The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-13
Resources of Virginia Al
ways on Exhibition.
Complete Display.
VARIOUS PRODUCTS
OF THE OLD STATE
Former Hall of House Of Dele-
gates Now a Beautiful and
Well-Arranged Museum,
Always Telling Of
the Riches Of the
Commonwealth.

| Those in a position to know. declare
that the new museum in the Capitol
| building. adjoining the Offices of Cons
| missioner Koiner, is as handsome as
| any other similar display In the United
| States. 1t is not the largest, Of course,
but In point OF design and It's perfect
| harmony. even to the smallest details, 1t
! is not surpassed by museums that are
several times its size and which cost
many times the sum expended upon that
| which now occupies the historic hall OF !
| the old House of Delegates of the Vir-
| ginia Assembly.
AS a means of advertising virginia's
resources to all who may visit Rich
mond this new museum will beyond
doubt be one of the most satisfactory
Investments the State has ever made.
The idea of Installing museum in that
portion of the new Capitol Building FORM
erly used as the Hall of the House Of
Delegates originated with Colonel A. M.
Bowman, of Salem, who represents the
county Of Roanoke in the Virginia Legis-
lature. He succeeded In having approx
priated ten thousand dollars for that
purpose. and though the new museum hai
not yet been formally opened to thu
public it has already aided in the sale
of farm lands which has brought to the
State more money than the museum cost.
The offices of Hon. G. w. Koiner, Com-
missioner of Agriculture and Immigra-
ton. connect with the museum on either
side. so that every visitor to that de-
partment must necessarily pass through
the museum. This is an excellent arr
rangement, because 1t affords each pros i
pectiYe settler the opportunity of seeing
the exhibits, and the Commissioner never
allows one of these visitors to leave
until he has shown him the displays. Mr..
Koiner, in the few weeks since the
exhibits We're placed In the cases, has
been able to greatly facilitate this por-
ton of his work. for Seeing is believing
and he has adopted the plan of first ex-
planning the advantages Virginia offers
the home-seeker. and then showing the
prospective settler specimens Of fruits,
grains, and other products grown in
the State. All who have thus far visited s
the museum have been most favorably
impressed with the exhibits every speci-
men of which Is a product of Virginia,
and can be vouched for as such.
Museum Committee.
Tho task of having this museum in
stalled was entrusted by the Legislature
to committee composed as follows:
Commissioner G. w. Koiner. chairman.
H. Il. o.
Kerns, and Delegates A. M. Bowman and
w. w. Baker.
This committee shortly after the adj r
iournment of tho Legislature. received /.
bids for the work. and awarded the con-
tract to Mr.. D, S. Clarke. of Norfolk.
who is an expert in the Installation OF
exhibits The Virginia exhibit at st.
Louis was installed by him. That tho
committee did not err In their Judgment ! E
|, !,
awarded Mr.. Clarke upon the designs
which he submitted, and in every respect
these have been faithfully carried outd
in the work completed.
There are thirteen cases on tho main
door OF the museum. while there arc
several smaller cases in the galleries at
either end. Tho cases on the main floor
are birch. finished in mahogany, and
the glass in each is plate Of the finest
quality Unfortunately. much OF this
plate glass was broken In shipment, q
which caused quite delay in the work
and there are several glasses yet to BIO
received before the museum Is ready TO
be turned over to the committee by the
contractor.
There are four divisions embraced II,
the museum agriculture, horticulture,
mineral. and natural history. The east
ern end OF the museum Is devoted to
natural history, a portion of the western
end to mineral exhibits, while all OF
the remainder of the space is given to
agriculture and horticultura these
naturally being accorded moro promi-
hence The first case that meets the
eye OF the visitor to the museum Is the IS
large circular one occupying the centra
Of the space, This is the largest and
most handsome case In tho museum II
S Imposing in its dimensions, its dome
Using toa height of seventeen feet. This
lone Is formed of loaded crystal art glass
Mr. Clarke, the contractor. says that FOR
he sum he paid for this single case, he s5
'ouid build pretty tive-room cottage
With bath
Specimens of fruit put up in glass
ars' are displayed In this case, the lars #
icing arranged in circular tiers so a Ia
orm pyramid, All of the specimens 81
ire Very ine, and tho display attracts
much attention.
somewhat the same design Is followed IA
n the construction OF all of the other
asses In the museum The top OF each
ase Is formed of loaded crystal art glass, "a
While the base is of marble. Just to tho
eft OF the centre upon entering, Is io-
ated tho case containing the wax models ~
II fruit This Is an exhibit that nearly
always causes some discussion among
'isitors and often they are not satisfied
NTH they have appealed TO tho Commits
Toner to settle the question as to waethss
he specimens are the real fruit or
nere mutations, These models ara tho
xaot reproductions OF the original spect-
mems as sent to the ntfics of tho Conn
missioner, Among tho specimens arc
umbers of varieties of apples. peaches,
nd pears,
Display of Grains.
There are three cases last In front OF
Kninar'A rrtya "a x,ffy 80 s;