The New York herald., 1878-12-18

limitation Of the questions propounded the gen.
eral household schedule He remarks also that il is
injudicious TO fix the compensation of the enumerat
ors beforehand the bill This system, heretofore pur
sued works with great injustice and hardship to
these officers in sparsely settled parts of the
country and causes needless expense to the gov
ernment. Their pay should be regulated by
the Census Bureau according TO the labor
they have TO perform. and Congress ought to leave
the bureau discretion in this matter.
The committees in both houses are at work on the
subject. and they likely to perfect good bill at
the present session.
PROPOSED NATIONAL MUSEUM IN CONNECTION
WITH THE SMITHSONIAN ISsTITUTIoN-THR
BUILDING AND THE EXHIBIT.
Senator Davis today introduced bin providing
for the erection OF freproo> building for national
museum in connection with the Smithsonian inst
tuition This is very much needed. The present build
ing is overcrowded with the collections Of about two
hundred and fifty explorations Of greater or
less magnitude. and all the invaluable national
collections shown at the Centennial Exhibi
ton and which were presented to gov
ernment. stored away out of sight and
rotting decaying The value Of these to inventors
to natural history history ana to the industrial
easily be over-estimated and they need
building in which they be shown. What is now
hidden away and perishing is thus described
Nearly s15oOo was expended under the direction OF
the Smithsonian Institution in preparing, by author
y OF Congress and at the expense OF the
collection illustrating the animal resources OF the
country. including the fisheries the minera! re-.
sources and the past and present condition OF the
North American Indians for exhibition at the Gem
tcnnial All this in addition to what was already
contained in the National Museum. This collection
occupied one acre of the space IN the government
buildings at Philadelphia At the close of
the Centennial. with scarcely an exception,
the collections illustrating the mineral wealth..
the animal and vegetable resources, the
fisheries and the ethnology of all the eXhiolting
nations presented to the United States; also
large proportion of those of similar character be-
dions being nearly twice large the special cx-
hibit of the National Museum in Philadelphia. The
collections TINS withdrawn from the public view en-
brace the series of metals building stones, COM
bustibles pottery clay and earth; also illustra
tons OF the industries connected. with the animal
kingdom and the fisheries, not only of the United
States but Of most other countries. Large numbers
OF objects of Indian manufacture are also packed
away. The collection thus withdrawn from exhibi-
ton is one of the finest in the world. The speci-
mems every day undergoing deterioration--the
animal products from the ravages OF insects the
samples of iron and steel from rust Access to the
collection for its preservation is to great degree I'M
practicable.
new building is. therefore. absolutely necessary
in the interests of the industries of the country
which would be greatly served by the exhibition OF
this collection, containing, il does, the pith and
essence of the international exhibition.
Professor Baird says that fire proof building 300
feet square containing 10000 square feet would be
adequate to the want and that be erected
trely suited to the purpose within year OF the time
OF commencement at q cost of S250,cO0 This would,
however be, it lis understood only temporary build
ing but it would stand many years. and it is to be
hoped that the plans for such building will be
carefully made by competent architects In fact,
the advice Of the whole body of American architects
ought to be taken the subject. The site for the
building is admirable one and ever a temporary
structure ought to be nlcritcrous piece OF archi-
lecture aud not . disgrace to the capital