FOETY-NINTH CONGRESS, 1885-1887. 1013 



It was decided, however, to construct the Smithsonian })uilding- on 

 reservation No. 2, where it is now located. 



By act of August 4, 1854 (Stat., X, 552), the preservation of the 

 collections was placed in the hands of the Commissioner of Patents, 

 who was authorized to employ keepers, etc., and the appropriation 

 was made under the Department of the Interior. 



On the completion of the Smithsonian building-, in 1855, use of its 

 halls was requested by the Secretary of the Interior and the Commis- 

 sioner of Patents, who were exceedingly anxious to remove the col- 

 lections of the exploring expedition and National Institute from the 

 Patent Office. 



The Regents of the Institution concluded to grant the request on 

 the condition that the Secretar}' of the Interior would provide for the 

 payment of the expenses of the care of the collections. This having 

 been agreed to, the Patent Office was relieved of the custod}-^ of the 

 specimens, the Smithsonian Institution taking charge of them under 

 the authorit}^ of the law of August 10, 1846. 



On the 3d of March, 185T (Stat., XI, 219), Congress made an appro- 

 priation for the transfer of the Government collections to the Smith- 

 sonian Institution and for the construction of cases for the same. 



Similar appropriations were made on the 2d of June, 1858 (Stat., 

 XI, 301), and have been continued ever since. 



In the estimates of appropriations for the Thirty-iifth Congress, 

 second session (see House Ex. Doc. No. 1, p. 268), the following letter 

 appears: 



Smithsonian Institution, 

 Washington, D. C, October 18, 1858. 



Sir: I have the honor to request that in your estimates to be submitted to Con- 

 gress you will include the following item, in accordance with the previous legislation 

 transferring the collections of the Government to the Smithsonian building. The 

 amount required is precisely the same as that appropriated for the year 1858-59: 

 " For the preservation and exhibition of the collections of the exploring and survey- 

 ing expeditions of the Government, $4,000." 



I have the honor to be, etc., Joseph Henry, 



Secretary Smithsonian Institution. 



Hon. Jacob Thompson, 



Secretary of the Interior. 



Since the date of that letter annual estimates have been submitted 

 to the Secretary of the Interior, at his request, by the Smithsonian 

 Institution, and transmitted by him to Congress. 



In 1872 the geological collections of the Land Office were transferred 

 b}^ the Secretary of the Interior to the Smithsonian Institution. 



Previous to 1873 all the disbursements on account of the appropria- 

 tions of Congress for the support of the National Museum were made 

 directly ])y the Institution and afterwards refunded by the Department 

 of the Interior. Since that time as strict a division of the accounts as 

 possible has been made, and those relating to the Museum have been 



