Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-26

Others besides an immense amount Of ethno-
logical, archaeological, archaeological, and
meteorological material
The archaeological collections Of inverte-
brate fossils are extensive, and embrace all the
material collected by the various government
expeditions IN the far west, and also large col
lections made by the geological survey in the
east to illustrate the study of stratigraphic
geology IN connection with the faunas. The
collection of vertebrate fossils is at present in
charge OF Prof. Marsh, of Yale university, but
will ultimately be deposited in the National
museum 1t is of such interest that some of
the foremost naturalists of Europe have made
study of it their main object in visiting our
country. The collection illustrating pal@o-
botany is the largest and most complete in the
United States; this may also be said of the coll
lections from the Cambrian system and the
Mesozoic and Cenozoic rocks.
The mineral collection Of the National
museum may be divided into three parts:
First, large exhibition series; secondly,
reserve or study series; and, thirdly. dupli-
cate series which is used for purposes of ex-
change. Incidental to the mineral collection
there are two special collections; one a collec-
ton OF gems and ornamental stones, mostly cut
and polished; the other a collection of meteor
ties, which is already one of the larger colec-
tions OF the world. The policy of the mineral
department is to encourage research. and to
well-accredited students are always given op-
portunities for work and assistance as far as
collection is the collection of rocks and build
ing stones, the geological collection proper, and
the metallurgical collection consisting mainly
of ores, fuels, furnace models, and metallur-
gical products generally. Taken altogether
the facilities for meteorological investigation in
Washington will compare favorably with the
opportunities offered anywhere in the world.
All these collections are increasing with very
great rapdity.
But these are by no means all the stores of
Il b.
for university purposes at Washington. There
must also be named the museum of the agricul-
tural department, which affords fine opportuni-
ties for study, some of the collections being
unusually complete and well arranged. So,
too, the large botanical conservatory. gener-
ally supposed to have its sole object the
supply of bouquets to enterprising Congress-
men, already carries on the more serious bust
ness of botanical research, and would do so to
still higher and broader purpose were a univer-
sity to organize study in connection with it.
Next may be named the United States fish
commission, which maintains its principal sta
ton at Washington, where subjects through
great ranges in zoology may be well studied.
As for the supplementary facilities afforded for
summer work in the government establishment
at Woods Holl, they are simply the most COM
plete in the world. Few Americans know how
creditable this work has been, and how useful
to their country. 1t was once made the duty
of the writer of this article to conduct the late
Emperor Frederick of Germany through some
of the collections made by this commission.
He was competent judge. His ordinations
of admiration were unaffected and hearty,
and it was no surprise that at the
close of the Berlin fisheries EXPOSE
ton the first great prize should have been
awarded to Professor Spencer Baird, who had
organized this service.
The collection of models in the patent Office
also presents great opportunities for those who
nd no of ba in
dustries represented in it. The collections at
the museum of hygiene and the surgeon-gen-
erals office are noted throughout the world as
in all respects precious, and in some respects
unique. And. finally, the Corcoran gallery,
though only in its beginning, can easily be
made to stimulate study in art, and to afford
facilities for carrying on such study.
L have by no means exhausted the list of col
lections, but what is already given will serve to
show that few universities in Europe, and none
in America, have such mass of the best ma
terial for the training of students and for the
advancement of knowledge as one which might
be created. at our national capital, and brought
into proper relations with what already exists
there.
l come next to the observatories. Under
this head are several centers of scientific
activity, but l will name only one, the naval
observatory. 1t is one Of the foremost in the
world, and connected with it is chart and
chronometer depot, an extensive collection of
instruments used in taking astronomical pho
tographs, and magnetic observatory, besides
the celebrated telescope and transit instru-
ments used in carrying on its ordinary work.
The proposed university would indeed
need an observatory of moderate size
for training purposes, but in the work
of research by young astronomers
likely to be of use and honor to the nation
all this ample provision would be Immediately
available.
SO much for the literary, scientific, and tech
nical side of the university; and brief ex-
hibit may now be made of the opportunities
Washington offers to the students of what were
formerly known as the ''learned professions
to the students of law, medicine, and, might
add with Faust, ",nd leideT duch TheolOgie," had
other religious bodies in the country shown
anything of the foresight and zeal exhibited in
the preparations for the theological school Of
the new Roman Catholic university.
Among the facilities for the study of med
icine the city offers at least six hos
pitfalls, at each of which clinical in
struction is given, and one of these. Prov
idence hospital, has over three hundred
beds. The Army medical museum is declared
by competent and unprejudiced authority to
comprise the most complete collection of re-
cent pathological specimens in the world, and
is open to the public every weekday. In the
National museum there is the most complete
collection in the country illustrating the mate
ria medica of the United States pharmacopeia
and that or foreign countries, and the whole Is
arranged and classified so as to be immediately
available for studies. The immense library of
the surgeon-general's Office is also available for
the use of medical students and practitioners
For university law department Washing
ton presents almost unparalleled advantages.
The law library of Congress contains over
50, 600 carefully selected volumes, exclusively
legal in character, and provision is already
made for the accommodation of students in
using it. The State department has. by a wise
policy steadily pursued during many years
past, accumulated the most valuable collection
of works relating to international law in the
western hemisphere collection undoubtedly
superior even to that of All Souls college, Ok
ford, which is becoming one of the boasts of
that university.
In the Supreme Court of the United States,
and in the Court of Claims, the foremost Amer
lean lawyers may be heard making arguments
on the most important questions. The Supreme
Court of the District has the common
law, equity, and probate jurisdiction of state
court, besides that of the circuit and dis
trict courts of the United States. The absence
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