676 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



now on hand to apply as a permanent addition to the principal. 

 What, then, is the result? A magnificent building, of ample 

 dimensions, has been erected at a cost of $300,000. Books, 

 apparatus, and other articles have been provided for the 

 library, museum, laboratory, and gallery of art, worth 

 $85,000. Lecturers have been employed, original researches 

 made, many valuable scientific works published and dis- 

 tributed, the current expenses entirely paid, and yet the 

 principal is increased $130,000. And of the interest ex- 

 pended I have yet to hear where one dollar was devoted to 

 an improper purpose. Does this look as if the institution 

 was badly managed? 



If I am asked, Mr. Chairman, what the institution has 

 done to carry out the object for which it was designed, I 

 reply that it has not had time to do much. It is in its 

 infancy. The building is but just completed, and it is not 

 to be expected that a great establishment which is to exist 

 as long as this Government itself, is to be built up in a day. 

 The foundation is being laid deep and wide, and the noble 

 work will gradually but surely advance. 



But, sir, I think it can be shown that something has 

 already been accomplished; that a good beginning, at least, 

 has been made, especially in view of the limited annual in- 

 come, which from the original fund, is less than $31,000. 

 Why, a single report of the Patent Office costs throe times 

 as much as the entire income of the Smithsonian fund for a 

 year. 



Sir, the official report to be made at the present session 

 of Congress will show that " liberal provision has been made 

 for a library, museum, and gallery of art, in the construction 

 of a building which has cost $300,000. A library has been 

 commenced, and means devised for its extension, which at' 

 present is valued at $40,000. 



"A museum, the most complete to be found in the United 

 States, in the natural history of the North American conti- 

 nent, has been collected, which is valued at not less than 

 $30,000. 



"A cabinet of apparatus, consisting of instruments of 

 illustration and research, which is worth more than $15,000, 

 has been obtained. 



"A beginning has been made of a gallery of art, consist- 

 sisting of a choice collection of a series of specimens of en- 

 gravings of the old masters." 



A correspondence has been opened and friendly relations 

 established with most of the leading colleges and literary 

 institutions, not only in this country, but throughout the 



