Evening star., 1896-03-23
NATIONAL MUSEUM BUILDING
The Proposed Enlargement Favorably Re-
ported On.
Senator Morrllrs Views of the Present
Facilities and Ultimate Needs
and improvements.

Senator Morrill, today presented report
from the committee on public buildings and
grounds on the bill already placed on the
calendar, with the favorable recommenda-
tion Of the committee, providing for the
erection of an additional fire-proof build
ing for the National Museum. Extensive
quotations are made from the annual re-
port of Prof. Langley, showing the growth
of the collection of specimens and curios
far beyond the capacity of the two large
buildings and the various storage sheds
around them. June 80, 1894, there were
3,27o.53 specimens in the museum, and the
same date III 1895 there were 3,4O6, $40.
After indicating how much more effectively
the groups nigh, be displayed, the report
continues:
THE building devoted especially to the
exposition In Philadelphia, as a temporary
accommodat on for the collections given to
the United States by the foreign govern
ments and private exhibitors represented
on that occasion. 1t is the cheapest public
building OF permanent character ever
erected, having cost only $225 a square
Ioot OF noor space available for exhibition.
Inc museum buildings in Central Park,
New York, have cost from $50 to $40 a
square foot. The building in Washington
mas served good purpose, but Is deficient
IN one OF the most important particulars, it
mas no cellar whatever, and very little pro-
VISIONS Tor workshops and laboratories. In
consequence of this, it has been necessary
TO use all kinds of devices for storing ma
terlal which carnot be exhibited in the
halls, in the bases under the exhibition
cases, in small recesses so ingeniously com
structed that their presence is not sus-
pected.
Necessary Makeshifts.
Another disagreeable result is that much
noisy work has to be done in the museum
hallss In spaces shut off from the public
by screens, and that when preparations for
exhibition or packing are going on not
only are portions Of the collections closed
to The public, but there is a constant and
unpleasant noise of hammers.
"A temporary relief was secured some
years ago by placing the great herbarium,
one of the most important collections of
American plants in the world, in the Gus
tody OF the Agricultural Department but
lest year the Secretary of Agriculture
Iound himself unable to longer give these
Coilectlons house room, and since the build
ing IN winch they were kept is not fire.
proof, and their destruction would be an
1ncalculable less to science, there was
nothing to do but tc receive this and up
10 the present time considerable portion
OF the collection still remains in danger of
destruction by fire, at the Department of
Agriculture.
'All the collectors at the geological sur
vey are stored in this building, and a con-
siderable number OF the scientific experts
employed by the survey have office room
and accommodations to enable them TO
study in the museum building
The report describes the crowded condi-
sonian, and calls attention to the presence
In the basement of great collection of fish
preserved in alcohol, which is a constant
menace to the safety of the building. Men
tlon is also made of the necessity Of using
old wooden sheds for storage purposes, and
1t is specially noted that those adjoining
the armory building. filled with valuable
ccllect1ons are rotting away and cannot
be replaced because there is nowhere to
put the specimens In the interim.
Senator MorrilPs Views.
Senator Morrill, recently said to a Star re-
porter that he recognized very distinctly
the fact tEat the present National Museum
building was not an artistic or archi-
tectural success. 1t Is utilitarian in its con-
ception and design, although, as experience
has proved, lack Of cellar has been a
serious drawback. He added that he would
prefer, of course, in providing additional
accommodations for the museum building,
to secure an appropriation large enough to
erect a structure that would be more in
conformity with the idea embodied in the
Smithsonian building, but, he went on, the
chances for liberal appropriations at this
time are so meager and the necessities of
the present situation are SO pressing that
the best plan seemed to be to provide for
a moderately cheap building on the west,
balancing the present museum building,
and somewhat similar in design, but higher
and with a basement.
Ultimate Plan.
1.-The magnificent Smithsonian building, -
he continued, will always be the center
Of attraction in that park. Its front on the
north will continue to be the main front
and point of interest. The southern side
of the building will be the back. have in
mind that at some future day there will be
erected between these two WINGS the pres
ent museum building on the east and the
ore proposed by this bill on the west, a
connecting structure of handsome design
that will afford a splendid hall for exhibi-
ton purposes.
1T does not seem right that the wonder
fui collec tions now stored away in hooks
ard corners and rotting sheds should be
kept from the public view and from the use
Of students and scientists. A comparative
ly small appropriation that can easily be
made at this session will give US a building
tt at will enable the museum authorities to
place practically all of these now hidden
specimens on exhibition"