The Washington times., 1902-12-28
SMITHSONIAN OFFICERS
PLAN GREAT EXHIBIT
Extensive Preparations for.
ST. Louis Exposition.
RANGE OF THE DISPLAY
Consists Of Rare Treasures and Will
Occupy Largest Space in Gov
eminent Building.

Extensive preparations are being made
By officers OF the Smithsonian Institu-
ton and National Museum for an elabo-
rate exhibit at the st. Louis Exposition
The display will be larger than any
since the Worlds Fair. and viii occupy
the largest space in the Government
Building. The exhibit VIII be in charge
OF Dr. Frederick W. True.
Arrangements have already been made
for the placing Of many Of the exhibits.
Standing in a central position. and sur
rounded by various bureaus which are
under its direction, viii be the exhibit
OF the institution itself. In this will be
shown the memorials OF the founder,
James Smithson. portraits Of the sec
retaries, the great series OF publica-
tions-on which It's fame rests largely
and objects and books indicating how the
institution fund has beer and is expend-
ed IN promoting research.
The Principal Exhibit.
Although every bureau connected with
the Smithsonian will be represented.
the National Museum, on account OF its
great resources and especial facilities.
will make the principal exhibit.
The exhibits OF the Department Of
Geology will be organized by Or. George
P. Merrill, head curator, with the as
sistance Of the scientific staff Of the de-
Partment. Probably the most striking OBJ
ject shown by this department will be
the restoration of a remarkable extinct
reptile known as stegasaur. which is not
unlike a huge horned toad" with
double row Of large lat spines along the
tail.
With this extraordinary creature will
be exhibited th6 singular reptile tricer-
atOps. In order 10 avoid having this
SHELTON confused with mastodon. and
for the general interest Of the public,
there viii be exhibited a frame Of the
latter, and alongside Of It the skeleton
OF an elephant.
Another interesting exhibit will be
collection OF meteOrites and casts of the
largest meteorites known the greatest
of which exceeds twenty feet in length
and weighs many tors. Visitors to the
Exposition will have an exceptional op-
pOrtuuity Of seeing together the largest
masses known to have fallen from the
sky.
Equally interesting will be the collec- |
tion OF minerals. including the most
beautiful kinds from all parts Of the |
world, This will be supplemented by
two other collections. showing forms OF /
silica and Of carbonate OF calcium.
Forests of Past Ages.
The forests Of past ages will be repre- |
sented by tree trunks from the petriaed /
forests Of Arizona and Montana. and 4
samples OF great tree ferns. which are
characteristic features Of vegetation of /
earlier ages. The public will also have
a chance to see how the composition Of
rocks is studied by geologists by means
OF sections so thin as TO be transparent.
One Of the most striking objects OF
the exhibit OF the Department OF Biol
ogy. which IS under the direction OF Dr.
Tree. will be a model whale. eighty or
ninety feet long. Large game from all
parts OF the world will be shown. includ-
ing such animals as rhinoceros and
caribou. together with various small
species.
An exhibit which Is intended to give
the public a new idea Of the deuizens
OF the sea, will be collection OF en-
large models OF deep sea fishes. These
animals include among them some Of
the strangest and most grotesque forms
OF life.
The exhibit OF reptiles will consist
OF large and peculiar forms. which are
commonly known only by name. This
will include some OF the deadliest snakes.
and several peculiar types from various
parts OF the country.
Butterfly Collection.
What Is predicted 60 be the most beau
tiful feature OF the Smith sonian exhibit
viii be a collection Of butterflies, in
cluding large and brilliant forms char
acteristie OF the tropics of America and
the Old World
W II. Holmes viii tave charge Of the
exhibits Of the Department OF Antkropol-
ogy and Bureau Of Ethnology. The idea
OF the former is 20 show the beautiful
products Of the native American peo-
pie. 10 viii cover the entire range OF
their arts and manufactures. in so far
as they have an artistic and esthetlc
value.
The exhibit OF tho Bureau Of Eth
rology viii be planned TO illustrate the a
researches carried ON by that depart ]
ment.
The National Geological Park purposes q
erecting large cage Tor birds, so that }
they can be seen in life. Nothing slni-
lar to this on 50 large a scale has ever
been attempted al any previous expo
sition
The work or the Astrophysical OBJ
Eeryatory though Of an important na- {
ture. is dimcult 90 illustrate I'm an ex- Z
position. One Of the most remarkable v
instruments IN the exhibit will be the {
boiometer. which IS capable OF detecting
variations OF temperature Of one one {
milliOnth OF a degree.
The Bureau OF international Exchanges {
will show charts and other objects ex- !
Dlanatory OF the useful work il carries
on I'm distributing scientific publications
throughout the world
NTFEEv uTnrryc trrrr,orrvC 49,