Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-12-29
THE QUESTION OF MUSEUMS.

The formation of the California Museum /
Association in this city has aroused the !
press of San Francisco, and it Is now de- !
manding that a public museum be estab- |
lished in that CITY. This is well enough, |
but it would seem that that excellent So |
cietv. the California Academy of Sciences,
forms the nucleus for just what San fran-
cisco needs. 1t already has line colle6-
ton, and very complete organization, and
with the proper aid rendered can found
and manage 4 popular museum far better
than any new association. 1t must not be
understood by our contemporaries that the
Sacramento Association has no other par-
pose than to provide a repository for curi-
osities. Its purpose is 10 fill field in the
interior such as the Academy of Sciences
occupies in San Francisco-to promote
scientific research and study, and especi
ally practical inquiry into those matters
relating to the cultivation of the soil,
mineral development, forest growth and
preservation, economy of living. meter
ology and natural history of the coast. The
| collections the California Musesm Associa-
ton may make will rather be incidental to
its main work, one branch of which Is
public instruction through the agency OF
monthly discussions of economic topics,
and occasional art. scientific and other
lectures. 1t is matter of surprise that in
city of such population as San Francisco,
and with so much material at command,
there is so little attention given to popular
instruction of this character. The Acad-
envy of Sciences stands quite alone in this
regard, and it has not yet, as
it eventually will, taken on that
popular character which invites the gen
eral public to participation in the benefit
of its researches. We well remember that
but very few years ago the San Fran
cisco press, with the solitary exception Of
the Bulletin, was constantly engaged in ex-
posing It's own ignorance and making mani
| Academy Very rarely, indeed, was any
| report of its proceedings made i'll the daily
press, unaccompanied by sneers or feeble
attempts at wit at the expense of the fos-
sis" So fragrant were these breaches of
decorum, and so garbled and distorted were
! the reports, that at one time the Academy
long and seriously discussed the propriety
of closing its doors against reporters. When
James Lick endowed the Academy, the
press suddenly became respectful, and
when the people began to manifest an in
terest in the monthly debates of the so
cietv, and to avail in a practical way ofthe
results of its labors, the subservient news
papers ate humble pie and dispatched to
the meetings of the Academy reporters
with souls above mean things. If such of
| the San Francisco press as are now urging
the founding of museum in that city
desire to gain some true idea of the magni-
tude of such an undertaking, and of its
high Importance, they will receive mulch
light and a great deal of interesting infor-
nation from Ernest Ingersolls admirable
article in the January Century, entitled
"The Making of Il Museum and also
from a very interesting paper in the Jan
uary number Of the Popular Science Monthly
under the title Advantages of Limited
Museum" For the credit of the State we
! trust that the San Francisco spasm of in
terest in sober things may not die out, and
that the movement already on It's feet in
Sacramento and to make It's first public
effort soon will meet with the dignifed and
cordial encouragement that all such at
tempts to enlarge the public Intelligence