Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-11
A NEW BUILDING WANTED.
The Growth of the National Museum
The Geological Park.


The Geological Park.
The report Of Prof. S. P. Langley, Of the
Smithsonian Institution, refers at some length
to the necessity of the erection of a new mu-
scum building on account of the overcrowded
condition Of the present one. Senator Morrill,
introduced in June last a bill appropriating
S5oo,0oo for this purpose. The bill requires
that the building shall be fre-proof, cover 800
feet square, consist of two stories and q base
ment, and be erected west Of the Smithsonian
institution, with roadway not less than forty
feet IN width between it and the latter and
with the north front on line with the south
face OF the building of the Agricultural depart
ment and of the Smithsonian Institution.
Sketch plans for this building have been made
by officers of the institution.
The building as proposed" Prof Langley
says, covers the same area as the present
museum. and is of the same general STYLE SO far
as Is consistent with the introduction Of a Sec
ond story. thus affording nearly three times as
much accommodation under the same area of
ROOF as the building now in use. The arrange
ment OF the interior of the proposed new struc-
trre Is, however, considerably modified. as the
result Of the experience of seven years occu-
patton OF the present building. The eighteen
exhibition halls on the two main floors are COM
pletely Isolated from each other. and are cap
able of subdivision into smaller halls. The
hghtlng VIII be equally as good as in the pres
ent building. the ventilation will be much bet
ter and III other important respects the sani-
tary arrangements will be far more satisfactory.
basement story is absolutely necessary, not
only with a view to promoting the comfort and
health of visitors and employees, as well as for
securing greater dryness and better preserva-
ton OF the specimens, but also for the purpose
OF providing large apartments for store-rooms
and workshops. These proposed improve
ARRANGEMENT Wi Mt
Iere with the possibility of constructing a
building which shall conform in the essential
points OF exterior proportion with the main
features of the present building. The present
building contains about SO, 900 square feet of
floor space available for exhibition and storage.
The building proposed will contain about 220,-
OOO square feet. The amount of room for Of
tices and laboratories would be about the same
III eacn The net area in the new building
available for exhibition. storage, and office
rooms, as estimated, would be between 5 and
acres.
AN OBSERVATORY.
Prof. Langley refers to steps taken by Prof.
Baird to secure an astro-physical observatory
and laboratory. to be conducted as part of the
work of the institution. Though these prep
aratlons were interrupted by his DEATH the
report says. lit is understood that through his
action some friends of the institution have
already offered to give the means for the cree
accommodation of such a special observatory.
The site would necessarily be suburban. on ac-
count OF the special need of seclusion and the
absence OF tremor III the SOIL such as is felt in
the neighbOrhood of the streets of a city. No
steps have yet been taken to secure a site but
in view of the promise of means for the build
ing and the fact that the construction of the
necessary apparatus will occupy long time,
have ordered such of the essential pieces as
are not likely to be ready, even under these
conditions, till the building is prepared to re-
ceive it."
THE GEOLOGICAL PARK.
Referring to the proposed geological park.
Prof. Langley says: ut has been customary.
ever since the institution commenced to form
collections, that skeletons and skins of wild
ANIMALS should be sent here for preparation.
so that certain regular supply of such mate
rial now comes in without solicitation every
year. together with occasional live animals,
which have been usually sent to the geological
gardens in Philadelphia. 1t seemed to me
worth While to try the experiment of having
all animals sent on alive when this could be
done without enhanced cost: and thus has been
formed the nucleus of collection of living
animals. which, though still small, has at
tracted the popular interest i'll very marked
degree.
1T is understood that this interest and the
consideration that the buffalo, the mountain
sheep and goat, the elk. and other vanishing
races OF the continent deserve protection at the
hands OF the government, was the cause of
bill which was introduced BY Senator Beck to
create geological garden on Rock creek such
that these animals might not only form the
subject OF study, but be expected to increase as
they do not do in ordinary captivity This es-
tablshment;f is proposed, when completed,
to place under the care of the regents with n
proper provision for its maintenance. The bill
has not yet become law, but in the event of
Its doing so. the trust created, being in the in
terest of knowledge, and incidentally offering
most obvious means for its popular diffusion,
seems to be one which falls entirely within the
proper function OF the Smithsonian Institution
and hope / may be able to state that the trust
Is one OF nature which the regents. if called
upon, are likely to favor"
ART COLLECTIONS
With reference to art collections Prof. Lang
ley writes: THE words of your first secretary.
that the institution exists for knowledge in the
highest sense, including not only science COM
monty SO called, but the true the beautiful.
as well as the Immediately practical remind
US that one OF the lines on which the institu-
ton was to develop according to the views of
Congress, that of its connection with art has
been allowed almost entirely to lapse 1t is
now, however, understood that a very valuable
collection of art objects. representing. perhaps,
over $1,000, 600 in value, has been left to the
Smithsonian Institution, and it is not an abstract
question when we ask what these relations are
to be. 1t seems to me that here again the fact
of the independence of the Smithsonian is of
inestimable value i'll its possible future useful
ness. No possessor Of a great private gallery
like either of the two or three in this country
which are rising now to almost national i'm
portance-no possessor of such gallery know
ing OH the one hand what art is and on the
other hand what the relations of the govern
ment to art have been in the past is likely
to bequeath it to the nation without some guar
anty, not only for its and maintenance.
but for its judicious use in the cause of
national art itself
The Smithsonian stands here in the position
of disinterested and Independent party. abso-
lutely irresponsible, having permanency such
as no Individual or private corporation can rep
resent, and it might very WELL it seems to me.
in pursuit of its proper objects accept trust
of this kind on the condition either of seeing
itself that the government accepted it and pro-
v1ded for 1t in q proper way or handing it back
to the heirs of the conditional donors. 1. is.
perhaps, not too much to say that an import
ant function of the Smithsonian which has lain
long in allegiance may yet be developed in this
direction"
THE COURTS.