REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 5 
fruitful—the natural history, geology, ethnology, and archeology of 
the United States, supplemented by many collections from other 
countries. The opportunities in these directions have been mainly 
brought about through the activities of the scientific and industrial 
surveys of the Government, many of which are the direct outgrowths 
of earlier explorations, stimulated or directed by the Institution. 
The Centennial Exhibition of 1876 afforded the first opportunity for 
establishing a department of the industrial arts on a creditable basis, 
and of this the fullest advantage was taken, though only a part of the 
collections then obtained could be accommodated in the space available. 
The department or gallery of the fine arts has progressed less rapidly 
than the other branches, as anticipated at the outset, but not through 
any lack of desire or appreciation. In fact, it is interesting to note 
that the first collection acquired by action of the Regents was a large 
series of choice engravings, purchased in 1849 at a cost of about $4,000, 
but now valued at more than ten times that sum. The recent gift by 
Mr. Charles L. Freer of his important art collection is certain to inspire - 
renewed activity in this direction, as is also the decree of the supreme 
court of the District of Columbia, announced in the closing days of 
the year, to the effect that the Smithsonian gallery is in law and in 
fact the National Gallery of Art, which insures the possession of the 
Harriet Lane Johnston collection of paintings and other art objects. 
Another subject to which much attention has been paid with grati- 
fying results is American history, illustrated by objects representing 
distinguished personages and important events as well as the domestic 
life of the country from the colonial period to the present day. 
It has been deemed appropriate at this time to present the foregoing 
brief review of the scope of the national collections, since the time is 
approaching when they may be given an orderly arrangement and 
when the subjects least developed from lack of space may have the 
opportunity for growth. By transferring to the new building, as 
proposed to Congress, the subjects which are best represented, which 
have been as a whole most completely classified and can, therefore, be 
most advantageously exhibited for the benefit of the public, namely, 
ethnology, archeology, natural history, and geology, the present 
museum building may be given over to the industrial arts. In cer- 
tain branches of this subject the collections are already important and 
extensive, and arrangements are already under way for large and 
valuable additions. Several halls in the Smithsonian building were 
originally planned for the gallery of art, and with a moderate expendi- 
ture they can be adjusted to suit the requirements of to-day. 
With its collections thus distributed between the three buildings, 
all fireproof and of substantial construction, the National Museum 
may be expected to enter upon an era of renewed prosperity and use- 
fulness. 
