Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-30
ORDER IN EFFECT WHEN
NEW BUILDING is READY
Solving of Heat and Light Problem
Makes Innovation Possible.
GREAT BOON TO THE PUBLIC
Thousands Hitherto Barred From
Great Educational Institution
Will Find Doors Open at
Convenient Time.

The Washington public-the real Wash
ington public-those who live and toll here
day in and day out, year after year, are
at last to have an opportunity TO know
what is in the National Museum and the
Smithsonian Institution. At present the
chief benehcaries of these two interest
ing public institutions are sight seeing
tourists. Washingtonians know of the
buildings on the Mali and have vague
idea that they contain entertaining as well
as instructive exhibits.
But they also know that the doors of
the museum and the Smithsonian 1nstitu-
tion are closed promptly at 430 o'clock
every afternoon and that they are never
opened Sunday. Therefore, the real
Washingtonians, hundreds upon hun
dreds of whom would fairly revel in the
study of the exhibits in the evenings after
they have recovered from the fatigue of
their days work, must take a day off If
they would crafty their desires in that
direction.
But the erection of the new building
has solved a problem that directors Of
the Smithsonian have been trying to
solve for fifty years When all the ex-
hbits are moved into their new quarters
or rearranged in the old buildings as the
case may be the public of Washington
will receive the full benefit of the i'm
proyement.
The new building will be opened about
March /. but at that time only one hall
will be ready for public view. The in
staliation of all the exhibits will require
several months worn.- The whole build
ing will be opened to the pubic on or
about October ! Iext, and after that
date II will be kept open until or 1O
O'Clock at night, and will be open Sun
days. Richard Ratnbun, assistant secre-
tary of the Smithsonian Institution, is
authority for this statement
Innovation Long Desired.
For fifty years efforts have been made
TO arrange to keep the Smithsonian In
stitution buildings open at night and
Sundays" said MIR Rathbun in discussing
his plans for the future. Requests have
been made Ior the additional appropria-
tion necessary to bear the expense of
running the buildings during extra hours,
but TO no avail.
But the completion of the new build
ing will solve all the problems involved,
and the people of Washington will have
a fair chance to know what we have to
exhibit as well as strangers from all
parts of the country now know it.
The obstacles heretofore have been the
question OF heat and light. Our appro-
priation was barely sumcient to enable
US 20 heat the old buildings between the
hours OF am. and 40 pm. We had
nd money for lights.
NO extra appropriation is necessary to
extend the hours OF exhibition once we
get into the new building. We have
heating and lighting plant OF our own
The heating apparatus of the new build
ing is so good that it easily heats the
whole building now.
When We get all the exhibits that are
10 so in the new building properly in
stalled We will study the question of
lighting and SO arrange our fixtures as to
get the best possible light for those who
visit the museum during the evenings
II may say that in planning the new
nent of our desire TO throw the exhibits
open i'm the evenings and on Sundays"
Benefit to Washingtonians.
The benefits that will come to Wash
ingronians of all classes with the length
ening of the hours at the museum can
hardly be estimated. In the first place
some 10000 goveHment clerks will be
able to have another place to spend
their evenings without drawing on their
slender funds. Young men and women
who spend their leisure hours In study
will find mine of information awaiting
them. Busy men of scientific turn. who
are unable to steal time from their daily
labors to carry on research work and
college professors, who wish to keep in
touch with the scientific work Of the
Smithsonian, all will have great oppor-
tunities after next October.
But above all will the school children
be benefited. Heretofore they have been
able to go only on Saturdays. Most par
ents would rather have their children out
of doors on Saturday. The test author
of Washington is Supt. Of Public School
stuart. Here is what he said on the
subject yesterday:
Help to School Children.
II am heartily in favor of the opening
of the National Museum evenings. There
is no government collection which can be
made of greater educational value to the
students in the public schools. and. for
that matter to parents and citizens gen.
orally. When this is accomplished it will
only be another enlargement Of the flne
educational facilities of Washington. 1t