558 REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 



The appropriation of $20,000 was expended, under the direction of 

 the Secretary of the Interior, and accounted for to that Department, in 

 ceiling, flooring, plastering, and painting the large hall in the upper 

 story of the main building, repairing the roof, fire-proofing the west 

 wing, and fitting up the basement of the same for the preparation of i 

 specimens and storage. 



The appropriation of $4,976 was expended for salaries, taxidermy, 

 labor, &c, in preserving the Government collections, and was accounted 

 for to the Interior Department. 



The estimates for the year 1872 are as follows : 



RECEIPTS. 



From interest on the permanent fund $39, 000 00 



Probable premium on gold, 10 per cent 3, 900 00 



42,900 00 



APPROPRIATIONS. 



For building $5, 000 00 



For general expenses 10, 000 00 



For publications and researches 20, 000 00 



For exchanges 5, 000 00 



For books and apparatus 900 00 



For museum, additional to Congress appropriation 2, 000 00 



42,900 00 



The Executive Committee have examined seven hundred and fifty- 

 seven receipted vouchers for payments made during the four quarters 

 of the year 1871, both from the Smithson fund and the appropriations 

 from Congress. In every voucher the approval of the Secretary of the 

 Institution is given, and the certificate of an authorized agent of the 

 Institution is appended, setting forth that the materials and property 

 and services rendered were for the Institution, and to be applied to the 

 purposes stated. 



The quarterly accounts-current, bank-book, check-book, and ledger 

 have also been examined and found correct, showing a balance in bank 

 December 31, 1871, of $16,315.02. 



Respectfully submitted. 



PETER PARKER, 

 JOHN MACLEAN, 

 Executive Committee.* 



March 13, 1872, 



* Major General W. T. Sherman, member of committee, absent, in Europe. 



