The National tribune., 1888-05-31

fba death Of hisnephew without issue, reverted
10 the United States for the purposes oi the IN
stitution.
dent of the United States as 10 the best method
ofdisposing of this fuad. and IN the meanwhile
the money was loaned TO two or three states
To effect internal improvements. After several
years discussion Of the question an act OF Con-
orass was passed in the year 1916 for the Is
Enlistment of an Institution for me increase
and diffusion Of knowledge among men" as
was nrorided In SmithsoH's viii. This same
act provided that the governing board should
consist of the President and hIce-Presldent
of the United States. the several Members OF
the Cabinet the Chief Justice of the supreme
Court. the Commissioner OF the Patent Ofhce,
and the Nayorol Washington City during their
respective terms of Office, with such otner per
sons as these may elect honorary members Of
the Institution"
This act also declares that the original fund
Is to be lent in perpetuity to the Treasury OF
the United States at per cent per annum'
psvable semi-annuaily; and also approprlates
The interest from 1898, when the money was re-
ceived to July ]. 1876, amounting 10 s2iS,i2S)'
or as much thereof as may be necessary, LOT the
PURPOSE of erecting buildings and other incl
dental expenses: and also provides that ali e&-
penditures and appropriations shall hereafter
h. made from the interest and not from the
principal Of the fund.
The Board Of Regents was to be composed OF
the President of the United States, the
Chief Justice Of the Supreme Court the Mayor
Of Washington City. three Members oil the
Senate and three Of the House OF Representa-
tives,
TO BE SELECTED BY THE PRESIDENT AND
SPEAKER
thereof. with six other persons not Members Of
Congress, Of whom two shall be residents OF
Washington, and the other four inhabitants OF
tie United States, but no two from the same
State
A beautiful building in the Norman style Of
architecture was erected, and the Work OF iornl-
ing Museum commenced in 1917, and it had
grown to considerable proportions when, IN
1865 the northern wing Of the building and
some other portions, too, were destroyed by
FIRE.
The building was subsequently, repaired. and
efforts made 10 replace the loss entalied Dy the
confirmation bat this was necessarily slow
process: but as time passed il had grown 10
such an extent that the art collection was
transferred 10 the Corcoran Art Gallery, the
botanical collection 10 the Bureau Of Agricul-
ture and specimens relating 10 medicine and
anatomy to the Medical Museum Of the Sur
geOn Generals Olice.
But even this was found to be inadequate,
for In 1879 an annex was erected by the Govern
ment ia the grounds Immediately adjoining
the institution, which was called the National
Museum. This was rendered necessary to care
for the large and valuable exhibit Of the United
States which had been at the Centennial EXhi-
bition at Philadelphia, besides the very liberal
donations from the different States OF the Union
and the several foreign Governments that had
been represented by collections at that place
This building is directly east Of the Smith
sOnian, and covers about
TWO AND oNE-HALF ACRES OF GROUND.
Il is in the modern Romanesque style Of archi-
lecture, only 0ne-stOry high excepting at the
corners. where the workshops Of the operators
relocated and but lily compares with the beau
tiful smithsonian, and Is liable to be taken foI
market or huge beer garden. The structure
is Of brick, with stone facings, and has high
towers ut the corners and dome in the cctner