268 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1908. 



From ISS'i uiilil ihv present time the necessity for ji ne^v Imilding- 

 luis never ceased to bo the subject of greater or less attention by the 

 Regents and the Secretary. In 1885, after noting the previous steps 

 taken, Professor Baird remarked: 



The need is now much greater than before, as there is eudugli material in tlie way 

 of vaUiable specimens of economical interest to till a second building the size of the 

 ])resent one. This unexhibited surplus is now stored in several buildings, some in 

 Washington and some elsewhere, and consists of important illustrations of the econom- 

 ical geology, metallurgy, and other resources of the United States. In addition to 

 what has been on hand for some time, very large collections were presented to tlic 

 Government at the New Orleans exhibition, which embraced a great deal of intrinsic 

 value as well as of popular and scientific interest. It is earnestly to be hoped that 

 this requirement will be met by Congress by the speedy appropriation of an amount 

 suitable for the jmrpose. 



In 1886 Secretary Baird stated that as special provision was desired 

 for laboratories and offices, and to give suital)l(^ (piarters to the U. S. 

 Geological Sui'vey and the Bureau of Ethnology, an estimate had been 

 made of the sum of $25O,t)O0 for the purpose of constructing one wing 

 and pavilion of the new building, leaving the remainder to be con- 

 structed hereafter, should Congress so approve it, at a cost of, per- 

 haps, an additional $250,000. This estimate, submitted in 1886 for 

 the sundry civil bill for 1888, varied but slightly in wording from the 

 estimate of 1883. It received no consideration by Congress and was 

 as follows: 



For commencing the construction, in a lireproof manner, of an additional museum 

 building to receive tlie collections and laboratories in ciiemistry, geology, mineralogy, 

 metallurgy, taxidermy, etc., and for othces and laboratories of theU. S. Geological 

 Survey, to be erected under the direction and sui)ervision of the Regents of the 

 Smithsonian Institution on the southwest section of the grounds of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, $250,000. 



The following extract is from the Museum report of the same year, 

 by Doctor Goode: 



The National Museum is now approaching an important crisis in its history. Its 

 future will depend ui)on the action of Congress in granting it an additional building, 

 for without more room its growth can not but be in large tlegree arrested. From 

 this time forward it will he impossible to develop the collections satisfactorily witli- 

 out additional space. The laboratories and worksho])S are already entirely inade- 

 quate for the storage of the unexhibited collectionR and the acconnnodation of the 

 ])reparators and mechanics, and the exhibition halls do not afford suitable ojipor- 

 tunity for the display of the materials already in order for public examination. 



At the annual meeting of the Board of Regents on January 11, 1888, 

 the first Ixdd after the appointment of the present Secretarj^ of the 

 Smithsonian Institution, Mr. Langley brought to the attention of the 

 Regents the necessity of continuing the efforts toward securing an 

 additional nuiseum building, and spoke of the legislation previously 

 proposed. The Board renewed its reconuncnidation to Congress of 

 January 17, 1883, and discussed the matter of pi'oviding quarters for 



