Vol. V] EVERMANN— DIRECTOR'S REPORT FOR 1914 17 



ACCESSIONS TO THE MUSEUM 



Although the Academy conducted no extensive field inves- 

 tigations during the year, the additions to the Museum have 

 nevertheless been many and important. Most of these have 

 been in the nature of donations by friends of the Academy, A 

 detailed list will be found in an appendix to this report. At- 

 tention is called in the President's report to a few of the more 

 important accessions, 



THE MUSEUM 



As already stated, because of the failure of the concrete 

 and brick contractors to comply with their contract, the com- 

 pletion of the new Museum building has been delayed several 

 months. It is believed, however, that the difficulties will soon 

 be adjusted, that construction w^ork will be resumed within 

 a short time, and that the building will be ready for occupancy 

 in the near future. 



In the meantime, it is proper to consider some of the prob- 

 lems which will confront us when we are actually in the new 

 building. 



With the completion of the new Museum building, the 

 Academy will enter upon a new era. It will then have an 

 opportunity to develop its Museum along what it regards as 

 the most proper lines. The first important question that must 

 be considered is that of policy. What shall be the scope of the 

 Museum's work ? What shall be its ideals and its aims ? How 

 can its ideals and aims be realized ? 



These questions are so vital that I feel that I should take 

 this opportunity to touch briefly upon them. 



Chiefly through the efforts of Mr, Loomis, assisted by 

 President Grunsky and Judge Hittell, the property of the 

 California Academy of Sciences was exempted from taxation 

 by a constitutional amendment. That action by the people 

 of the State placed an obligation on the Academy, an obliga- 

 tion to every person in the state. The Academy must do 

 something for the people of San Francisco and the state in 

 return for what the state has done for it. 



When the Academy gets into the new building it will then 

 be in a position to do many things ; there will be many things 



