Evening star., 1935-01-13
SMITHSONIAN ASKS
NEW BUILDINGS
25.MiIIion Program Sought
for Expanding Scientific
Institution.

The Smithsonian Institution, after
nearly a century of steady growth and
expanding usefulness. has, in the
words Of Secretary Charles G. Abbot,
"outgrown its SHE'LL" and is seeking
to institute a $25,000,000 building pro-
gram.
First established in 1846 by the be-
quest of approximately $500,000 from
the Englishman, James Smithson. for
"the increase and diffusion of knowl-
edge among men," the institution has
served as the essential corner stone OF
the whole vast structure of American
scientific progress. For years at a
time. in fact, its annals have been
practically the annals of American
science.
The Smithsonian Institution is a
unique establishment. BY the terms OF
the Smithson bequest its status is
that of a ward Of the United States
Government, which holds its funds in
trust and appoints the Board Of Re-
gents, who are in direct control of its
activities. But is it not Federal es-
tablishment. The Governments con-
nection with it is not that of blood
relationship, but of guardianship.
But through the years the Smith
sonian has inaugurated various lines
Of scientific inquiry Of vital impor-
tance to the national life. AS these
have expanded beyond the capacity
of the institution itself to house or
finance them. they have been taken
over by the Government, and support.
ed directly by Federal appropriations.
Some have been intrusted to various
major departments of the Government
Thus the Weather Bureau Is now part
OF the Department of Agriculture,
and the Bureau Of Fisheries part of
the Department of Commerce. Others
have been left under Smithsonian ad-
ministration. Among these are such
institutions as the National Museum,
the Bureau of American Ethnology.
the National Geological Park. the Ma
tional Gallery of Art, the Astrophysi-
cal Observatory and the privately
founded Freer Gallery of Art.
Arrangement Fortunate.
For all of them this has been a
fortunate arrangement. They have
thrived and expanded-expanded so
much, in fact, that how they can
function only with great difficulty in
the quarters provided for them. It is
largely for these Federal establish
ments under its direct charge that the
sG5.000,0OO building program has been
inaugurated.
The Smithsonian has borne the in
creasing burden to the utmost of its
ability. Its relations with the Federal
Government, its guardian" have been
characterized by the utmost cordiality
and cooperation through the years.
For example, for 10 years it has
loaned three-quarters of its private
building to the Government rent free
1t has allowed the Government to put
roadways through its private grounds
without protest. It has supplemented
with its own funds researches under.
taken on insufficient appropriations
by some of its Government-supported
branches.
Some of the foremost men in Amer
ican history have served on its Board
of Regents, and the position Of secre-
tary has been filled by some of the
most illustrious figures in American
science. Throughout the world the
name Smithsonian" is practically the
trade mark of scientific America.
It is with these facts in view that
1t asks the Federal Government to
finance the building program, not for
itself primarily, but for its govern
mentally supported branches.
The first need is for the National
Museum-two new wings already au-
thorized by Congress and with the
plans drawn and approved, to cost
approximately $5,s5o,000.
It may be difficult for the general
public to appreciate the acuteness OF
this need. Perhaps the name "mu-
scum" is trifle misleading, carrying,
as it does, the connotation of build
ing purely for exhibition purposes. Ex-
hibition is one of the functions of the
institution. and millions of visitors
have thronged through its halls. But
this is only one Of its functions. 1t
is only secondarily show place; pri-
marily it is a place of deposit for type
specimens which are the foundation
blocks of the various sciences, and
must be preserved for the scientists OF
posterity. Many types are, indeed, al
ready extinct species, and could never
again be collected. The National Mu-
scum contains more than ten million
specimens, far more than it is
equipped to care for within the space
available. It has the foremost COL
lection in the world in everything that
relates to natural history, ethnology,
geology and paleontology of the United
States. This is supplemented with a
great amount of material from other
parts of the world
Science Dictionary"
The museum is sometimes referred
to as the dictionary of American
science" It is where one turns to
'look up" any natural object found in
the United States. For examples:
It is found that some plant is
poisonous to cattle. Just what is this
plant? If the question Is by any means
difficult to answer. State officials turn
to the National Museum, where the
plant doing the damage can be
matched up with type specimens OF
the whole family, and obtain an exact