584 REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 



Provisional appropriations. 



For building $2,000 



For general expenses 14, 000 



For publications and researches 20, 000 



For exchanges 7, 000 



For books and apparatus 1, 000 



For contingencies . . 1, 4GG 



15, 4GG 



NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



The National Museum still continues to be in charge of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, Congress making an appropriation annually of $20,000 

 for the care and preservation of the collections. 



The number of specimens is, however, every year increasing from the 

 public surveys and explorations, and the sum appropriated by Congress 

 has never been sufficient to meet the demand for their proper care and 

 exhibition. During the past year it has been found necessary to erect 

 an additional building for the use of the Museum taxidermists and pho- 

 tographer, toward the expense of which $2,Gt4 have been advanced 

 from the Smithson income. In addition to this, $1,908.45 were also 

 required to meet the current expenses of the Museum, making a total 

 of $4,522.45 expended during the present year from the Smithson income 

 beyond the appropriation by Congress for the Museum. 



The appropriation made by Congress lor fitting up the halls has beeu 

 expended in the construction of additional walnut table-cases with glass 

 tops and sides, for the exhibition of ethnological specimens. 



At the session of the Board of Eegents, January 23, 1875, a resolution 

 was adopted to request Congress to make an appropriation of $2,500 to 

 increase the heating capacity of the apparatus used to warm the rooms 

 occupied by the Government collections. 



The subject was presented to the appropriate committees of Congress- 

 and the desired appropriation was granted without dissent. After esti- 

 mates had been procured, a contract was made with the firm of Baker, 

 Smith & Co., of New York, to substitute larger boilers and pipes for 

 those then in use, and the work has been satisfactorily accomplished for 

 the amount of the appropriation. 



The following is a tabular statement of the condition of the Museum 

 funds: 



Balance unexpended of appropriation for preservation of 

 the Government collections, for the fiscal year ending 30th 

 J une, 1875. (Statutes for 1874, p. 21G) $7, 988 G2 



Expenditure fronr January 1, 1875, to July 1, 1875. (Museum 



Journal A, p. 130) 7, 988 G2 



