Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-14
From the State House.
Bosron. Monday. Feb. Is. 49,.

so mucn oil the governor message as relates 10
the museum of comparative zoology at Cam
bridge. Quite number of gentlemen interest
ed in science were present. In presenting the
claims of the institution for state aid, Professor
Agassiz said that its annual income now
amounted to but little over $4,000; an income
which would not cover the salaries alone. The
corps of instructors at the museum numbered
twenty-six persons, viz: director, an agent,
fourteen assistants in the different departments,
and number Of young gentlemen who had not
completed their course Of study, yet already
worked as assistants; and a number of young
ladies also who helped in the delicate manual
work which was TO be done. The salaries of
many of these persons were paid by private in-
dividuals; one individual gave $4,000, and an
other S74OO; the latter also gave S410O for mate
rails and for the arrangement of collections.
The several donations, including the grants of
the state, amounted to $4,000. And yet the
museum was reckoned state institution. The
professor claimed that the museum had
done much towards improving science
in America, and the change which had
taken place in the last twenty-four years
was illustrated by the statement that a motion
was made at the meeting of the American asso-
citation for the advancement of science, held
twenty-four years ago, to send some collections
OF zooloric and other material to Europe in
order to be identified with biologists there, and
be returned as standard specimens for our future
advancement Now Americans would scout the
idea of sending anything to Europe for investi-
-. IN, q
the world, the museum had helped the general
progress of science. Within the last forty years
natural history had made great progress; its
strides had been as gigantic as the strides
in any department Of human knowledge
it any time in history. The museum, there
fore, had the advantage of being built at the
moment when new ideas controlled tn, sciences.
In answer TO the question what the museum
wanted to carry onlts work, Prof. A 5aSSiz said
that in order to make it the great nursery for
teachers of natural history, which it was intend
ed to be, it would require something like 100000
a year; and it would require about $4,000 a
year to maintain it upon the footing upon which
it would be placed when its present resources
were fully developed. The cost of materials
aud the work OF arranging the collections of
fl shes now in the museum would alone cost $780,
900; and 10 arrange the whole collection therein
would cost about $4,000, not including the sala-
ries of assistants. The necessity of purchasing
collections which could be obtained in no other
way was suggested, and SIS 900 named as the
amount required for this purpose. They also
had the materials for the publication of about
ten quarto volumes, and to publish these in a
style which would do credit TO the state would
cost about ten thousand dollars a volume. The
importance of purchasing private collections in
the old world was also referred to- and it was
thought that 100000 could be well spent in
this way. The professor gave sketch of what
is being done in the scientific world in Europe,
and the sums that are expended 10 the institu-
tions there The annual expenditure of the
British museum he said was 100000, a sum,
which, if given to the institution at Cambridge
for a single year, would make it in five years
equal to any in the world.
Prof. N. S. Shaler next addressed the commit
tee, and he commended that Massachusetts could
best sustain its present position at the head Of
the states in educational matters by fosteringi its
schools of science; that state which fostered
these institutions the most would occupy the
most prominent position in the future.
Colonel Theodore Lyman paid high compl-
ment to Prof. Agassiz, and asked that the state,
while it had sOvlluable man within its limits,
should contribute literally to carry out the
projects to which he had devoted his lite, and
which could be accomplished by no other
On the calling Of the house to order in the af-
ternoon, the speaker announced that Saturday
next would be the last day on which, according
TO the provisions of the statute, petitions and
circumstances could be presented. Among
those handed in to-day were the following: OF
H Gleason and Others, members of the school
committee OF Holden, for normal school ia the
vicinity of Worcester; OF the selectmen of North
Bridgewater, for change in the name of that
town to Standish; of Rufus H. Brown and 1856
citizens of Peabody, that the town of Peabody
may be annexed to Salem; Of H. G. o. Ellis
and rs Others OF Sandwich, for the protection
of fishes in said town; OF Aurora II. Z. Phelps
and Others. for law to exempt homes from
taxation; also for stIte aid in the purchase of
garden homasteads for women; for the eXemp-
ton OF real and personal estate of women from
taxation; of the Franconia steel company, for a
railroad from Wareham TO the Cape Cod rail-
road; OF Patrick Donahoe and Others, for state
aid to the home for destitute children.
Bill were introduced on leave to establish the
district court at Lawrence, and TO regulate the
building of wharves and other structures upon
tile water. The latter bill provides that any
owner or lessee of ground over which the tide
Gibbs and flows, may build wharveS or other
structures on the same within the harbor lines,
after obtaining license from the harbor COM
misSioners.
Bills were reported by the committee on the
judiciary in the senate, in relation to the
widening of Bacon street and adjoint avenues
in ward fifteen in the city of Boston, and to
protect the rights of insane persons and minors.
Orders were adopted that the committee on
authorizing by law, the county commissioners
OF the county of Berkshire TO borrow money for
the purpose OF furnishing its new county build
ings; and that there be allowed and paid to the
members of the house of representatives, S20S6
for travel at the present session of the general
court; that the committee on the judiciary con-
slider the eXpediency of legislation relating to
claims for abatement Of tax gu real and person.
al estate and for abatement of drain, sewer
and oetterment assessments in certain cases;
also the expediency Of providing by law that
clerks of courts be paid by O salary;
also the eXpediency of establishing the
de 18th penalty; also the expediency of pro-
hbiting the OF offices Of registers Of deeds for
making convevances; and of authorizing the
Middesex North agricultural society to take
land adjoining their present grounds for the
purpose Of charging the same; that the com
mittee on pensions consider the expedency Of
amending section 8, chapter 179, of the general
statutes, in relation 10 the appointment of in
spectors of the state prison.
The motion to substitute a bill to incorporate
the North Cambridge and Someryille street rail-
way company for the report of the committee on
horse railways Qeave to withdrew on the
petition Of Oren S. Knapp and others, for a
horse railroad from North Cambridge TO Boston,
was the only matter discussed in the house. The
bill was finally substituted by a vote of SO to IS,
and it will be placed in the orders of the day to-
morrow.
THE PERILs OF THE SEA.-The schooner
Mary Anna, of Hampden, Maine, from South
Amboy to Portland, with cargo of coal, was
wrecked on Nantucket bar, on the 4th inst. The
suferings Of the crew in the terrible weather are
thus described:
''The captain states that the vessel had be-
Il.