New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-09
NEEDS OF METROPOLITAN.
Charles iStezrart Smith FaOors Bill to
E.rtend Museum.

r,,.. e.szv.r. Smith chairman OF the building
COMMITTEES o. the Metropolitan Museum OF Art IN
a talk with Tribune reporter yes'erosy.
ing the bin introduced in the legislature by senator
Flsberg appropriating 10000 for an extension 10
the museum and authorizing the issuing OF oonds
by this city for that purpose. said;
1t wise the part Of the ts Is ts Of ef the
lat1re biil subject to the approval OF the Board
OF Estimate and Apportionment Of
exceeding s20O0o TO provide for an eXtei.Slon Ot
the Metropolitan Museum 81 Art tnS y, pa We
space in the museum is nearly all occupied. ana we
shall be congested for eXhibitlon room sbo1ld
the proposed wing can be competed. .1,o he
pictures. which will come to the museum eyentu u
ally fail into our possession 70 S,snTav n prop
erly. All our rooms with skylishts are 40" OooN-
It is proposed to erect a new wing on Fitth-avTe
running south, which will be about the sae a;
the the existing front tvenIu alIs, -
IS hoped that elevations 81 the came ZANE ,I sx
tend around the four sides of the eXisuhe Ouiu
ing 49,. .-,..,,., -.v,-s,nr future ex-
tensions should be realized there VIII De no al
building in the world comparable 10 our OUT. t.,
nately the cityi anticipating its growth, very cry
Wisely proved ye G the dny question for the
future IS the cost OF buildings. The exhibits are
to house them Aside from loan collections Of large
value. the museum owns today objects OF al khaS
on exhibition. conservativey valued at more tiian
81 900 coo all presented by members ana patrons OF
We have cndovments Of IS 900 900 70 5000 900 all
Of which specifically devised for the care sno
from these endowments can be used for main
tenance The city provides the buildings and annn-
ALI gives amount OF money
sufficient 10 pay more than one-haK OF me runnisE
e1 IN 80. EdrS Which has no government supper.
other than indicated. 81 is now one or the nest
20 rival IN Importance Ike institutions in the Old
World We are now in financial condition 10 coI or
pete for fine things when they come upon inc
market as. for example. the recent acquisition OF
the Biga end the Boscoreali frescos.
Judging from the past records u Is prooaoie, It
our turnsties will record one million oo tree a6H Us,
eomnS an Institution Of great educational force
and value and deserves well OF the city which hs ;
never refused its reasonable requests. anu mas
shown IN Intelligent interest in its wonderful
growth % abo2t 9 ua,Ter 81 q, tbs citizens Of
%ew-York
MI Smith added that II would soon be necessary
20 ask the city for larger amount for the main
tenance OF the museum. The city now allows
SIS 900 a year and Il costs nearly 10000 year for
maintenance and repairs. Mr.. Smith was confident
the bill would be passed by the legislature. as It
perrnissive. not mandatory. The Mayor has a
warm sympathy with the interests 81 the museum.
he said. and both he and Controller Grout have
assured Mr. Smith they would approve the bill.
IL would take three or four years 10 build the new
extension and il would probably he nearly year
before building operations would be begun Mean-
willis Mr.. Smith said. he looked to the cost o,
building materials and labor go down.
The new wing viii be about 80 feet long making
a F1fth-ave front Of $50 feet. md the width
as the existing building, when IS about 10 20 10
u must say" remarked Mr. Smith. in con-
clusion. that IN. city has always treated gen
erously and fairly. and shown interest I'm the
growth OF the museum When built the wings
on the north and east tho city gave us what we
wanted. I think the city appreciates edu-
catiOnal force. Moreover the museum brings many
strangers TO the city 20 the collections. and
this helps every railroad. shop and hotel IN New
York
with the doubling Of the length OF the Fifth
ave wing we shall eventually build around. 50
that the present building viii be simply interior
court Ultimately the museum VIII bs the largest
In the world There will be none 20 compare with
II except the Louvre. and that viii be large.
Win the proposed extension. the museum will Ia
bequest shall have 10000 n year to spend for
exhibits. When see good things shall buy
quest"