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Board on behalf of U. S. Executive Departments at International Exhibition, 1876.--Act of Congress of March 3, 1875.

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[[bold]]War Department Exhibit.[[/bold]]
[[line]]
[[bold]]Col. S. C. LYFORD. U. S. A.,[[/bold]]
Representative of the War Department at the Exhibition.
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Capt. Johns F. Rodgers, U. S. A., in charge of Quartermaster Section.
Ass't Surg. J. J. Woodward, U. S. A. in charge of Medical Section.
Capt. D. P. Heap, U. S. Engineers. in charge of Engineer Section.
Lt. Henry Metcalfe, Ordinance Department, in charge of Ordinance Section.
Lt. F. C. Grugan, A.S. O., in charge of Signal Section.
[[/box]]

[[handwritten text in blue pencil]]295[[/handwritten text]]

International Exhibition, 1876.
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Office of Representative of the War Department,
No. 1725 G Street N. W.,
WASHINGTON, D. C., April 28, 1876, 1876.

PROF. S. F. BAIRD,
REPRESENTATIVE OF SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION,
AND COMMISSIONER OF FOOD FISHES.

SIR:

IT WAS UNDERSTOOD AT THE [[^TIME THE]] AUTHORITY AND DIRECTION WAS GIVEN TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD TO LEASE THE HOUSE NO. 3841 SPRING GARDEN ST., PHILA., PA., THAT THE OBJECT WAS TO PROVIDE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD FOR QUARTERS AND MEALS, AND TO HAVE A PLACE AT WHICH TO ENTERTAIN FOREIGN AND NATIVE GUESTS. THIS OBJECT WAS BASED UPON THE BELIEF THAT FURTHER APPROPRIATIONS WOULD BE MADE BY THIS CONGRESS BY WHICH THE BOARD WOULD BE ENABLED TO CARRY OUT ITS VIEWS AND APPEAR IN A CREDITABLE MANNER AT THE EXHIBITION. THIS EXPECTATION HAS NOT BEEN FULFILLED, AND THE BOARD FINDS ITSELF WITH A HOUSE ON ITS HANDS AT A HEAVY RENTAL, WITH MEANS FROM ITS CONTINGENT FUND TO PAY THE RENTAL BUT NONE TO DEVOTE TO THE PURPOSES ABOVE NAMED. THE QUESTION ARISES WHAT SHALL BE DONE?

IT IS A WELL KNOWN FACT THAT THE MONEY DEVOTED TO THE MAINTENANCE OF THIS HOUSE IS NEEDED FOR OTHER PURPOSES, THE DECORATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING. &C., &C.

FOR THE ABOVE REASONS I PROPOSE THAT, IF POSSIBLE, I, AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT, WILL RELIEVE THE BOARD AND THE CONTINGENT FUND FROM THIS EXPENSE, AND ASSUME IT ON BEHALF OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT, DIRECTING THE FUNDS THUS SAVED TO THE CONTINGENT FUND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. FROM THE CONTINGENT FUND THUS AUGMENTED I THINK A REASONABLE SUM CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT OF SUCH DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, ESPECIALLY FROM ABROAD, AS THE BOARD MAY DEEM IT DESIRABLE TO SHOW ATTENTION TO. THIS, OF COURSE, WILL BE CONTINGENT UPON THE ADVICE OF THE ACCOUNTING OFFICERS OF THE TREASURY WHETHER SUCH EXPENDITURES WILL BE PROPER ONES.

SUBMITTING THESE REMARKS, I DESIRE AN EXPRESSION OF YOUR VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT, AND IF A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD SHALL APPROVE MY PROPOSED ACTION I SHALL CARRY THEM OUT, AND WILL BE GLAD AT ALL TIMES, AS FAR AS IN MY POWER TO EXTEND THE HOSPITALITIES OF THE HOUSE TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND THEIR FRIENDS.

MAY I BEG THE FAVOR OF A REPLY TO-MORROW MORNING AS I CONTEMPLATE LEAVING TOWN.

RESPECTFULLY, YOUR OBEDIENT SERVANT,