a skilled operator is required. 

 The society or association asking the privilege of using the hall, 

 assumes tlie expense of such additional service. It is also reijuired 

 that information be given in advance as to the names of the lecturers 

 and the subjects of the proposed lectures. It has been found neces- 

 sary to refuse to permit the removal of the lantern from the Museum 

 building. 



The rei)ort of the acting chief clerk is accomiianied by a statement 

 of the proceedings of Congress during the fiscal year, so far as they 

 concern the Smithsonian Institution and its bureaus. 



The report of the pr(q)erty clerk, Mr. J. S. Goldsmith, includes a 

 number of detailed statements showing the work performed during 

 the year, the amount of supplies of various kinds purchased, and the 

 amount on hand June 30, 1897. More than 1,000 invoices of supplies 

 were examined, transferred to official forms, and certified for settle- 

 ment. One thousand six hundred and thirteen inside recpusitions for 

 general supplies, and 1,.">05 recpiisitious for stationery were filled j also 

 71 requisitions for cases, etc. 

 NAT MUS 97 ^G 



