Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-21
Why There should be Museum,
Building.

1t - not unreasonable to suppose that when
ever vote Is obtained in Congress on the
proposition TO erect new building for the
National Museum the decision will be in it's
favor. The Senate some time ago passed with
out a dissenting voice, bill authorizing an
appropriation for that purpose Though the
bill tailed to be taken up in the House out o.
its regular order through lack OF a two-thirdS
vote it obtained majority vote; and many Of
those opposing it gave its friends to unde.-
stand that when the uncertainty as to the re-
turn Of the million and a-half dollars loaned b.
the United states to the Centennial Commits
sion was removed b. lis repayment, they
would withdraw opposition To the pending bill.
The House committee which has the bill in
charge il unanimous in its favor. These facts
would seem TO warrant the belief. that when
the bill comes up in its regular order it will
paSo. The considerations which doubtless i'm
pei Congress to this step are. indeed weighty
First. there is the necessity which arises from
the condition OF the present national museum
In the Smithsonian building. Even before the
Centennial Exposition the shelves were cram
med to Overlooking so that ii was impossible
10 make satisfactory display OF specimens
As Congress makes an annual appropriation
for the support Of the museum it doubtless in
tends that the collections made under its au-
spices shall be exhibited, and to effect this
more room Is necessity. The four floors of
the Armory building are packed with unopened
boxes; the basement OF the Smithsonian is in
the same condition. There is material to fill
building nVe times as large as the present
one The Character OF the collections fur
hiahes an additional reason why they should
not be hidden away. exposed only to fire.
mould and rust. They include Centennial
donations received from various states of
The Union, from individuals and from foreign
exhiDltOrH, besides nearly a thousand sepa-
rate packages sent since the time of the eypo
sljion- or about 10 governments and colonies
represented az Philadelphia 81 presented the
choicest OF their exhibits, and the entire coIIec-
lion Is valued at not less than a million dollars
Most governments when they wish to have
museums that can compare with the great co..
iecuehS III the world are put TO great expense
10 ODlaln the specimens. But here we have the
material on hand, as well as skilled exhibitors
ALREADY IN the employ OF government to show II
10 10 the best advantage, and all that is needed
10 reproduce the centennial exposition in its
Useful features is the necessary building Some
action must be taken in the matter out OF re-
spect 10 the foreign governments who have
poured their treasures at our feet: and worthy
disposition must be made of the gifts to cour-
teract the bad impression produced by our long
nited states as well as duty l. involved in the
decision OF the question. We would have here
no; merely cuTioSitieS and raritieS from China.
siam anu other far-aWay nations of which there
are hundreds OF boxes in the Armory building;
not merely MintOn tiles and moSaicS Doulton
pottery and terra-cotta work. one piece of
which from the centennial is valued at
$4,000. to please the eyes of the people but
the immense collections illustrating the geol-
ogy, metallurgy, eth1OiOgy, and general re-
sources OF the world will constitute school of
free Instruction, which will attract students
from everywhere, and give stimulus to the
Industries OF the whole country. With acces-
SiODS from the myriad sources that have filled
the smithsonian building with valuable eX-
hbits at little or no expense for collection, the
museum should become in time what the South
kenSington museum, the British museum, and
the School of Mines combined are to Great
Britain. The ends to be obtained are thus of
magnitude, the appropriation asked is small,
and the plan OF building suggested seems salts
factory. AS II appears that Congress will
finally approve the measure. il is desirable that
Speedy action be taken. The employment which
the erection OF the building would give is more
needed now than it is likely to be in the future
and aS prices are low the work could now be
accomplished at the smallest expense