REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 23 



Nothing has occurred during the past year to vary the character of 

 the financial statement which has been given in previous reports. By 

 a reference to the report of the Building Committee, it will be seen 

 that a final settlement has been made with the contractor, and, from 

 the statements of the Executive Committee, that $120,000 have been 

 invested in State stocks, bearing an annual interest of $7,830, and 

 that there is also in the hands of the Treasurer $5,000 to be invested. 



During the present year the income from the extra fund can, for 

 the first time, be appropriated, at least in part, to other purposes than 

 the building. The repairs, however, the cases and furniture re- 

 quired for the care of the collections, together with the lighting and 

 heating, the pay of the watchman and laborers rendered necessary by 

 so large an establishment, will consume a considerable portion of the 

 income from this source. The expenditure on these items will tend 

 to increase rather than diminish with time, and therefore it will be 

 prudent to confine the appropriations considerably within the income, 

 in order to meet unforeseen demands. 



No especial appropriation has yet been made by Congress for con- 

 tinuing the improvement of the grounds ; and it is to be regretted that 

 years should be suffered to pass without planting the trees which are in 

 the future to add to the beauty, health, and comfort of the metropolis of 

 the nation. Unjust censure is frequently bestowed on the Institution 

 on account of the neglected condition of these grounds, over which it 

 has no control, and on which it would manifestly be improper to ex- 

 pend any of its funds. No part of the public domain is more used 

 than the reservation on which the building stands, and I doubt not, 

 if the matter were properly brought before Congress, an appropriation 

 for the immediate supply of trees and its general improvement would 

 be granted. 



During the past year a beautiful monument has been erected near 

 the Institution by the American Pomological Society, to the memory 

 of the lamented Downing. It is a just tribute to the worth of one of 

 the benefactors of our country, and affords an interesting addition to 

 the ornamental plan furnished by himself for the public parks of this 

 city. The adoption of this plan is in part due to the efforts of the Ee- 

 gents in the way of embellishing the grounds around the Smithsonian 

 building. 



