14 REPOBT OF THE SECRETARY. 



subject, it seemed to me that the work, if assigned to tlie Smithsonian 

 Institution, would require a person of special qualifications to imme- 

 diately assist the Secretary, together with a number of trained clerical 

 assistants, and that the salaries for these persons and the expenses 

 incident to the work would require an appropriation of not less than 

 $10,000 per annum. 



In accordance with this recommendation, Secretary Olney trans- 

 mitted this correspondence to Congress. Although the catalogue 

 will not begin until 1900, much preliminary work will be necessary. I 

 have accordingly brought the matter to the attention of Secretary 

 Sherman, and the Department of State has agreed to submit an item 

 for this purpose in its regular estimates for the year 1898-99. 



Although the new building for the Library of Congress was completed 

 in February, 1897, its occupancy had not begun at the close of the fiscal 

 year. The east stack was provisionally assigned for the Smithsonian 

 collection of transactions. In the past only this portion of the Smith- 

 sonian Library has been kept together, the remainder of the collection 

 being distributed throughout the Library of Congress. I trust that in 

 the new building, with its ample space and largely increased force, it 

 will be found possible, in accordance with the resolution of the Eegents 

 in 1889,^ to assemble the entire collection in one x)lace. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



In 1855 (February 24) the Board of Regents adopted the following 

 resolution : 



Eesolved, That all correspondence of this Institution with any person 

 or society shall be conducted by the Secretary, and no assistant or 

 employee shall write or receive any official letter or communication 

 pertaining to the affairs of the Institution excei)t under the authority 

 and by the direction of the Secretary; and all such correspondence 

 shall be duly registered and recorded in such manner as the Secretary 

 shall direct. 



The Secretary has given much care to organizing a system of corre- 

 spondence which would insure that letters should receive prompt 

 replies, and that a record of receipt, subject, and date of reply shall be 

 kept in such a form as to be readily accessible. The system in ques- 

 tion was fully described in my rejiort for 1890, and its adoption has 

 proved of the greatest convenience during the seven years it has been 

 in operation. 



The correspondence has greatly increased during the past few years, 



^Besolved, That since the Smithsonian deposit now numbers over 250,000 titles, 

 and is still increasing at the cost of the Institution, it is, in the opinion of the 

 Regents, desirable that in the new building for the Library of Congress sufficient 

 provision shall be made for its accommodation and increase in a distinct hall or 

 halls, worthy of the collections, and such as, while recalling to the visitor the name 

 of Sraithson, shall provide such facilities for those consulting the volumes as will 

 aid in his large purpose of the diffusion of knowledge among men. 



