K7a2 CONGRESSIONAL’ PROCEEDINGS. 
with the approval of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 
$8,000. 
Norr.—It is very desirable to continue the erection of galleries i in the several exhi- 
bition halls, which will add materially to the available area in the Museum building 
for the exhibition and storage of collections at a relatively low cost. The full 
amount estimated for is necessary. 
For the removal of the sheds from their present location south of 
and adjacent to the Smithsonian building and rebuilding them, includ- 
ing all necessary labor and material, $2,500. 
Norr.—It is very desirable that these sheds should be removed at the earliest 
practicable date. They are not only unsightly in appearance, but are of wood, old, 
dry, and combustible, and so very dangerous that the board of fire underwriters has 
reported that they would not be permitted outside of a Government reservation, and 
that insurance could not be obtained at less than ten times the ordinary rates. They 
are adjacent to the Smithsonian building, where are stored great collections of alco- 
holic specimens and other material of an inflammable character, and they constitute 
such a danger to the safety of these that their case must be recommended to Congress 
as one of special urgency. With the sum estimated for, these sheds, which are 276 
feet in length by 25 feet in width, can all be removed to another site, where they 
will not constitute a menace to Government property. 
NATIONAL MUSEUM—APPROPRIATIONS. 
April 24, 1896—Senate. 
Sundry civil bill for 1897 considered. 
Amendment on page 32, line 16, to increase the appropriation for 
cases, furniture, fixtures, etc., for the National Museum from $15,000 
to $20,000 was agreed to. 
Mr. Wrixi1am B. Autison. In line 1, page 33, I move to strike out 
**43” and insert *‘53.” In this connection I ask that two letters 
which I hold in my hand may be printed in the Record, giving the 
reasons for the increase. . 
The Presrpine Orricer (Mr. J. H. Gauuinerr). If there be no 
objection the letters will be printed in the Record. 
The letters referred to are as follows: 
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 
OFFICE oF ASSISTANT SECRETARY, IN CHARGE oF U.S. Nationan Museum, 
Washington, April 22, 1896. 
Str: I deem it my duty to bring to your attention the fact that unless some spe- 
cial provision is made for its maintenance, the National Herbarium, recently trans- 
ferred from the care of the Department of Agriculture to that of the Smithsonian 
Institution, will become comparatively useless. 
This is one of the largest collections of American plants in the world, and one of 
the most important, embracing as it does the collections of all the Government sur- 
veys from the time of Fremont and Wilkes to the present day. It contains about 
250,000 specimens, mostly American, and constitutes for American botany a ‘‘ con- 
sultative library of specimens’’ of the very greatest importance. In it there are 
many types of American plants not to be found elsewhere, and it is constantly con- 
sulted, either personally or through correspondence, by all working botanists in 
America. 
Although the Smithsonian Institution has always been responsible for the admin- 
