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FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS, 1895-1897. 1729 
Nore.—The sum of $4,000, appropriated for the current year, is being expended 
in repairs of the roof and exposed woodwork of the buildings, gutters, down spouts, 
etc., and in temporarily repairing the old wooden floors, and in replacing broken 
and cracked glass. The Museum building, erected in 1881, and at that time regarded 
simply as a temporary structure, up to this time has cost very little in repairs, and 
the expense has been paid for out of the appropriation for furniture and fixtures 
until last year. The building is now fourteen years old, and from this time ona 
larger expenditure will be necessary to keep it in order. : 
The full sum of $8,000 asked for is necessary to put the building in good condi- 
tion. Should this sum be appropriated, the sum required for a few years to come 
will be smaller. 
For rent of workshops for the National Museum, $2,000. 
Norre.—The temporary wooden sheds, immediately adjacent to the south side of 
the Smithsonian building and to the storage rooms for alcohol combustibles, have 
beengpronounced dangerous and unsafe by the board of fire underwriters, who in 
their report say that they would not be permitted outside of a Government reserya- 
tion. These can not be removed unless other space for shops and storage is provided. 
The sum of $900, heretofore appropriated, is entirely expended for the rent of shop 
and storage room in place of that the Museum formerly had in the so-called Armory 
building. The additional sum is urgently needed to remove a source of danger. 
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, $30,000. 
Norre.—As the collections increase in extent, it is constantly necessary to provide 
cases, and the very fact that the buildings are becoming overcrowded with material 
renders it even more necessary to build cases of special form to utilize the existing 
space to better advantage. Many valuable collections and rare specimens are con- 
stantly being offered as gifts on condition that proper cases are provided for them; 
and for this purpose a certain amount of money is necessary each year. The appro- 
priations of the last few years have been inadequate, owing to the fact that the cost 
of all interior fittings, repairs, and restorations of old cases and purchase of new 
ones, including pay of carpenters and cabinetmakers, is chargeable to this appro- 
priation. 
For postage stamps and foreign postal cards for the National 
Museum, $500. 
For the erection of galleries in two or more halls of the National 
Museum; said galleries to be constructed of iron beams, supported by 
iron pillars and protected by iron railings, and provided with suitable 
staircases; the work to be done under the direction of the Architect 
of the Capitol and in accordance with the approval of the Secretary 
of the Smithsonian Institution, $8,000. 
Norr.—The erection of these galleries will add materially to the area available in 
the present Museum building for exhibition and storage purposes. Such galleries 
were provided for in the original plans of the building. They can be supported in 
such a manner as not to detract from the appearance of the halls or to interfere with 
the installation of the collections. 
H. Doc. 7832——109 
