980 CONGRESSIONAL PEOCEEDINGS. 



sonian Institution, including salaries or compensation of all necessary 

 employees, $12,000. 



(Stat, XXIV, 523.) 



War Department: For the transportation of reports and maps to 

 foreign countries, through the Smithsonian Institution, $100. 



(Stat., XXIV, 536.) 



March 3, 1887. 



Legislative, executive, and judicial act for 1888. 



Library of Congress: For expenses, of exchanging public documents 

 for the publications of foreign governments, $1,500. 



(Stat., XXIV, 600.) 



(This pays one clerk at $900 and one clerk at $600. ) 



Naval Observatory: For payment to Smithsonian Institution for 

 freight on Observatory publications sent to foreign countries, $136. 



(Stat., XXIV, 621.) 



SMITHSONIAN BUILDING — ESTIMATES. 



December 7, 1885 — House. 



Estimates for 1887. 



For urgent and necessary repairs to the central and western portions 

 of the Smithsonian Institution, $5,000. 

 December 9, 1886— House. 



Estimates for 1888. 



For urgent and necessary repairs to the central and western portions 

 of the Smithsonian Institution building, $15,000. 

 December 11, 1886. 

 Hon. S. J. Randall, 



Chairman House CommiUec on Appropriations. 



Sir: I beg to explain in reference to the estimate for fireproofing a portion of the 

 Smithsonian building that this is strictly for the purpose of preserving the property 

 of the United States which is exhibited therein. The alcoholic collection of reptiles, 

 fishes, marine invertebrates, etc., are all in and adjacent to this range, which is very 

 combustible, so that should fire break out it would not only burn out the building, 

 but destroy a very valuable portion of the National Museum. 



The Smithsonian building was originally erected at the expense of the Smithsonian 

 fund and completed about 1856, after which it was occupied almost exclusively by 

 and for the Museum, only the eastern range and wing being devoted to other pur- 

 poses. Congress has little by little made the necessary appropriations for fireproof- 

 ing the defective portions of the building, and the aiipropriation asked for practically 

 completes the work. 



The Smithsonian Institution unfortunately has no funds for doing such unusual 

 and special work, its income being all required for the established routine of its active 

 operations. The balance on hand June, 1885, was simply the amount available for 

 carrying on the Institution for the following six months. 

 Respectfully, yours, 



Spencer F. Baird, 

 Secretary Smithsonian Institution. 



