Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-18
THE WORLDS FAIR.
IContinued from Seuena Pd9e.l


sembled through the enterprise of individuals
throughout the United States. These were
thrown back on their hands. Many OF the artl-
cles were piled up in the great buildings. The
matter had not been properly anticipated and
they were lily classified, and q large part not
displayed. as many things were held IL boxes
during the exposition.
The people of America and throughout the
world who had contributed more or less 20
this. SAID, They have now only in part full
filed the Office which We hoped they would full
Ill. The exhibits are. most of them, OF perma-
nent value. aud We will give them to whosoever
Will care for and utilize them" Thus were
those things thrust on the officers Of the Gov
eminent. Professor Baird and myself having
the care OF a large amount CT these materials.
What was the result? An appeal was made to
Congress and National Museum erected. The
building at Philadelphia torn down and
another expenditure was made to have all that
material removed to and exhibited in Wash
ington- From that grew the present National
Museum.
The proposition. then. which 1 wish to make
u that the collections which are brought to-
gether and which may be of perennial value
and interest to the people for their recreation.
pleasure, and instruction. may be assembled
IN such a place and with such provision that
when il is done lasting results may accrue
therefrom. L wish TO recommend, then, that
the following exhibitions be made:
FIRST. That a great archsologic exhibit be
made.
SECOND. That great natural history ex-
hibit be made.
THIRD. That the mineral resources of the
country be exhibited. consisting OF a collection
of tho minerals Of America.
FOURTH. That the collection which we al
ready possess, AID which is in the main a col
lection of the inventions of the people, be SO
arranged IN logical order and historical order
TO show the evolution. the development, of
the inventive genius OF the people. For that
materials are already on hand, but are of no
avail at present for this purpose. They never
have been properly classified or arranged.
They are piled up IN cases where they cannot
be seen. or stored in boxes in an obscure room
OF the Interior Department. Ali these colec-
tons. which have cost hundreds of thousands
OF doIlars-miilions OF dolIars--not to the GEN
eral Government but 70 the inventors of this
country, all these articles ought to be put on
exhibition where they could be seen and appre-
ciated By the people.
II the plan which am advocating can be
carried on: il will afford relief to the Depart
ments OF the Government. Those who have
not had experience ID the different Executive
Departments can scarcely appreciate the ex-
treme difficulty with which their operations
are carried on. Everywhere we are crowded
into narrow space. No business man would
have his business carried on We are carrying
on the practical business OF this Government
i've, ten. fifteen, and twenty men, with desks.
crowded into one small room. Many of the
buildings Of the Government are old and lily
constructed. built at time when the science
of sanitary architecture was comparatively
unknown. The rooms are unhealthy. and when
ever an epidemic bre AXIS out in Washington. as
at present, II attacks all these Departments.
Today they almost depopulated by disease.
What can you hope for or expect other than
that. with the crowded, unventilated rooms
which there are in this city.
Senator Hawley. MIR. Chairman. would like
TO ask Major Powell whether the public build
cd ha lat er, hay
shown any advance in sanitary science over
those erected twenty or thirty years ago.
Mr.. Powell l think so. The State, War,
and Navy Department building is an improve
ment over the other buildings erected previous
TO II so far as sanitary features are concerned.
So is the Pension Office, in point of sanitary
arrangement, a superior building.
Senator Hawley. l think If the Secretary OF
War would take you through that building
again he would show you that they had forgot
ten ventilation to large extent.
Mr.. Powell The Medical Museum is a very
finely ventilated building, and it Is possible to
build AL the buildings with a view 10 their
being well ventilated. Now let me go on and
make my statement with reference to the erec-
ton Of the buildings necessary for an EXPOSE
ton, and how the occasion for this NAV be
made the opportunity for relieving the De-
partments Of their over-crowded condition.
The Government of the United States is rent
ing buildings all over the city at a very great
four hundred employees. is occupying one and
only within a month Congress has given au-
thority for the renting of another When we
get into that building We vii! still be crowded
and viii still depend upon the Wisconsin Uni
yersity and Yale College and many of the insti-
buttons of this country for room Unable to
get the appropriation necessary to rent the
buildings which we want, We have gone outside
OF the city and begged rooms from the educa-
tional institutions OF the country. In Yale Col
loors lohN IL.
the Survey free Of expense, and so we have
rooms In the Wisconsin University and in Har-
ward University, and IN many other leading in
situations OF the country. / wish TO plead for
rehef for the Departments from the great
strain placed upon them by want Of room
Senator Sherman. / would like to ask the
Major whether he thinks We could secure the
necessary buildings 10 relieve the Departments
OF this strain of which he speaks within two
years.
Mr.. Powell. Think it could be done. Senator.
and wish to set forth the plan before / get
through and how think that could be done.
If you please. The time is so very short had
better address myself TO that subject imme-
d.ately.
In the first place, a third of the Army Med
zeal Museum, as 1t was or, ginally planned has
been constructed The building itself is a
complete building. but only the back part the
rear OF the building, is erected. The other
two-thlrds and the front have never been
eAeS'tu. IL bA0 secOnu pace, lnere Is
no building Tor the Geological Survey
and the Geological Museum whatever.
In the next place, the National Museum
has about one-fourth OF its plan developed.
Here Is a diagram, but il IS not quite correct.
The right black line (indica;ingJ represents
one-thrd of the present Army Medical Mu-
scum. The other black line here (indicating)
represents simply what has been thought would
be the site OF the Geological Survey building
Here a building has been erected (Indicatiug),
the present site Of the National Museum Here
Is the Smithsonian (lndicating), and this ground
here (lndlcatInG) has been reserved for the en-
Iargenent OF the National Museum.
Now those buildings can be erected with
economy and without difficulty in the pre-
scrioed time, not perhaps by putting the work
IN charge Of a general board bat by letting
the Array Medical Museum complete it's own
plan. 1t has its own plans ready now. Let the
Geological Survey do the same thing; its plans
are ready and a bill is before Congress to
authorize the erection OF its building These
three organizations have plans perfected The
their Secretary. Professor Langley. should
Their plans are ready. and a bill has been
twice before the Congress relating TO this mat
ter. All the buildings necessary for the arch
so!ogic, the natural history. and the mineral
or mining exhibits can be easily completed In
this manner. and could be done without very
much difficulty. The plans have been ready
for years, and the buildings can be erected
Whenever the necessary appropriations are
made.
In regard to the building for the exhibition
~ ~ nNRvA afNFV 49, I