REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 19 



Since the occurrence of the fire all the operations have been car- 

 ried on in the lower story of the east wing of the building, (the upper 

 part still continuing to be the residence of the Secretary,) and in the 

 several rooms of the adjoining east range. Connected with an office 

 in the latter, the lower story of the tower attached to the southeast 

 corner of the main building has been converted into a fire-proof 

 vault, in which all the valuable papers and records are constantly 

 kept, except for the usually short time they are required for con- 

 sultation. To insure the wakefulness and fidelity of the watchmen, 

 we have introduced the use of an instrument called a ' detector,' which 

 records the number and the times of his visits to the several parts 

 of the building. For this instrument, which has rendered good ser- 

 vice during the past year, we are indebted to the liberality of its 

 inventor, Mr. J. E. Bauerk, of Boston, who, in consideration of the 

 loss which the Institution has sustained by fire, kindly presented it 

 free of charge. 



A circumstantial account is given by the building committee of 

 what has been done toward the reconstruction of the edifice. From 

 this it will be seen that the plan adopted contemplates not merely 

 the repair of the damage by the fire, but the restoration of the 

 several parts in fire-proof materials, and with such alterations in the 

 division of the interior space as will better adapt it to the uses of 

 the Institution. 



The plans have been prepared and the work superintended by Mr. 

 Adolph Cluss, an architect who was warmly recommended by the 

 mayor of Washington as having been successful in designing and 

 erecting the public school-houses of the city as well as a number of 

 churches and other buildings. These plans have been critically ex- 

 amined and, in some cases, modified by the chairman of the building 

 committee, General Delafield, who, by his knowledge and experience 

 in the line of engineering, has rendered the Institution valuable 

 service. 



No appropriation has yet been made by Congress to aid in the 

 restoration of the building. Considering, however, the large amount 

 of government property intrusted to the care of the Institution, it 

 can scarcely be doubted that in a normal condition of the national 

 finances an appropriation for such purpose would have been readily 

 granted. 



In consideration of the extraordinary outlay required for the recon- 

 struction of the building, an effort has been made to reduce as much 

 as possible the miscellaneous expenses, and to engage in no enter- 



