The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-11
SMITHSON'S GIFT.
The One Real Center Of Science in the
World.
Old Exhibits at the National Museum
to Make Way for Car Loads of
Worlds Fair Specimens-GreatW ork
Accomplished.
From the Washington star.

Accomplished.
From the Washington Star.
Those who have not availed themselves
of the opportunity of examining the in
teresting historical curios and scientific
specimens that have been on exhibition in
the national museum for the past two or
three years, are likely soon to lose their
last chance of seeing them. Thirty car
loads of new and rare specimens have re-
Gently arrived from Chicago, and it is the
intention of the Smithsonian authori-
ties to reconstruct in our midst
a miniature worlds exposition OF
valuable exhibits. To do this, much, if
not all, of the floor space Of the museum
must be utilized. The fact is not gener-
ally known, perh APPS, that the collection
in the museum has so far outgrown the
proportions of the building as to make it
possible to exhibit at time only one-tenth
of the specimens. Hence many of the ar
ticles that have been exposed to the pub
lie for three years past, past must
soon be stored and packed away, possibly
not to be seen again by this generation,
If the other articles not yet exhibited are
to be brought out from their hiding
places.
THE WORK OF CHANGE BEGUN.
Already the work of change has be-
gun, and even now the huge white model
statue of the capitol dome queen that has
so long stood in majestic grace in a spa
cious realm of her own is almost hidden
from sight by boxes and cases of new
material Grim-looking aborigines in
their glass cases seem to wear looks of
restless anxiety while waiting to be set
tied in the new order of arrangement, and
ere long birds, reptiles and animals be-
longing to extinct ages will crowd out the
oddities that have for some time past held
the public attention. But the new collec-
tion will comprise something more than
birds, reptiles an animals. The Smith
sonian people expended over 100000 to
set in place its splendid exhibit at Chi
cago. Much of ii was constructed here,
but it is all new, and, together with what
was originated at the fair, will become
one Of the newest and most interesting
attractions among Washington sights.
Added TO what the government exhi bited
at Chicago will be the numerous rare eX-
hibits donated by foreign nations and
private individuals. At first it was
thought that Washington would receive
very few such donations, but happily it
resulted otherwise 1t may be remem-
bered that in Difference to the protests of
ChlcagOans, orders were issued to
federal representatives neither TO suggest
nor solicit donations at the worlds iair
and for awhile IL looked as though Chi
cago would have monopoly of all that
was to be left in this country
But ii appears that Chicago enterprise
was too enterprising and importunate,
for in the end the United States without
even the asking, was gratuitlouslY pre-
sented with many Of the finest and rarest
exhibits, which. despite local impOrtuni-
ties, foreign governments and private in-
dtviduals preferred 10 deposit in the Ma
tiOnal Museum az Washington. The
articles are now being cataiOgued and I'M
packed, but il will require two or three
months az least 70 place and arrange them
tOr the public eye.