Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-19
A NEW MUSEUM BUILDING.
The Structure Which it Is Proposed to
Erect in the Smithsonian Grounds.


Erect in the Smithsonian Grounds.
The National Museum building has long
been overcrowded. Some time ago Prof. S. p.
Langley. secretary of the Smithsonian Institu-
ton, expressed the opinion that if more spa ce
was not provided the development of the gov
eminent collections would be almost COM
pletely arrested. bill appropriating suita-
bic sum for a new building has twice passed
the Senate and it is thought no trouble will be
found in getting it through both houses this
session.
Increased space in the exhibition rooms ia
needed. Still more necessary. however is
room for storage for rearranging the great
reserve collections, for illuminating duplicate
material for distribution to college and school
museums and for the use of taXldermsts and
perpetrators. Space Is also required for the
proper handling of the costly outfit of the
museum cases and appliances for installation.
OF which there Is always a considerable amount
temporarily out of use or In process of con-
BtructiOn.
THE GROWTH OF THE MUSEUM.
In letter from the secretary of the Smith
sonian to the Senate committee on public
buildings and grounds, dated June T. 1883, a
statement was made that in the five years from
1882 to 1857 the number of specimens in the
collections had multiplied no less than sixteen
which the pressure for want of space felt
The trouble has apparently been growing
rapidly worse and this has been felt in partial
arrest of the growth of the collections The
present museum building Is not large enough
even for the natural history collection alone, q
number of which are now without any exhibit
ton space whatever. The proposed building
will afford accommodations for tine ethnologl-
cal and chronological material already
on hand and for large part of
nat rial oil
The collections are constantly increasing.
The number OF specimens now ON hand is esti-
mated as not far from 100000. The increase
during the past year was comparatively small,
owing to the fact that the exhibition halls and
storage rooms were all crowded and it seemed
necessary TO cease III measure the customary
efforts for the increase of the museum.
The question of the proposed new building
is one that has received the closest attention
from the authorities of the museum. They
have been working for good while over plans
for a building which shall be as nearly perfect
as such one can be. As a result they have
formulated their ideas of the building that is
likely to satisfy all their needs. Prof. Lang
ley, IN speaking of the proposed build
ing, describes it as follows: 1T COW
ers the same area as that finished
In 1881. 1t is intended TO consist OF two stories
and basement. except IN the central portion.
which consists OF one lefty hall, open from the
main floor to the roof the height of which will
be 80 feet. galleries being placed on the level
OF the second floor IN the other parts of the
building. Its interior arrangements are differ
ent from those in the actual museum all the
changes having been planned in the light of
the experience of nine years occupation of the
present building. 1t Will afford between two
and three times much available space for
exhibition and storage under the same area of
roof The total capacity of this present build
ing IN available floor space is about 100. 900
square feet: that of the new building some
what exceeds 100000. The present building
contains about $4,000 feet OF floor space avail
able for exhibition. That proposed will con-
tam about lO3.3OO. The space devoted to offices
and laboratories would not be much more but
the area available for exhibition halls, storage
rooms and workshops far greater.
The appropriation for the construction of
the present building was s2j00O The total
cost was S3l5, 400. Ii was probably completed
for smaller sum of money than any other
similar one of equal capacity in the world and
az an expense relative TO capacity which the
present prices of material make IL certain can
not be repeated.
The estimates of cost on the proposed
building vary greatly with regard to details of
construction, on which do NOT enter further
than to say that the whole should be abso-
lutely fre-proof throughout. and in view of the
further great variation OF the cost of building
materials within the past two years am not
prepared to state the sum which would be ne
ces5ary for Its completion. 1t is certain how
ever. that S5OO,OOO. if not sufficient to complete
It. would be all that would be required to be
expended during the present year"
THE SITE.
The site Of the proposed building is Just to
the southwest of the Smithsonian building at
about tho same distance from it on that side
that the present museum is on the other, and
1t Is thought that the three buildings will form
quite a complete and harmonious group. The
proposed changes in the interior arrangements
OF the new building will not interfere with con-
formity with the other points of the present
museum building III the essential features OF
exterior proportion. While not corresponding
exactly TO the old one 1t will resemble it gener-
ally and will be in keeping with It, On the
other hand 1t will be more in harmony with the
style OF the Smithsonian building than is the
present museum. and when erected will COM
pIete graceful and pleasing group of build
lngs that are devoted solely to the interests of
science.