THIRTY-SIXTH CONGRESS, 1859-61. 655 



with them a great deal of matter which has been arranged 

 for distribution among the several States. 



Mr. BRAGG. I hope the Senator will speak louder ; he 

 cannot be heard. 



Mr. FESSENDEN. I say there were a great many dupli- 

 cates of the collections which are proposed to be distributed 

 among the several States, and this sum is necessary in order 

 to have them arranged and distributed. 



Mr. GRIMES. How many such appropriations have been 

 made for distribution heretofore ? 



Mr. FESSENDEN. This is the first appropriation of the 

 sort : 



For the distribution of the collections of the exploring and surveying 

 expeditions of the Government, and the construction of additional cases to 

 receive such part of said collections as may be retained by the Government, 

 $6,000. 



There are two things provided for in this amendment. 

 Both are necessary. The sum is a very reasonable one. 

 The Committee on Finance examined this matter, and came 

 to the conclusion that it was proper to make this appropria- 

 tion. The only alteration we have made is to put it in a, 

 better shape than it was before. The chairman of the com- 

 mittee thought the lines proposed to be stricken out were 

 indefinite. 



Mr. GRIMES, I understand this is the first appropriation 

 ever made for distribution ? ' 



Mr. FESSENDEX. Yes, sir. 



Mr. PEARCE. Mr. President, these collections are made 

 by all the expeditions sent out by the Government. A great 

 many of them are sent overland to the Northwest. All of 

 them bring home collections of natural history. They are 

 all sent to the Smithsonian Institution, where they are ar- 

 ranged and classified. We have no means for keeping these 

 specimens there; and it is very desirable that the duplicates 

 should be given to the colleges and scientific institutions 

 throughout the country. This appropriation is not a large 

 one. These specimens have been collecting for a number of 

 years ; and the object now is to distribute them to places 

 where they would be valuable that is all. 



Mr. GRIMES. Under what law, to what institutions, and 

 in what manner, are they distributed? 



Mr. PEARCE. There is no law that I am aware of for the 

 distribution ; but it has been proposed by the Secretary of 

 the Interior that these objects should be thus distributed. 

 They will be distributed by the Smithsonian Institution, in 

 whose care they are placed. 



