24 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Seb. 



and their works are passing, and the studies must be under- 

 taken before it is too late. 



A great Polynesian museum should be built up here in San 

 Francisco. This is the logical place for such a museum. It 

 should contain great research collections of the animals and 

 plants and minerals of all the countries bordering on the 

 Pacific, but there should also be well selected exhibits show- 

 ing the natural and manufactured products of all these coun- 

 tries, displayed after the manner followed in the great com- 

 mercial museums of the world. Such exhibits would serve to 

 call the attention of men of business to the commercial prod- 

 ucts and possibilities of the various countries concerned, and 

 would do much toward bringing the trade of those countries 

 to San Francisco. The possibilities along this line can 

 scarcely be overestimated. 



2. An Educational Extension Endowment. 



This endowment should be $250,000 and yield an annual 

 income of about $10,000, to be used in the preparation of 

 loan exhibits and collections to send out to the public and 

 private schools; in the maintenance of courses of lectures at 

 the museum and in the schools, on subjects adapted to the 

 needs and understanding of the children of the different 

 grades ; in the preparation of stereopticon slides, photographs, 

 transparencies, and moving pictures, relating to the various 

 branches of elementary science which properly form parts of 

 a well-balanced school curriculum ; in short, to provide for co- 

 operation between the museum and the public schools. 



It is believed this is one of the most useful activities in 

 which the museum can engage. 



Recently Mr. N. W. Harris of Chicago gave to the Field 

 Museum of Natural History a quarter of a million dollars 

 as an endowment for this purpose. It is known as "The N. 

 W. Harris Public School Extension of Field Museum of 

 Natural History." It yields an annual income of $12,000, all 

 of which is devoted to cooperation with the public schools of 

 Chicago. Cannot a similar fund be secured for similar work 

 in California? Is there not some one who is interested in 

 education who is able and willing to do as much for San 

 Francisco ? 



