The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-10-21
NEW NATIONAL mUsEUm NEEDED. ,
Present building Merely n shadow OF what 10
should Be-Year's Accsssions.

The annual report Of the Board OF Regents Of
the Smithsonian Institution, and Of the National
Museum, Just issucd. shows the operations, con-
dltions and ex Expenditures Of the Institution for
the year ending June 10 last, and ~ n volume
that scientists regard IA Of very great value.
It shows that during the fiscal year there were
i.i4l acc,-sslons, containing Upward OF 10000
specimens. the largest number for any single
year during the present decade. The total num-
Der of specimens recorded up to July l.. 1895.
exceeds 4.OOD,Up.
The number Of visitors both TO the Museum
and the Smithsonian Institution during the year
is07-9S was smaller by nearly 1900 than during
the previous year, u result due in a measure 10
the national Distractions growing out OF the war
with Spain, But II IA also taken into account
that the fiscal year 1898 07 included a Presidential
Inauguration, when there were tens Of thous-
and Of visitors "a Washington, a certain per-
centHge Of whum'looked In on the Smithsonian.
In the meteorological department the 40
cc~sions dunn" the year were numerous and
valuable. AmonT those OF more notable i'm
p%ortanCc Is a collect ion OF antluuitico and eth
nologicnl material. the Request Of the late Rev.
". Iidllntt PHILLIPS " Washington to the Smith
soniau Institution 1hi, collection is not only Of
great extent, but u exceptional value to aroh-
geological science. Il contains I2.iG1 ancient
relies. mainly stone implements from the Po-
tonne region. and 10 chronological specimens
from POLYNESIA. ~ transfer IRON the Army
Medical Museum the museum received a COL
lr,tIpn ui 2.2UB human -huil,, rrprc-enting
mainly the Indian tribe. an,,ctt and modern.
In The zpologl al and botanical collections
the donations ol Mr-Srs Hubbard and SChwarz
of tuciI collection oI iJuoltcrd, principally
North American, COmpl-tur about u 100
specimens and representing l2uu species, Is
regarded As Of very great Importance The
laTLp-t Hruu .fluu Oh uUluakn tHNU-I=fnH i'm tho
gifi by DR., Il Ellsworth can Of a collection
including more than NGtsD specimens
Great activity continued throughout the year
in the Division Of PIdut~ Arco,-luns 10 the
number of 37 were made, including the puT-
chase Of all the valuable sets Ot American
plants offered Tor sale that were needed to I'LL
out the Government collections In the Geo
logical Department a ,iine collection Of fossil
fishes, made by the Hayden Surrey. was OBJ
tanned from the executors Of Prof. topeis
estate. The collection of fossil irverteorates
wa, greatly enriched bv two very important
gifts Through the hcGuc,t Of the late [ II,
Harris OF Ohio the museum came into posses
sion Of his private collection OF over 10000
forms ana a number "t nririnal t'pc@ FROM
Mr. x II IaCOe of Plttstou, Pa there was re-
ceived a large collection ut fossil insects, com
prI,ing. upward oi 900 specimens, OF whioh
more than 2O1 are types
The report says that the greatest need y
ing it says, was erected with the view Of
covering the largest amount OF space with the
least outlay Of money. H. this respect II may
more than a shadow OF such a massive, dign-
fed and well-fnished building a. should be
the home Of the great national collections
There Is needed at once a spacious absolutely
1rnproof building of several stories, con-
,tr,icted OF durable materials, well lighted,
modern In equipment and on such a plan that
IL NAV be added to a. occasion demands In the
future. A site for such q building IL already
owned by the Govern nent only IN" new build
building IL % tho nation. the library building
To the National Library. the smithsonian Build
Ing IN the hsoufup IpEtitUtiOn the nav
museum building should be 70 the National
Museum"