Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-17

The Interior department recently sent a let
ter OF inquiry to Prof Baird, the secretary of
the Smithsonian Institution, asking several
questions in regard TO the origin and history of
that Institution, which ELECTED from VIM J.
Rhees, the chief clerk, some valuable historical
data.
Congress by act of May ia, 1886" Mr.. Ehces
says i'm his communication, appropriated
SIoooOO for surveying and exploring expedi-
ton to the Pacific ocean and South seas This
is known as the Wilkes exploring expedition.
May 10, $780, the National Institution was or.
gained with Honorable j. r. Poinsett, Secre-
tary of War; and Honorable James X. Pauld.
ing, Secretary of the Navy, as directors. By ACT
OF March Sd, 1874, $1,000 were appropriated
| to deiray the expense of Transporting to WASH
ington and arranging and preserving the col
lection made by the exploring expedition.
BY direction OF the Secretary of the Navy,
These COLLECTIONS were placed i'm the care OF the
National institution March 10, 1S4l and de-
posted i'm the Patent office April, 1sII.
IN June, 1871, the collection OF Indian por-
traits and curiosities OF the War Department
was deposited I'm the cabinet OF
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTION
by the Secretary OF War. In July, 1871. the
minerals. books, manuscripts and other articles
forming part OF the Smithsonian bequest were
deposited by the Secretary of the Treasury.
On the 9th August. 1S41, Hon. Daniel Web
ster, secretary OF state, transferred, with the
approval OF Mr.. Ellsworth, the commissioner &C
patents, the exploring expedition collections
from basement rooms i'm the building To the
story of the Patent office. On the 9th July
1872, the National institution was Incorporated
by Congress as the successor OF the National in
stitution.
Its charter expired by limitation i'm twenty
years, with an extension of three years To wind
up its affairs. This act provided that all the
property OF said corporation at the time OF the
expiration or dissolution OF its charter should
belong to and deyolve upon the United States.
BY act of August 4th, 1912, $4,000 were APP
propriated for the transportation, arrangement
and preservation of these collections The gov
eminent collections OF natural history, ETC.,
were placed in the upper room of the Patent
Office, under the care of such persons as may he
appointed by the joint committee on the library
by act OF August 10th, 1S42. The act of Congress
of August 10th, 1916, organizing the smith
sonian Institution provided for the erection of
building for the reception of such collections,
which should also include the minerals books
manuscripts and other property OF James
Smithson, which were then in the Department
OF state. The regents were authorized 10 locate
the building for the Smithsonian Institution, %
as TO form
A WING TO THE PATENT OFFICE
building, and may SO connect the same with
the present hall OF said Patent Office building,
containing the national cabinet OF curiosities,
as to constitute the said hall, in whole or In
part, the deposit for the cabinet OF said nstitu-
ton, IL they deem IL expedient 10 do So.
1t was decided, however, To construct the
Smithsonian building on Reservation, No. z,
where il is now located.
BY act OF August Attn, 1854, the preservation
of the collections was placed in the hands of the
Commissioners of Patents, who was authorized
was made under the Department of the Interior
On the completion of the Smithsonian building
in 1888 the use of its halls was requested by
the Secretary of the Interior and the Commits
sioner of Patents, who were exceedingly anx-
ious TO remove the collections OF the exploring
expedition and National Institute from the
Patent Office.
TRANSFERRED TO THE SMITHSONIAN.
The regents OF the institution concluded to
grant the request on the condition that the
Secretary OF the Interior would provide fol the
payment of the expenses OF the car. II the coll
lections. This having been agreed 10, the Patent
Office was relieved of the custody of the speci-
mems, the Smithsonian Institution taking
charge OF them under the authority OF the law
On the Sd of March, 1857, Congress made an
appropriation for the transfer OF the govern
ment collection to the Smithsonian institu-
ton, and for the construction OF cases for the
same. Similar appropriations were made ON
the "a June, 1865, and have been continued
In 1872 the geological collections of the Land
Interior to the SmitSsonian insiitution!s VI '"'
Previous To 1873 all the disbursements ON
account OF the appropriations of Congress for
directly by the Institution, and afterwards re-
funded by the Department OF the Interior.
Since that time strict q division of the ac-
counts as possible has been made, and those
relating 10 the Museum have been paid directly
by the disbursing agent OF the Department "
the Interior.
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM
is mentioned in the acts OF Congress of March
Sd, 1875, July 81, 1876, and subsequently, and
a building has been erected at the expense u
the government expressly for its accommoda-
| ton. When the government collections were
transferred from the Patent Office 90 the smith
sonian Institution the same officials and EN-
ployes were retained; the curator, John Warden,
continuing on the payroll until his death in
1866, and another, q laborer, still being In the
service of the Museum. other officers have
| from time 20 time been appointed under the
seventh section OF the act organizing the
| Smithsonian Institution which directs that the
secretary Of the smithsonian Institution slIusii
discharge the duties Of keeper OF the museum,
aud may, with the consent Of the board IL
regents. employ asststants."
| Up Loason. OF Mount jackson, shenandoah
county, Va, he's failed nabtk1txeS oo40oA