FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS, 1885-1887. 1021 



December 9, 1886 House. 



Estimates for 1888. 



For commencing the construction, in a fireproof manner, of an addi- 

 tional museum building to receive the collections and laboratories in 

 chemistry, geology, mineralogy, metallurgy, taxidernry, etc., and for 

 offices and laboratories of the United States Geological Survey, to be 

 erected under the direction and supervision of the Regents of the 

 Smithsonian Institution on the southwest section of the grounds of 

 the Smithsonian Institution, $250,000. 



For the preservation, exhibition, and increase of the collections 

 from the surveying and exploring expeditions of the Government, 

 and from other sources, including salaries or compensation of all nec- 

 essary employees, $125,000. 



For expense of heating, lighting, electrical and telephonic service 

 for the National Museum, $15,000-. 



For the preparation and installation of duplicate specimens belong- 

 ing to the United States for deposit with such State and national 

 expositions as may be authorized by Congress to receive them, $5,000. 



For cases, furniture, fixtures, and appliances required for the exhi- 

 bition and safe-keeping of the collections of the National Museum, 

 including salaries or compensation of all necessary employees, $40,000. 

 January 10, 1887 Senate. 



Letter of S. F. Baird, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, to 

 Son. W. JB. Allison, chairman Senate Committee on Appropriations. 



SIR: I would respectfully ask attention of the Senate Committee on Appropriations 

 to the following items as contained in the House bill No. 10072, with a request that 

 the committee take into consideration the propriety of bringing them up more 

 nearly to the amounts asked for in the estimates transmitted by the Secretary of the 

 Treasury : . 



"Preservation of collections: Preservation, exhibition, and increase of the collec- 

 tions received from the surveying and exploring expeditions of the Government, and 

 from other sources, including salaries or compensations of all necessary employees," 

 from $106,500 to $116,000; original estimate, $125,000. 



"Heating and lighting: Expense of heating, lighting, electrical and telephonic 

 service for the National Museum," from $11,000 to $13,000; original estimate, 

 $15,000. 



So far as the appropriation for the preservation of collections is concerned, or that 

 which constitutes the basis of support of the National Museum, I would respectfully 

 submit that the great increase in the amount and value of the material placed on 

 exhibition renders larger expenditures necessary; that it is impossible to properly 

 guard the valuable collections received with the present force of watchmen, espe- 

 cially since the addition of the Grant relics. There are several important divisions 

 of the Museum that have not yet been organized, and for which provision is needed. 



The amount of $11,000, previously allowed, does not meet the full expense of heat- 

 ing, lighting, electrical and telephonic service of the building, especially when it is 

 considered that there are four distinct buildings and a greater part of a fifth to be 

 covered by this service. The offices of the Smithsonian building are, of course, pro- 

 vided for out of the Smithsonian fund, but the greater part of the edifice is occupied 

 for museum purposes, and requires the expenditure of the museum appropriation. 



