FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS, 1877-1879. 781 



property of the United States in the Smithsonian building- from dan- 

 ger by fire. This is to be expended in the construction of iron doors, 

 for extension of the water pipes, for the purchase of hose, etc. 

 February 18, 1879 Senate. 



Hon. WILLIAM WINDOM, 



Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations. 



SIR: I would respectfully ask the insertion by the Senate in the 

 deficiency bill of the following item: 



For the preservation of the specimens of the United States sur- 

 veying and exploring expeditions, $4,000. 



The appropriation asked for by the Smithsonian Institution in 

 behalf of the Government collections was reduced by the House from 

 $37,500 to $18,000, the total appropriation for the purpose being 

 $25,000, as compared with $37,500 in 1877, $40,000 in 1876, $30,000 

 in 1875, and $42,000 in 1874. 



This reduction rendered it necessary to discharge a large part of the 

 force of the Museum employed in the preservation and investigation 

 of the collections, and confine the work simply to protection of the 

 articles against destruction. It was, of course, our duty to accommo- 

 date ourselves to the will of Congress; but unexpected expenditures 

 have been rendered necessary by various causes, such as the destruc- 

 tive storms of last summer, which involved extensive repairs to the 

 Museum building; the repairs of damages by bursting of water pipes 

 in consequence of the severe frosts of winter; the necessity of intro- 

 ducing additional registers into the building to make it comfortable 

 for visitors, and the carrying out of instructions of the Government 

 committee to render the building secure against fire. For this pur- 

 pose the Smithsonian Institution was ordered to insert iron doors, 

 some of large size, in various openings and passageways so as to 

 accomplish the security desired. 



Begging that the committee, having given these reasons due consid- 

 eration, will make the appropriation desired, 



I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



SPENCER F. BAIRD, 

 Secretary, Smithsonian Institution, 



February 26, 1879 House. 



Hon. J. H. BLOUNT, 



Chairman Subcommittee on the Deficiency Bill. 



SIR: May I ask from the subcommittee a favorable consideration of 

 the item of $4,000 introduced by the Senate into the deficiency bill 

 for "Preservation of the collections of the United States surveying 

 and exploring expeditions, in charge of the Smithsonian Institution"? 



The appropriation by the House under that head for the fiscal year 



