[120 



FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT 

 or 



THE BOARD OF REGENTS 



OF 



THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 



SHOWING 



Tlie operations, expenditures, and co7iditio7i of the Institution up to Jan- 

 uary 1, ISoU. 



To the Senate and House of Representatives: 



In obedience to the act of Congress of August 10, IS46, establishing 

 the Smithsonian Institution, the undersigned, in behalf of the Regents,^ 

 submit to Congress, as a report of the operations, expenditures, and con- 

 dition of the institution, the folIoAving documents: 



First. Annual report of the Secretary, giving an account of tlie opera- 

 tions of the institution during the year 1849, accompanied by a report 

 from the Assistant Secretary, relative to the library, and by other docu- 

 ments. 



Second. Report of the Executive Committee, exhibiting an account of 

 the expenditures of the institution during the year, and of its financial 

 condition on the first of January, 1850. 



Third. Report of the Building Committee, relative to the progress made 

 in 1849 in the erection of the Smithsonian edifice, and in the improve- 

 ment of the grounds, with a statement of the expenditures whicli have 

 thus far been made on the same. 



Fourth. Proceedings of the Board of Regents at their fourth annual 

 session. 



Fifth. Proceedings of the first meeting of the estabhshment. 



Sixth. Appendix. 



From these documents it will be seen that the Smithsonian Institution 

 has been gradually extending its sphere of usefulness in carrying out the 

 plan of its organization. 



An accident which happened to one of the apartments of the buildings 

 as will be seen from the proceedings of the board, has induced the Re- 

 gents to change the original plan of finishing the interior, and to adopt in 

 its stead a system of fireproofing, better adapted to security and perma- 

 nence. This will be attended with an additional expense, which it is pro- 

 posed to meet by an extension ot the time of completing the building. 



From the report of the Executive Committee it will be perceived that 

 the funds of the institution are in a very favorable condition, and 

 from the proceedings of the Regents that the Secretary has been di- 

 rected to make application to Congress for permission to increase the prin- 

 cipal of the Smithsonian fund, by adding thereto f laO^OUO of accraed 



