The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-11-09
SCIENTIFIC BUREAUS
At WASHINGTON HAD
HUMBLE BEGINNING
National Museum Describes Fore.
runner of Government Bodies
Which Are Now Doing rnval.
liable Work for the Nation.

specisi corrsspondenee 70 The Herald
washington, - G., Nov. e.-The
great scientific bureaus Of the gov
NJ Washington with thar
thousands of employees aeaIias with
the country's problems in every
branch OF science. and the important
learned societies and scientific estab-
lishmcnts of the national capital, were
influenced IN their early growth and
development IN a greater or less de-
gree by a scientific society which
flourished IN Washington during the
early years OF the last century. The
Columbian Institute for the promotion
OF arts and sciences. now al! but for
gotten. was the first leIrAed society
established in Washington. It's organ
ization dating from June. 1916. six
teen years after the occupation OF the
| city az the federal capital, and less
than two years after the invasion by
the British troops. The population
two years after the Invasion by the
British troops. The population OF
Washington was al that time little
more than 10. 900. M the repair and
reconstruction Of the public buildings
was stan la the initial stage. The
history. Organization. M achieve
mcnts Of his society are fully de-
scribed In an interesting bulletin OF
the United states national museum
ny Richard Gathbun. assistant sccrc-
tary OF the Smithsonian Institution.
ia charge % the national museum.
The objects OF the Columbian In
stitutc. which was chartered b3 con-
gress in 1915 Ion % term of twenty
wears. were as q whole very DIVERSE
fled. those specifically named ga the
beginning having 5ccn almost wholly
OF q utilitarian nature such us the
has from time to time
assumed and made the basis Of the
work OF several scientific bureaus.
Four years later, however. an orguni-
zafion was adopted which gave 20 the
institute the latitude OF "a compre
hcnsiVe learned society. Among all
tn activities planned only a few were
IN any way conspicuously carried out.
In default of the necessary support.
the most important ANA material OF
these being the establishment Of a
botanic garden and 81 museum The
former occupied the cN,r-mc eastern
end of the Mall which then ap-
preached much nearer tine capitol
han al present. and Included Inc
site OF the present United Statos
botanic garden
Starting viii Cd cabinet 81 minerals
which remained predominant IN this
connection. this feature soon aovel-
opcd into a Fcneral though small
museum. containing specimens of
zoology. botany. othnoloFy. aTcheol-
ogy. fossils. etc. Transferred 10 the
national institution In 1871. some OF
he objects are now readily distin-
guishablc IN the United States ma
tional museum, forming. 1t may he
claimed, the nucleus OF It's collec-
lions.
The institute obtained It's meeting
places and accommodations for it's
museum mainly through the favor
successfully OF the executive depart
ments. the municipal government and
congress. II was first located IN
Bloaget's hotel. containing the general
post office and the patent office. fol-
lowed by the treasury department
and city hall, being finally assigned
"A permanent home. In 1924, In the
western addition 20 the capitol build
inf. which had just been completed.
This use Of the site Tor is botanic
garden VAS also "a grant from con
gress.
However unfortunate IN the reaii'
cation OF its ambitions, the Colum-
hian institute nevertheless occupied
an cnviahle position among the earl
Ter associations OF this country foi
tho breadth and importance Of is
objects, ever II they be regarded only
800 the nature OF suggestions. which
hpy. since been 80 gully recognized 10
the organization Of the government
ana elsewhere, amt for il hearty ah'
unselfish efforts to carry them out
Tho Columbian Substitute owed IT, cs.
ta%hiishmcnt and early successes To- q
masterful mind. that Of In. Edwlr,
Dutbush. thon a surgeon IN the navy
aud the first president of The society
though acknowledgement are nls'
duo 90 Thomas Law for tho ugges'
ton of such "a society 90 the scat OF
government
The membership Of This institute
Included a great many OF tho promi.
u,nt men 90 every walk of life lr
Washington. allour them JOIN
quincy Adams. Andrew Jackson. Johi
e. calhoun. HcuIy clay Iuu we'll
known representative ai th, army
the government service. tur m.dlot
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