The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-15


COMPLETION OF THE FIRST BUILDING AT
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF THE STRUCTURE
AND WHAT IT CONTAINS.
The new building Of the American Museum OF Nat
ural History seventh street and Eighth ave-
nuo Central Park), was opened Tor special examina
ton yesterday afternoon. This structure Is oil BRICK
trimmed with granite, and is 20 fcct wide and
200 feet long II has four exhibition stories ana oase
mcnt ana attic the walls liz feet above the
cellar and The building in every particular " tho
window frames excepted, IS nreproot Tue
columns aro OF ,ron tho beams OF the Same
material and tho arches OF brick. which arc eveiiei
above with concrete and then covered with tiiing
Although this building is OF Imposing s'zo anu Sp
Fcarancc, It Is but tho oneelghtecnh OF 'no o's'"a
scheme OF the corporation having contro OF tue sre'
Enterprise. Between Eighth and Ninth avenues ana
Seventy seventh and EiGhyhrst streets are esn'eeo
icrcs OF ground which are set aside for he Museum
" Natural History II Il is built as intended II ~i'''
when finished comprise series OF separate museums,
Or sections tho whole being i've times larger than 'no
Capitol at Washington, and two times larger than the
new British Museum, which VIII be completed within
Two years.
The muscum or section opened yesterday cost, as
II now stands, S7oo, Oo0 which amount the city OF
Now York appropriated Tor It's construction. Tho
corner stone was lard on June =, 1874 oy PRESIDENT
Grant As additional sections are commenced tue
.,y will sci aside other sums TO be used in the samc
manner as the above amount. Between the buildings
there will DO four courts 30 feet across which
will be planted with flowers, making gardens OF rare
beauty and loneliness rhe original plan oil the museum
was not only intended Tor the United States oil Today,
With s 40 900 900 OF people, but the United Statos OF
The future with It's 400 00o c0U Of citizens. IL Is do
,.red 10 interest and instruct tho masses OF mo
people, aud 10 this end Will be made an attraction OF
hat pn1sl n.
lime IS NOT TAR distant wheu with tho facilities OF
apid transit It will DO easily reached as Twenty
third Is by the ordinary horse car or stage
WHAT BUILDING CONTAINS
On the nrsL floor, through the centre OF tho ball,
tho visitor hrst sees me magnincen Jay c1nec.,oI o.
York. whose father was the rst president OF this cor
poralion. On tho cast side OF tho hall are several
large cases. the first containing specimens OF puang
stones from Japan, which were exhibited al tho Gen.
ieuna Adjoining this is case OF Japan woods, also
st The Centennial whila Of other woods are spcci-
mems from bermuda, IA large and valuable lot rom
jamaica, together with some from our own country.
The rest of tho hall contains superb collection OF
man mails, among than being the cho!ceat specimens
that wero IN tho Arsenal
The second story or principal exhibition ball has on
it's lett side a showing NIL the different forms OF
known BIRDS from the ghtngaie do~n through the
marine specimens 10 the penguin Tnen there are
series OF containing tho Elliot collection OF BIRDS
which include ali but six eight OF the known species
Of North America Tho superb Paris collection OF
was purchased OF vercaux, and Is OF great value.
group oil trsgons, In incr bronze aud gold plumage
will fail 10 attract the visitor. Tho west side OF
the hall contains Tho birds OF Europe and Asa
The gallery floor has among B collections stone i'm.
elements oil the Pacific ISLANDS and masks worn years
ago by the savages during their religions rites Than,
there can be seen cakcs containing pottery
from South and Central America>and Peru ~ is the
famous Squicrs collection. Skulls OF various races,
including tho great series owned by tho late Henry
Mssgs OF Peru, also deserve notice. as do tho skcl
sons Of BIRDS reptiles and mammals Tho birds OF
Australia, including bright colorcd pheasants
ind dover, and bird Of paradise form
raro spectacle. On either side Of the door are the
Chinook mummies from the mouth OF ihc Columbia
Rivcr, and the mummies found IN Alaska. In tho
railing this floor are collection OF stone I'M
pemsnts belonging to the aborlgnes of the North OF
France. With Tho exception OF . collection Able
Vile. France this lot is the finest in tho world.
small collection from the Swiss lakes and from Dem
mark arc worthy Of inspection. There also stone
I'M plements OF tho United States. and tho famous
Colonel Charles Jones, Jr collection OF Indian i'm
elements can be SEEN
The upper story OF the building is filed with tho
geological collection OF Professor James Hall, Of Al
bsny n Y. II contains 200 figured specimens and
types-that is tnosc which have appeared IN standard
works.
The attic OF tho building is divided series OF
rooms, which well lighted, heated and ventilated,
and apartments Tor tbs safe deposit OF spsci
MEMS being such accommodations which scientific
mon require when at work. II contains the Jay library
conchology, presented BY Mrs Wolfe, ana II Will
soon receive another library which is m fransitA
These rooms Tor the Tree or geological
vcys who must frequent the museum 10 compare
specimens. Among those who will do SO the d..
Hitchcock, OF New Hampshire; the Pennsylvania Sur.
vey, the New York Survey anu tho National survey
OF the For,ietn Parallel under Clarence King.
PUBLIC OPENING THE MUSEUM
The public opening Of the Museum Will take place
on Saturday the I'D inst, at half past O'Clock
T.. Tho exercises, which take place on the second
floor. viii consist OF addresses by Mr. Robert l. stuart,
OF the corporations the President Of the Department
OF Parks President OF Harvard University President OF
the American Association for the Advancement OF
Science Mayor Ely sad HIS Excellsncy, tho President
Af, he Eona Sf,fnc