New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-08
THE STATES SCIENTIFIC COLLECIIONS'


There is now pending in the Legislature gen.
eral bill which, as 1t seems to us, deserves the
hearty support of every member VINO deSlree W
conserve the highest interests CT the otate.
Just as the Free Canal Amendments were Dorm OF
a patriotic desire to promote New 0rk mate
rial well being, to guard against any decline OF
her commercial supremacy, 80 this bill mas It's
origin in the same intelligent foresight ana
generous public spirit. 1t seeks to retain 1or
our own State the enviable lead it has so long
enjoyed as the enlightened patron of scientific
| investigation. In order to accomplish TINS
benefcent purpose it provides for suiil-
| Gent and fire-proof accommodations for the
| large and notable collections of natural history
belonging to the State for the consolidation oil
| the scientific work done under the patronage
of the State for the completion of the pa@on-
tology of the State for the publication each year,
under the direction Of the trustees OF the state
Museum, of the scientific contributions OF the
members of the Museum staff and OF other sci
entists for the distribution from the duplicate
specimens Of the Museum to institutions OF
learning of such collections as may be avallaDle
for the extension of the facilities of the Mu-
seum for the study of its collections and, in
such other ways as may be practicable, for max
ing the Museum a means of instruction 10 all
the citizens of New-YOrk who care to avail
themselves of its great advantages.
Such is the gist of this excellent measure.
II is thoroughly wholesome There is no poll
tics in it. There is no selfish purpose behind It.
| Ii is the legitimate outcome of that wise and
| liberal educational policy which has always
| characterized New York. To pass it will be to
give great impetus to scientific investigation,
| IN render available under one roof the noble
collections which at present, owing to want OF
room, ale dispersed, and to present to the
world the concluding volumes OF a work which
| is really one of the jewels of New York, work
which an eminent foreign scientist has pro-
| uounced one of the most imT Ortant series In
the scientifc literature of the two continents
| There must, in the nature OF things, be many
| bills upon which Seniors and ASsemblymen
cannot agree But on this one the Affirmative
vote may we'll be unanimous. IL Will be I'M
| less there are legislators who hope TO achieve
a reputation for economy by opposing 1t be-
cause it calls tor an appropriation OF some
| thousands of dollars To carry OLt its provisions
| Rut tine ne ople REPRESENTED by our law makers
oppreciate the difference between frugality and
! uiggardiness Proud OF the State : scientific
collections, they are wiling 10 spend whatever
is necessary to protect them aud render them
useful to the greatest number. Proud of the
great work on pnl1ontology, they do not be-
grudge the money which the publication OF the
remaining volumes calls for. If the bill should
fail its fate would be interpreted IA a notice to
whom II may concern that our imperial com
mon W alth, so long hospitahIe to science, was
no longer It's friend that the day had come
when New-YUrk declined TO foster those
higher educational forces which have done so
much to make her what she Ia. We cannot
afford to have such an impression get abroad
| We can afford to pass this bill.