Washington sentinel., 1854-07-16

. 30 LAD
before mentioned, amount 10 more than half the
interest OF the original fund and to nearly half Of
the interest on that fund, augmented by $3.50 600
OF accumulated interest, which the regents propose
70 add to It so as TO make the permanent fund
S663,OO0. The whole or the greater part of the
interest on this addition to the original fund will
be required during the present year. for the build
Ine and when that shall be finished cons siderable
sum Will be necessary to fit up and furnish the
great central portion, which is 10 be chiefly occu-
pied by the library and museum. II may be as
sumed that not less than $4,000 will be demanded
for this purpose. But supposng the building 10
be completed and furnished and the whole income
at command for the operations of the institution
and assuming that the salaries and general ex.
penses will not increase, but remain as they were
last year, al Sl7740, there will be at the disposal
oi the regents for all operations and purposes in
Guiding lectures, researches, publications. pur-
chase OF hooks for the library binding plorations
Tor The benefit OF the museum apparatus and the
purchase Of objects OF art a sum between 500 600
and $4,000 II will readily be perceived how in.
adequate this sum is TO the rapiu accumulate of
library, of collections for the museum and gal
lery of art for lectures and those active Operations
which lead directly TO the increase and diffusion
OF knowledge. Even this fund may be expected
10 DO diminished by the greater expense which
will attend the occupation Of the entire building
and tho increased and constantly increasing col
lections.
The museum increases so rapidly by the deposit
ofgovernment collections, by donations, ex changes
and the receipt OF specimens from special expo-
rations aided by the institution, that very small if
any, annual appropriations are required forit But
the expense Of the care and exhibition of an in
creasing collection sweils from year 10 year,
while the Smithsonian funds are not so increased
The great object of the museum should be TO fur.
nish TO men of science, eminent in their several
departments, the means Of advancing knowledge
| IN these departments, by submitting specimens of
new objects TO their examination lfthe ex pendi-
| ture could be borne, il would scarcely be desira-
bic TO increase the number Of officers connected
with The museum, so that the various branches of
natural history might be fully represented. but
considering the limited funds OF The Smithsonian
Institution, such an idea is not 10 be entertained
On the contrary, the collections made should in
general at all events, b. referred for examination
and description, 10 the men most eminent in III.
| country, and the results should he published IN
manner worthy of their labors by the institution
larger but still, moderate appropriation for
the library, varying as circumstances may require
should be annually made. II may be desirable
| occasionally, 10 make larger investments in books
as when library of special value and peculiar
sutableness may be in the market, and within The
means OF the institution. But this should be left
10 the discretion and sound Judgment Of the re-
gents at the time.
II is not believed 10 be advisable to accumulate
in the Smithsonian Institution greet masses OF
books, without reference to their peculiar cbarac.
ter and value. What want, and W hat the act
Of Congress contemplates, is not a collection of
everything which learned dullness and literary folly
ne well as real wisdom and sound science I'VE
put into print, vast and unwieldy reperory in
which the trrsh ne well as the precious may he
found. but library Of raina5k books pertaining TO
all departments Of human knowledge. The ex-
changes will gradually furnish US with much that
answers TO this description, and moderate appro-
priations will supply quite as rapidly necessary,
whatever besides may be requisite TO constitute a
valuable library Of research in all departments OF
human knowledge. The library now consists OF
l2,005 volumes, besides S095 pamphlets and parts
Of volumes, and ,S74 maps. and ,431 engrsvings
In his report 10 the secretary, of January, 1853
Professor Jewet stated that the library had nearly
doubled in size during the year 1882 and that its
greatest increase had been by exchanges He
sad "they may he considered as the fret fruits OF
a system Of scientific and literary exchange es
tablished and sustained by the institution They
show, also, that the benefits dervable from its
connexon with the system OF active operations,
had moi been over estimated.
considerable portion Of the money sxpendcd IN npb
cstions in the shape Of books for the library
Tbese again are constantly increasing the efficiency and
interest OF the publications Tho value Of the books re-
reved by exchange be estimated by their number
or even their nominal price.
They are works Of the first Importance the scientific
chase. even with large funds at command"
Professor Baird estimated tn, value of the works
thus received during the year 1882, at from 81 600
TO $1,000. five estimate the future receipts from
the system Of exchange at half that sum annually,
and suppose an appropriation in money OF equal
amount for the purchase OF books the growth OF.
the library will be quite as rapid as was that of
the library Of Congress during fhe twenty.fve
years prior 10 the late ERE, and its annual increase
In value, more than double that Of the Congress.
sonal library before the period mentioned FOR
several years before 1925. ths ordinary sppropris-
tions OF Cons for their library were not more
than $4,000 per annum. Since that period they
have been $1,000.
The COMMITTEES OF organization, in their report
submitted In iSi7 recomme nded such a selection
Of books ss would maks the srnithsonisn r.