Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1873.djvu/38

718 copies of the United States Official Register ordered by law to be printed on the assembling of each new Congress be augmented to at least double the number now authorized, which is but 750 copies.

It is highly important that some action should be taken in this matter, with the view of collecting in one comprehensive act the duties as signed to this Department, in connection with the custody and distribution of public documents.

In closing this report I desire to invite special attention to the necessity for additional room for the accommodation of the several bureaus of the Interior Department. At the present time almost the entire clerical force of the Pension Bureau, with all its voluminous and valuable files and records, the entire Bureau of Education, and the Geological Survey, are located in buildings owned by private parties, and in the case of the former especially, in a building that is poorly protected from fire. The rapid growth in the business of the Patent-0ffice will, in a few years, if it does not already, require all of the room in the present Patent-0ffice building for its occupancy, and measures should be taken at an early day to provide for the accommodation of the other bureaus of the Department in a suitable fire-proof building.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant. C. DELANO. Secretary.