REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 17 



was completed, decided that the keeping of this museum ought not 

 to be a charge on the Smithson fund, and before assuming the care 

 of it asked an appropriation, at least equal to the cost of keeping the 

 articles while in the Patent Office. Congress recognized the pro- 

 priety of this position, complied with the request, and has appro- 

 propriated since the transfer, annually, $4,000. This sum, however, 

 has not sufficed to defray the cost of attendance, even during the 

 period of low prices previous to the war, without allowing for any 

 increase in the number of articles, or for the interest of the money 

 expended on the building. 



It is highly gratifying to observe that a more liberal spirit at 

 present exists. Congress has recently made provision, on an 

 ample scale, for the accommodation of an Army Anatomical Museum, 

 and for a Museum connected with the Agricultural Department, and 

 it can scarcely be doubted, that on a proper presentation of the sub- 

 ject, the same enlightened consideration which prompted the appro- 

 priations for these kindred objects, will also induce Congress either 

 to appropriate the Smithsonian building to the use of a National 

 museum, under a separate organization and endowment, or else to 

 make an annual grant of money, which, expended under the direction 

 o^ the Board of Regents, shall be sufficient properly to support an 

 estauVishment of this kind. 



The reconstruction of the building has been carried on during the 

 past year as rapidly as the funds at command and a due regard to the 

 character of the work would allow. The considerations which have 

 governed the building committee have been to render the work en- 

 tirely stable in regard to materials and construction and thoroughly 

 fire-proof, first completing such parts as were necessary for the safety of 

 the structure, and next those most wanted for use in the operations of 

 the establishment. 



One of the most important points to be determined during the year 

 was the kind of roof to be adopted for the main building, and, after 

 full inquiry, the preference was given to one consisting of an iron 

 frame with slate covering. The contract for the iron work was made 

 with the Phoenix Iron Company of Philadelphia, but owing to unex- 

 pected delays the frame was not received in time before the setting 

 in of frost to complete the covering with slate. The walls of the 

 large south tower were found in a worse condition than was at first 

 supposed, thirty feet of the height having to be removed and en- 

 tirely rebuilt, the facing of cut stone being of new material. To se- 

 cure the front towers and furnish supports for the iron beams and 

 2 s6G 



