The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-05
A GREAT STATE MUSEUM.
Board of Agriculture Pleased With the
Report OF Curator Brimley.

Board of Agriculture Pleased with the
Report of Curator Brimley.
The State Board of Agriculture met at
$50 a. M, yesterday, the appointed hour,
and added the names Of III. Il. Fries and
III. Il. King to the Legislative committee
The duty of this committee will be, IN
case it is needed, to go before the Legis-
Iative committees in the interest Of such
legislation as may be deemed advisable
for the future usefulness Of the lnstltu-
ton.
The Board heard with pleasure the
report Of the Curator of the Museum,
which is new regarded with a great deal
Of pride, not only by the Board, but by
every North Carolinian who has ever
visited it and seen this complete display
of the States productions.
In this report Mr. Brimley says that
during the past year the attendance of
visitors has shown a gratifying increase,
tho average now being about 1000 per
month exclusive of big days"
In Fair week of this year the total
pumber Of visitors was 2,201 as opposed
ia 613 last year, an increase of over 80
nor cent. During the year there have
bean about dozen excursions into town,
several Of which came from beyond the
limits of the State Each of these caus-
cd an additional attendance above the
ordinary of from three to seven hundred.
The report. after pointing out the value
of the Museum purely from a business
standpoint and as an advertisement of
the States resources, treats Of ITS edu-
cofional features. Among other things
it says
a feature worthy of mention is the
usc made of the Museum 10y students
from the A. and NJ. College. On Sat
urdays. in particular, large numbers of
them visit the place, and think that 1t is,
educationally, Of considerable value to
them At the opening and closing Of
the school year a great many students
from the other colleges and schools of
the State pass through Raleigh on their
way to and from school, aud it is noted
that many of them visit the Museum at
such times. During Fair week detach-
ment Of nearly an hundred State Nor
NAL School girls were brought through
bv their President, and a smaller detach-
ment from Salem Academy also paid us
a visit.
'The condition of the room aud Of the
exhibits is good and many compliments
are paid the general appearance and ar
rangement of the whole place, especially
by visitors familiar with similar institu-
tons in the large northern cities.
Minerals and rocks are constantly be
ing brought in for Identification and such
in all cases have been properly identified
nv the Curator with the help of the sec
I'm
seems to be regarded as 4 general in
formation bureau, and specimens of all
kinds-mineral, vegetable and animal
are expected to be identified off hand,
and usually are. Requests for informa-
ton regarding the various resources Of
the State and various specimens on ex-
hibition are Of daily occurrence, and are
always complied with to the fullest possi-
BILE extent.
'sIn the Natural History department,
there have been mounted by the Curator
since the last meeting of the Board
seventy-two birds and seven animals,
making a total for the year Of 1872 birds
and % animals, or a grand total of 100
demonstrating number of large
ones. The mounting of these by any
good taxidermist would have cost at
average custom rates about $500. Be
sides those mounted, there still remain
on hand some seventy-fve skins that are
being worked up as rapidly as possible.
A number of the larger specimens are
partially finished, hut are now at q
standstill as there is at present no space
available for them. All the space in the
rooms at present occupied is in use, and
there is a lot of material in store-rooms
and over-crowded into the exhibition
cases that can be utilized to advantage
as soon as there more space available"
In his report Curator Brimley ackn0wl-
edges his obligations to Secretary Bruner
for valuable help given him in his work,
and says that material for two chapters
of the Forthcoming book North Caro-
lima and its Resources" have been prepar
ed by the Curator during the half year
Acknowledgment is also made to Mr.
Ashby L. Baker and Col +. A. Odds,
of this city, for interesting collections
Of Indian relies and curios.