Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-28
UNCLE SANS LOSS.
Treasures at Chicago That Should
Come to Washington.
TO BE HAD FOR The ASKING.
But No Money to Pay Freight and
Other Charges.
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM.
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM.
tan Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

Stan Correspondence of The Evening Star.
CHICAGO, October Is, 1893.
Hundreds Of Washingtonians and hum
dreds of others among Americans who are
interested in the growth Of the nation
curiosity shop have, after feasting their
souls on the wealth Of valuable material
displayed at the worlds Columbian expo
sition, exclaimed: How much will the
National Museum get out of all this?" The
question was a reasonable one, and had the
people OF the United States reached that
stage of their education where archaeolog-
ical and artistic and mineral and ethno-
logical riches would be truly appreciated
a great quantity of the wonders that
tempted millions to Chicago would soon be
on Its way to Washington. there to be ex-
hibted in the greater museum building
which must sooner or later supersede or be
added to the present inadequate structure.
But no such results are possible in this
country at this time. and the wealth Of the
National Museum will not be materially
added to by reason Of the near proximity
Of the worlds fair. For the existence OF
this condition there are two principal rea-
sons: One Is the nationally discreditable one
that there are no funds available with
which to purchase some OF the desired
articles: the other Is a combination Of
proper pride and inexcusable poverty-for
the National Museum authorities have not
even intimated to any Of the exhibitors
that they would receive gifts, and If they
had acted in such bad taste as to become
mendicants Of the indirect variety the mu-
scum was without the cash necessary to
AZ hat ,tut md mr. n
ably would have been bestowed by the
more generous Of the exhibitors. A gov
ernmental drag-net. even II operated by
unskillful hands. would have gathered In
an immense quantity Of such things as go
to make up great museums. and the only
expenditures called for would have been
those incidental to freight and temporary
storage.
Private Hustlers Have Been at Work.
Private individuals have, however, been
much less considerable than the govern
ment's representatives. Efforts were made
some time ago to found what was called
the Columbian Museum Of Chicago. and to
secure from the foreign nations repre-
scented at the fair contributions Of greater
or less value. The methods adopted by
some of those who were engaged In AIDING
the scheme were undoubtedly improper. but
there were results 1t was a stand ana de-
liver" sort OF a proceeding. Every exniD-
itor received what seemed 10 pc an omcial
notification that he was privileged to do
nate as much or as little as he Pleased TO
the Columbian Museum. and while many OF
the Americans were, SO to speak, onto the
proposition, the foreigners naturally deemed
themselves unable to refuse: so they con-
tributed, and in at least one instance with
extraordinary liberality. And now II would
seem as though the Columbian Museum
had gone glimmering. because there is no
warm disposition In Chicago to contribute
the $250,OO0 which the building would cost.
or to guarantee the 100000 annually which
would be needed for running expenses. to
say nothing Of the sums required to pur-
chase necessary exhibits that are now for
sale.
There are many things at the worlds fair
that the government ought to possess and
they can be secured without any begging.
Representatives of other powers are anx-
ious to show their good will and, II Con-
eress behaves with only a little decency.
foreign liberality will not be entirely scorn-
ed. Several weeks ago the Viking ship was
offered to the National Museum but up to
date no one here has heard Of its having
been accepted. Out and out rejection would
have been discourteous, so the Fabian
policy was adopted. and now the endeavor
Is to decline the gift without letting Capt.
Andersen know that 1t has been declined.
The museum people would be only too de-
lighted to have such a prize but they are
helpless. To move the ship around to
Washington from Chicago would cost more
money than the museum has to spend, and
even IL the valuable craft were already
there 1t would be difficult to find place in
which to shelter it. Thousands Of Morse
men contributed toward the cost of con-
structlon, and as daring a crew as ever
sailed the seas navigated the cockleshell
from the land of the midnight sun to ou-
shores and yet the freely proffered gift Of
warm Norwegian hearts may be refused.
Government 1SS
erect a suitable shelter over the curious and
deeply interesting boat.
The Caravels Must Come Here.
When Mr. William E. Curtis first suggest
ed to the Spanish authorities the construc-
ton of the caravels-replicas of the world
famous Santa Maria, Nina and Pinta-it
was definitely stated and so understood on
the part of both nations that as soon as
possible after the conclusion Of the fair the
three quaint vessels should be lowed around
to Washington and kept continually in a
lagoon not very far south Of the White
House, there to be on exhibition. 1t was
agreed that they should be under the con-
troll of the National Museum, and that they
should be of the city's permanent attrac-
tons. An elaboration Of the plan was to
secure the services Of a sufficient number of
old salts from the Sailors Home at Phila-
delphia, and have them act as guides and
custodians; an admirable idea, for the
tackles could sit around and spin yarns of
the seafaring days when sailors were sailors
and not engineers and firemen OF course the
caravels will have to stay here until spring:
the weathe. is likely to be too stormy for
the voyage before that time, and even IL
there was promise of sunshine and calm for
three months to come there is no money
available to defray expenses. When the
caravels reach Observation-Disclosures will
soon be asked to appropriate the necessary
cash-the cost Of maintenance will be SO
small as to be hardly worth mentioning.
an annual dose of paint Is about all they
will need. The sum of s., 500 will paw the
towage bills. and that Is about all ii will
cost to keep faith with Spain. The Spanish
government gave the Santa Maria to the
United States on the condition that the
model Of Columbus flagship should be given
will be respected.
Some Things Washington VIII Prob
ably Get.
In the days when the Chicago Columbian
Museum was a live and aggressive threat
there was possibility Of the national can
ital suffering serious loss. but. the danger
now seems to be past. At the Convent of
La Rabida is the finest collection Of his
torical objects concerning America ever
brought together. Both Mr.. Curtis and
Capt. John G. Bourke have hoped that the
collection will be appreciated to such an
extent as to insure entirety, and Mr.. Cur
tbs and Mr.. A. r. Spofford have planned
that II might find it's resting place in the
new Congressional Library-a laudable de-
sire. When the library is in it's modern