18 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



facing the present Smithsonian and Museum l)uildings, though at a 

 distance of several hundred feet. It will be a fireproof building with 

 granite front and will have about 500 feet frontage and ])e about 330 

 feet deep, with four stories, including the basement. The main and 

 second floors will be used for exhibition halls, while the basement and 

 third floors will serve for laboratory" and storage purposes. 



I have great pleasure in recording this final result of the reconnnen- 

 dations of the Regents and their Secretary and of the good will of 

 Congress. 



The year shows marked progress in nearly every brancli of the 

 Museum. Two hundred and thirty-six thousand specimens were 

 received, making the present total over 5,050,000, and there were dis- 

 tributed to educational establishments about 33,000 objects. Letters 

 requesting information show an increase of about 25 per cent in num- 

 ber, and nearly 900 lots of specimens were received for identiflcation. 

 The distribution of publications also shows an increase over previous 

 3^ears, and to the library some valuable collections of books on spe- 

 cial zoological subjects have been added. 



Among the anthropological accessions during th(^ year I may men- 

 tion some interesting specimens illustrating the native arts and 

 industries of Sumatra and the Straits Settlements, collected by Dr. 

 AA'. L. Al)bott; a large ethnological collection from the Philippines, 

 furnishing information regarding the life and customs of the natives 

 of those islands; a number of bronzed wooden images representative 

 of Buddhist religious art, a series of models of United States war ves- 

 sels, and of land and naval ordnance; and some relics of General and 

 Mrs. Grant of much intrinsic and historic interest, presented by their 

 children. 



The Ijiological and geological departments of the Museum also 

 received valuable additions, which are enumerated in the report of the 

 Assistant Secretary, where will also be found details in regard to 

 explorations and researches conducted under direction of the Museum. 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOCxY. 



Researches among the American Indians have been contimied by the 

 Bureau as outlined in the plan of operations submitted June 30, 1!H)2, 

 and approved by me May 23, 1003. 



The earlier part of the (fiscal) j'ear was marked by the death of ^laj. 

 John V\\ Powell, and in October Mr. W. H. Holmes was appointed 

 his successor. 



Major Powell was born March 2-1, 1S31, and died September 23, 

 1902. He organized the Bureau of Ethnology and under the general 

 direction of the Institution carried on its researches until his death. 



