New-York tribune., 1874-03-19
SCIENCE MADE POPULAR.

TILE AMERICAN MUSEUM or NATURAL HIsroRY-A
NEW COLLECTION OF STONE IMPLEMENTS FROM
THE MISSISSIPPI MOUNDS.
The American Museum of Natural History is
making great efforts place itself level with other
great national museums and 10 this end Ia gathering
large and unique collections now collection OF
archaeological specimens, made by Dr. f. H. Davis has
just been purchased 1t contains series OF the stone
Implements aud ornaments found in the mounds buiit
by those who inhabited this country before the coming
OF Columbus. They found mainly on the banks OF
the rivers of the Mississippi Valley There are at least
5000 specimens including the types described III DAVIS
and sauier's work on the Ancient Monuments OF the
Mississippi Valley" published by the Smithsonian inst
tuition When the Institution was burned, few years
since the plates for the first volume. together with all
the printed copies, destroyed. TO repro
duce the work it will therefore be necessary
for the artists to make drawings rom the
specinens ia the cases OF the American Museum
DR.. Davis formerly had a large COLLECTION OF
these specimens most OF which were sold In 1865 10
wealthy centoman Of Salisbury England The choicest
specimens were selected therefrO however and these
are now In the Museum The jay collection OF shes,
an account OF which appeared in THE TRIBUNE several
months SINCE viii be kept apart ana be known as tne
Wolfe Memorial Gift in honor of The late John Dayld
Wolfe the first President OF the Museum, by whose
daughter it presented 1t contains about 10000 spec
linens including 1900 species. The entire second O0r OF
the Museum will be devoted TO its exhibition series OF
cases will be built BY the Department OF Parks on the
first and second floors to accommodate the collections
Of minerals and insects the second floor.
Since January nearly 300 additional members have
been obtained, 70 OF whom were admitted In one
week. 10 Is thought that the number OF members
will be increased to 1000 before the close OF the
present year. The members pay $40 annually. Among
some of the larger subscriptions TO the Mnsenn
are the ollowing Robert L. Stuart Frederick W Ste
James NJ Constable, Percy r. Pyne, Morris X Jesup
Adrian selin Theodore Roosevelt, ID. Jackson steward
WIN. A. Haines, j. PerpOnt Morgan, Howard Potter,
Robert Colgate, WIN. r. Bodgett and y whitney PnG9-
nix each $500; g. c. Williams $3.50, besides many suO
scriptiOns OF 800 and less
It is now proposed, in order to make the collection
particularly interesting to the subscribers 10 employ an
usher who will be In tne halls Of the Museum on Mon
days and Tuesdays, aud will explain the principal OBJ
jects in the to the visitors Negotiations nave
pending for the purchase OF collection III adu
ton those already mentioned This collection Is one
which the late Prof ARassz wished TO purchase ana II
he had lived few months longer would nave addeu W
his treasures in the museum at Cambridge
Iu May the cornerstone OF the new museum Oulldng5
on Manhattan-square will be laid by President Grant
assisted by Governor Dix and Mayor Havemeyer The
work on the first section of the building Is advanc
ing rapidly. Tde basement Is completed aud the IRON
and granite tho first story nearly nnshed ana on
the grounds and the undertaking Will be pushed Tor
ward as rapidly the weather will permit III Is e1
pected that the section will be waedn and rooted by
next November It will be necessary for the museum,
even after the completion OF the first section OF the new
building retain possession OF the Arsenal, untI the
second section Is erected.