APPENDIX TO THE SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



Ari'ENDIX J. 

 REPORT ox THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL INITTSEUM. 



Sir: 1 have the honor to submit the following report on the condition and opera- 

 tions of the National Museum during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1903. 



The most noteworthy occurrence of the year, and, in fact, for many years past, 

 was the action of Congress in providing for an additional building for the National 

 Museum, a building that will not only treble the existing amount of space, but also 

 present an imposing and dignified appearance, and be entirely worthy to house the 

 great collections of the nation. The jiublic will be greatly benefited by this measure, 

 and the opportunity will be given to arrange in classified order the great mass of 

 valuable material which, for over two decades, has been accunnilating in insecure 

 and inconvenient storage quarters. 



Marked progress has been made in nearly every branch of the Museum. The 

 number of specimens received was 236,000, increasing the total now in the possession 

 of the Museum to over 5,650,000. The number sent out in exchange and as gifts to 

 educational establishments was above 33,000. The demands for information by letter 

 were increased at least 25 per cent, and nearly 900 lots of specimens were received 

 for identification. The amount of fieldwork carried on by members of the Museum 

 staff, however, was greatly diminished through lack of means. 



There was an increased number and a more extensive distribution of publications, 

 and the library received as gifts two valuable collections of books and pamphlets 

 on special zoological subjects. Preparations for the Louisiana Purchase Exhibition 

 to be held at St. Louis in 1904 were well under way before the year ended, and the 

 fact is now evident that the Museum will have in that connection one of the largest 

 and most interesting exhibits it has ever assembled for such a purpose. 



BuUdimjs. — The work upon the final plans for the additional building was com- 

 menced near the close of the year, but several months must elapse before the work- 

 ing drawings are sufficiently advanced to begin making contracts. The new 

 structure will stand upon the north side of the RIall between Ninth and Twelfth 

 streets, with its center at Tenth street. Its location is, therefore, directly in front 

 of the present buildings, but at a sufficient distance from them to prevent aiiy clash- 

 ing between the different styles of architecture. The building will be classic in 

 character and constructed of granite. Its frontage will be about 500 feet, and its 

 depth about 330 feet. It will have four stories, including the basement, the main 

 and second stories to be devoted to the public collections, the others to the storage 

 of the reserve specimens and the various objects of the activities of the Museum. 

 The entire floor area will amount to nearly 10 acres. It is expected that about four 

 years will be required for the completion of the structure. 



The repairs about the present Museum l)uilding were extensive, owing in large 

 part to the poor condition of the roof, which seems to develop new leaks during 



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