PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. 239 



a calamity, since it probably would have occurred at some future time when a 

 much larger accumulation of valuable articles might have been destroyed, and 

 since the arrangement of the building can now be improved, and the repairs 

 made with fire- proof materials. The fire-proofing, as far as it was carried, was 

 well done, and it is to this circumstance that the preservation of the most valu- 

 able objects of the establishment is due. 



III. SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT SHOULD BE DONE. 



There can be no hesitation in adopting the conclusion that steps should be 

 immediately takwi not only to repair the injury, but to improve the condition of 

 the building. 



1. The main edifice should be provided with a metallic roof. 



2. For the wooden conical terminations of the towers should be substituted 

 metallic coverings. 



3. All valuable articles belonging to the Institution or deposited in it, including 

 the library, should be placed in the main building, which should be cut off from 

 the wings by iron doors. 



4. Provision should be made for a thorough heating of the whole building by 

 steam or hot water. 



5. Suggestions should be requested from competent architects and engineers 

 as to the work to be done, and those which are adopted should be embodied in 

 working plans and drawings. 



6. A building committee of the Board should be appointed to have charge of 

 the work. 



No very exact estimate can as yet be made as to the cost of the repairs, &c, 

 for it has not been possible, without erecting a scaffolding, to determine whether 

 it will be necessary to take down the high northern tower. Colonel Alexander, 

 of the engineer corps, however, has informed the committee that he thinks 

 $100,000 will be required to make the necessary repairs and improvements. 



The committee cannot conclude without adding that, in their opinion, the 

 occurrence of the fire ought not to be allowed to interfere with the active ope- 

 rations of the Institution, on which essentially depends the reputation it has 

 established throughout the world, and its efficiency as an instrument for " the 

 increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." To the support and exten- 

 sion of these operations, therefore, the annual interest from the original fund 

 should, as far as possible, continue as heretofore to be conscientiously applied. 

 Respectfully submitted : 



RICHARD WALIACH, 

 JOSEPH HENRY, 



Special Committee. 

 Washington, February, 1S65. 



The question was then discussed as to the measures to be taken for procuring 

 the means for the repair and improvement of the building; and the Regent3 

 present connected with Congress, as well as Hon. Mr. Rice, expressed the 

 opinion that it was probable an appropriation would be made by Congress for 

 the purpose, without opposition. 



On motion of Mr. Cox, it was 



Resolved, That the Secretary prepare a statement of the amount necessary to 

 reconstruct the building; the legislation necessary to place the residuary legacy 

 of Srnithson, with the original amount, permanently in the treasury of the 

 United States; and the action requisite to secure the payment of the interest on 

 the fund in coin, to be furnished to the joint committee of Congress which ha3 

 been appointed with reference to the Smithsonian Institution. 



