Evening star., 1934-01-14
national MUSEUM
|HELD0VERCROWDED
U. S. Is Losing Priceless
Scientific and Art Treas
ures, Says Dr.. Abbot.

The Government Is losing bequestS
Of priceless scientific and art collections
because of the hopelessly crowded con.
dition Of the natural history building ot
the United States National Museum, II
was revealed yesterday by DR.. Charles
G. Abbott. secretary OF the Smithsonian
Institution.
Congress in 1890 authorized $6.5oo.-
900 extension to provide for the rapidly
accumulating. material. but since then
there has been no actual appropriation
Plans were drawn up in 1881 so that
the work can proceed at any time funds
are available.
The museum is the depository of the
Nations science and art treasures
These have been accumulating at an
increasing rate for many years. Pack
ing cases filled with unduplicable ZOO
logical and mineral specimens have
ovesflowed the laboratories into the cor
ridors. The national art collection,
containing not only a fine representa-
ton Of the work of American painters,
but number of "old masters" is
the second floor that only the choicest
works can be exhibited. Walls of the
Railways are hung with pictures that
would be considered masterpieces in
private collections. The only place left
for special exhibitions is the foyer on
the ground floor.
Laboratory for Scientists.
Besides the staff of the museum it
self, Office and laboratory space is made
available for scientific personnel from
various Government departments. The
Bureau of Entomology and the Geolog-
ical Survey maintain men there all the
time, In order that they may be close
to the unduplicable material
The National Museum, it is pointed
out, serves two purposes. One function,
which brings it into closest contact
with the public, is educational. These
are fulfilled, for the most part, by per-
manent and special exhibits
The exhibition halls are the perma-
nent home for the strange procession
of plant and animal life which has
passed over the face of North America
for half billion years. Exhibitions
are sent out almost every year to
gather in the fast vanishing remains of
this life-ranging from the wierd crabs
and nautiloids which swan in the
primal seas to the monster lizards that
wallowed in Permian swamps and the
ancient elephants which once tramped
their roadways over the sites of Balti-
more and Washington. The more strik-
ing features of the life of the present
are brought out in other exhibits.
Serves As Treasury of Past.
An even more important function,
from the scientific standpoint, is that of
ary-of the natural history of the
world, especially of the North American
continent. Here may be found, pre-
served and classified, the prototype of
practically every mammal. bird, fish, in
sect, kind of plant, rock, chronological
artifact, ETC., existing anywhere in the
United States. the gathering of the
collection has been the work of innu-
merable expeditions, both in the United
States and abroad, for the past half
century.
The National Museum serves as the
great treasury Of the Nations past.
The total cost of these collections is
estimated at approximately sl20, 1000, 900.
They could hardly be replaced, it is
estimated, for $400,000,000. Many of
the specimens are unique and ire
placable The advance Of civilization is
constantly obliterating opportunities to
collect specimens which, if not obtained
additions average about 100000 speci-
mems.
Preservation Endangered.
The lack Of space, museum curators
point out, not only prevents the proper
exhibition of striking objects in the
collections, but even endangers their
proper preservation.
About 2.006 900 people from all over
the United States visit the museum an
nually, the records show.
The work involved in constructing
the proposed extension, DR.. Abbot points
out, would be widespread. The upkeep
is estimated at about $4,000 year.
Despite the depression. he explains,
other countries such as England. Mex
leo. Russia and Germany have strongly
promoted their museums during the
past few years. Unless the work Is
done now. he fears it will be impossible
to secure the necessary appropriation
for several years while conditions Will
continually grow more crowded ana
nLonfir