New-York tribune., 1914-03-30
Will Come After Big Nor
gan Wing on the South
Is Constructed.
BIDS FOR THAT TO
BE ASKED THIS WEEK
In 1t Will Be Housed the Altman
CollectiOn-Work Delayed
by StOver's Absence.

With bids TO be advertised for this week
for the construction Of the south wing Of
the Metropolitan Museum Of Art. popu-
. larly known as the Morgan wing" il
became known yesterday that future ex-
tensions had been taken up tentatively.
Robert w de Forest. president of the
museum would say nothing of the plans.
but he was willing to talk of the new
south wing, which il to cost s750.000
and is to be known as Addition J-K.
1T is a matter Of much qualification
that we are to have this new wing he
said 1t is to be the permanent home
of the Altman collection and will also
provide exhibition space for other works
of art
Mr.. de Forest would not go into de-
tail AS TO other collections that would
be housed in the new wing. lie said,
however. that there was great need of
additional space and that many art OBJ
jccts had not been placed on view be-
cause Of lack of space.
Reports have sheen in circulation for
some time that after work was begun
on the south wing active steps would
be taken 10 provide for more room. In
fact, the landscape architect of the Park
Board, Carl +. PLAT. took up in an in
formal manner with officials of the mu-
scum the subject of such extensions.
He hoped that any additions would be
erected 10 the north, believing that 1t
would save 10 the park for some years a
large number of trees to the south whlch
will eventually have to give way to the
museum in conformity with the scheme
for it's completion.
1T was in February, 1912. that the mu'
scum authorities asked the Board Of Es-
innate for S75O.OO0 for a structure to
hold, among other things. the Morgan
art collection. The late j. T.. Morgan
favored the plan Later he became
somewhat veXed because of the tardl-
ness of the city. Red tape caused first
one obstacle and then another. Vt no
time was there any question OF the
money, because the proposal was looked
on with favor.
In the mean time Addition n. to the
north, was finished. In this addition the
Morgan collection has been installed. as
will be the Riggs collection OF armor
which has been presented 10 the mu-
scum The Altman collection, which is
TO go in the new south wing, is soon TO
be temporarily exhibited in the rooms
formerly occupied by the Crosby Brow
musical instruments
aany months have been consumed in
the different departments through which
the plans for the big south wing have
had 70 go. Still another cause of delay
was the absence from his Office IF Charles
+. Stover Park Commissioner. in the
middle Of October. I'm the wait for the
reaDDearance of the park official many
weeks were lost. 1t had been hoped to
get active work on the excavation un-
der way last fall This gave way to
hopes COR early spring. With no more
obstructions II is expected that the ac-
The completion of the structure. though.
will probably he more than two years
hence.
Zig changes in that section of the
park TO the south of the museum are
made necessary by the addition. II VIII
extend to point near the park entrance
lust north of 18th street. Tine driveway
will have to be shifted further south
and the roadway for pedestrians VIII
have to he set back some distance. Many
trees will have to he taken up. All the
turf from that section Of the park TO ne
occupied by the wing was removed last
summer and placed in barren spots in
other parks.
one thing that may cause some
trouble in he excavations and subse-
ouent building of the foundations - che
presence Of several big water m2ns.