New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-22
FOR THE MUSEUM OF ART
THE TRUSTEES ASK FOR PUBLIC SUPPORT
IN CASE THEY GET 1T, THE INSTITUTION WILL
ALWAYS BE FREE TO yIsITogs

A
ALWAYS BE FREE TO VISITORS.
The Board OF Estimate went TO work Yesterday a,
Its final estimates for the budget Of 1892 Its neet
ing attracted large number Of interested citizens In
GLIDING Judge Van Brunt ex-Judge Henry Hovlana
ex- Mayor Grace henry G. Marquand, General a
Cesnola Commissioner Martin and Senator McXahon
Several OF the visitors attracted by the 0yIedz.
that an important letter was 30 be presented BY Tia
trustees OF the Metropolitan Museum OF Art Involving
the abolition OF all pay days and permanent arrznss
ment for Sunday openings.
A delegation headed by George II. Robinson ana
John d. Crimmins asked for an appropriation Of $4,000
IN erect a statue to John Ericsson, the inyento,
authorized by the Legislature. The request granted
and the sum was inserted In the Park Departments.
estimate
In response to the effective appeals Of B. y. yartia
Commissioner OF Jurors, and General VI. T. McMsho
35 900 wss allowed for improving Wasdagton square
The Trustees Of the Metropolitan Museum Of An
represented by Henry G., MsFquand, president Of Tie
Board, and General L. p. oil Cesnola, secretary, tub
mitted a proposition for making admission TO the
Museum free Besides the regular weekdays 1t would
be opened also free Tuesday and Saturday evenings
and on sunday afternoons. To effect this change which
the trustees believe will be popular one, they asked
that the appropriation for next year be increased 70
S64 957 This, with tie $4,000 authorized BY the
Legislature, would, they believed, enable them 10
abolish all paydays. The sum allowed In The pro
ylsona estimate 10000 1.-THE usual amount, with
10000 additional II the Museum be opened Tree on
SUNDAYS after IL o., or for two evenings week. one
~ the evenings to be Saturday. In their letter MAILING
tbis proposton, President Maryland and Secretary
di Cesnola said that at its incorporation, twenty years
aoo tho Museum possessed only small sam Of monsy
given by its trustees. It's present collections OF vorp
of art valued at several millions OF dollars, are
olusiyely the gifts OF trustees and other members
p,.hI fv,<
When it removed TO Fourteenthst. the city, on con-
d,ton Of free admission on certain week days. gave
about $4,000 a year toward It's maintenance. This
sum wos increased after the removal 10 the Park
$4,000.
Az the collections grew the crowds Of visitors 80 IN
creased sometimes amounting to $1,000 day a. 10 -
yerey tax the ability Of the trustees u meet the cos,
maintenance. Tie receipts at the door on paydays
and tho special subscriptions proved Inadequate Tho
growth of the Museum has been extraordinary, no
Institution of the kind even In countries supported By
the Government, having record like IT, The coh'tan
desire Of the trustees has been that the collections
should tend 10 the improvement, cultivation ana
recreation OF the people.
According to the quarterly report OF the officers d
the corporation on November 10. 1891 the total
number of visitors had been On four Fridays u
the month. 42352s; on two evenings Of the week.
A, 1856 sunday afternoons from May 81. lJO.Soi
on Mondays and Tuesdays, 20,l44; actual number
Of visitors for nine months only, 640.l92.
Estimating at the same ratio for the two additional
months of Novembr and December, ana addhg h'e
months to the sunday attendance the number Of
visitors will not be less than 92OOO0. The alnua
expenses for maintaining the Museum Including the
technical art schools, amount for the Year 1871 70
ST. 6e4 81 and these expenses Will increase with the
growth of the collections and the addition OF new
buildngs all of which must be warmed, watched
cleaned and kept In order The question OF opening
on sunday afternoons will involve an extra yearly
cost OF 1929, bringing the expenses LOT 1917 70
sso o57 at least The cost OF keeping the Museum
open throughout the year 1892 will therefore anouh'
10 a little less than 10 cents for each VISITOR
The trustees conclude that, in view Of the advan
tages which such an institution bestOws upon the
people and visitors of large city like New-forK' "
would seem Just that the city should pay the Wtai
expenses of keeping the Museum open Hee 70 inc
public. ,
During twenty years the trustees have not only
spent $61 ZOO out Of their own pockets tof cufen'
expenses only, but have bestowed upon ule "u0'"
an amount of time ard personal labor which eanho'
be estimated in money. The cost OF operau'h
much less than other similar institutions. IN hsreh
1889. the Smithsonian Institution reported its running
expenses for 1883 to be $227J and for lee9 sl-S
no. and that for the proper WORKING OF 'h"' "Sus"
ton the sum Of $l99,l21 would be necessary i@
English Government approprates every year ior IH
expenses OF the KeGsington and BLUSH huseumS' T"
London an average of from 100000 to S9Oooo
The Mayor asked Mr. Msrquand TO submit dslsi,s
statement OF estimated expenses, lhcludhs iis'
additional employees required by the eIalst' i ,ns
Naruuand promised to do. Tia. prOposlon VI ~ -
trustees will be considered next we.A Que hO"oe Va
the time will be gwen 60. c, tiouso e.
The bad condition Of the County Court lousS az, IL
peclaly its heating apparatus, wac pr1usnto y. Lsr
boards attention BY Judge Van Brut ana JuueeV y.
The sum of al p 500 added % COMM ,iOneI olrv
anpropratiOn for needed repairs and lnpro'swVas .
me Board took up in detail Mr. Glroy e,IlnaS o
~ the Department OF Public WoIAS wmrn "eIe mo u
yisionally fixed last October at S3lOlllo' ee,e s,
small reductions were made, but the ltelh VI tn,
limiting was Increased from 100000 10 SolOoOo' 1871
o the higher rates Of electric lights ana ne" ~, Z,
ordered Mr.. Gilroy's tina. figures were hAe' I"
The park Commissioners, represented by fienue urn
Gallup and Commissioner Tappen, presenttaa ' Tpa
estimates which in October stood at oJo3i s,igh,
allowances for the Ericsson monument anu Ill gg In.
error discovered in the park police pay ton a. n.
crease this amount. IL will be further ehla gu AZ
request OF tho trustees OF the Metropolitan MUSEUM"
Art Is granted. - - ,,, .or tho suurms
SUPERIOR Common Pleas city and DisuUa e. ~
s76 800 for the Common Council $500, nno Sn
Municipal Civil Service Commission and S-'f-'" ."
Tho City Record
THESE INSTRUMENTS WILL STAY IN TUNE