Appendix I. 



REPORT ON THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Sib : I have the honor to submit the following report on the operations of the 

 United States National Museum for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1910 : 



CONSTRUCTION AND OCCUPATION OF THE NEW BUILDING. 



The subjects of greatest concern during the past year have been those con- 

 nected with the erection and occupation of the new building. By the end of the 

 year essentially all of the building except tbe interior of the south pavilion and 

 the granite approaches had been structurally finished. The last stones in the 

 approaches, however, were laid toward the end of July, 1910, leaving, at the 

 time of writing this report, only the pavilion, or rotunda, which will require 

 several months more for its completion on account of certain decorative 

 features, though these are neither elaborate nor expensive. The auditorium, 

 which occupies most of the ground floor of the pavilion, is expected to be in 

 readiness by October. 



In the general deficiency act passed near the close of the last session of 

 Congress provision was made for the improvement of the grounds immediately 

 about tbe building. This work includes granolithic roads and walks to the 

 north entrance and along both sides of the building to the east and west en- 

 trances, where coal, collections, and supplies are delivered ; the grading of the 

 embankment just south of the building and the construction of a narrow service 

 road in the intervening area ; the sodding or seeding of all surfaces intended to 

 be kept as lawns ; and the readjustment of one of the main roads of the Mall 

 so as to cause it to pass directly in front of tbe south approaches. These im- 

 portant matters will be attended to by the officer in charge of public buildings 

 and grounds, in whose province they belong. 



The pressure for additional space on account of the emptying of the rented 

 buildings and the rapid growth of collections made it imperative to begin the 

 occupation of the new building before its completion. During May and June, 

 1909, the contents of the rented buildings were carried over and stored on some 

 of the finished floors in tbe exhibition halls and in one of the open courts. Two 

 months later possession of the third story was obtained from the superintendent 

 of construction, although at that time none of the rooms were provided with 

 doors and temporary expedients had to be resorted to for the protection of such 

 material as was first moved. On November 9, 1909, the Museum accepted con- 

 trol of all parts of the building aside from the south pavilion, and while there 

 was still much work of a minor character in progress, operations were not mate- 

 rially interfered with on that account. The transfer of the collections, labora- 

 tories, and workshops has proceeded rapidly, but not as satisfactorily as was 

 hoped for, owing mainly to delays in obtaining furniture, an undertaking of 

 great magnitude, considering that the floor area to be provided for is in the 

 neighborhood of 10 acres. 



It may be explained that the first and second floors of the building are 

 designed wholly for exhibition purposes. There is one large exhibition hall 

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