REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 39 
to examine the building, reported that the exterior walls were well 
built, both in regard to construction and materials, but that the plan 
of finishing the interior in wood and stucco was improper for an edifice 
intended to contain valuable articles; it was therefore recommended 
that fire-proof materials should be employed for the portions of the 
work which remained to be constructed. In conformity with this 
recommendation the interior of the main building was completed in 
iron, stone, and brick, with the exception of the roof, which, being 
covered with slate and not supposed to be exposed to danger from 
fire, was suffered to remain. It was this change, in the mode of con- 
structing a portion of the edifice, which, during the late fire, saved 
the contents of the whole from destruction. It, however, increased 
the cost of the building to upwards of $300,000, leaving the remain- 
ing parts of the interior of the structure in perishable materials. 
It was hoped that, through the adoption of the compromise propo- 
sitions, the importance of the active operations would speedily 
become apparent, and that the plan of erecting an expensive 
building would be abandoned before more than one of the wings 
had been completed; but, though the construction of the edifice 
was, in accordance with the agreement, extended over a number of 
years, yet in anticipation of such an interference with its ultimate 
completion, so large a portion of the lower story of the whole struc- 
ture was commenced in the first two years that it was apparent no 
successful opposition could be made to its further progress. Nor 
can Congress be absolved of the charge of having indirectly con- 
tributed to encumber the bequest with the cost and maintenance of 
so extensive a building and so numerous a retinue: with more 
justice, therefore, may it be invoked to relieve the Institution,.in 
due time, from the burden imposed upon it. It should, however, be 
remembered, on the other hand, that by repeated enactments Con- 
gress has sanctioned the prominence which has been given to the 
active operations, and acquiesced in the adoption of the special 
character which has been impressed on the library and museum. It 
has relieved the Institution from the care of the grounds, also of 
the copyright books which were intended to swell the number of 
volumes, and, so far from still considering the museum of the ex- 
ploring expedition a desirable gift, it has granted for several years 
past four thousand dollars annually to assist in bearing the expenses 
of preserving and exhibiting the specimens. 
It is to be regretted that Congress directed that provision should be 
made on a large scale for a library and museum, since each tends to 
cripple the other, and the whole to diminish the efficiency of the active 
