Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-04-16
NEW MUSEUM PLANS.
Work on Big Structure Soon to Be
Commenced.

Washington, April 15.-The regents of
the Smithsonian Institution have prac-
tically completed their preliminary
planning for the new National Museum
building, authorized by Congress at the
last session. A formal meeting will be
held this week, at which the details Of
the plans will be announced. Horn
blower & Marshall have been chosen as
the architects of the building. Their
original plans, which were submitted
to Congress, have been changed in a
few particulars, at the suggestion of
the regents, in the last month, and
are now ready for the beginning of con-
Struction at any time.
The chief new work of the regents.
since their proposition for the building
was submitted to Congress, has been
the determination of what shall be done
with the three structures that will COM
pose the National Museum group. The
broad scheme adopted is that the new
building shall be devoted to the scien-
tific collections of the government, the
present National Museum building to
the industrial arts, and the old Smith
sonian building to the Smithsonian and
National Museum library and art COL
lection.
1t is the plan of the regents that the
scientific collection in the new building
shall be the finest in the world, and an
officer of the institution makes the
statement that already many of the
branches to be covered have reached
q perfection that is not equaled in any
other museum in the world. even the
great British Museum. The chief sub
jects to be covered are biology, anthro-
pology, geology, zoology, botany and
American history
The present National Museum build
| ing will be given up to a great exposi-
ton of industrial art, including the al
ready immense and unique collection of
| the museum, and many additions that
| the regents are planning to secure as
rapidly as possible. This museum Will
be modelled in it's scope and general
| plan after the Victoria and Albert Mu-
scum of Great Britain. Among the chief
departments will be those of land
transportation, boat models, imple-
ments of war, and electrical apparatus
| of which the museum already has rich
collections.
The plans for the Smithsonian build
| ing contemplate the creation IN time Oh
a magnificent library and art gallery.
The scientific library of the institution
is already one of the finest in the world.
| Its scope will be broadened, and II VIII
| become much more important unit IN
| the general scheme of the institution.
The plans for the art gallery are as yet
tentative. The Smithsonian Institution
has loaned a large part OF its art col
| lections to the Corcoran Art gallery
and the Library of Congress, ana IL IS
not understood that the regents WISH,
at present, to recall these loans.
The work on the new building will be-
gin at once, with the grading ana the
excavations on the site fronting On Is
street northwest, between Ninth ana
Twelfth streets, on the north side of.the
National Museum grounds. The build
ing will be 1856 feet long and 345 feet
bread. with a height of four stores. IL
Wilt occupy the center OF the space pc
tween Ninth. and Twelfth streets and
will extend not quite half the distance
between them, which is Approximately
| !, Zoo feet. 1t is the plan OF the regents
| that at some time in the future TWO
4 other buildings, or wings, TO this main
Istructure shall be built in the vacant
lspace remaining. The building Will De
back from B street about lOo rect only
The building will have an available
space of 100000 square feet Inc pres
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