NATIONAL MUSEUM l?UILDrNOP. 285 



Li})rary what the Niitional Muscnim had which would serve to decorate 

 the new Library buildino-, whereupon it was resolved — 



That ill tluM)pini()u of the Board of Ri'j;;enta of the HiiiithHoiiiaii Institution it will 

 not be expedient or wise to interfere with the integrity of the National INIusenni l)y 

 lending, for the decoration of the Library building, any of the articles or property 

 now in its care. 



At a subsequent meeting- of the Boai'd, Februar}' 1, on the sugges- 

 tion of Dr. Charles D. Walcott, in his capacity as Director of the 

 U. S. Geological Survey, it was resolved — 



That the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution look with favor upon 

 the proposition to estabhsh a museum of practical and industrial geology in the 

 neighborhood of the National Museum. 



It has, however, since ])een arranged that this special feature shall 

 remain a part of the National Museum. 



In his report for 1898, as Acting Assistant Secretary in charge of 

 the National Museum, Doctor Walcott discussed as follows the neces- 

 sity for a new building: 



The present National Museum building was erected with the view of covering the 

 largest amount of space with the least outlay of money. In this respect it may be 

 considered a success. It is, in fact, scarcely more than the shadow of such a massive, 

 dignified, and well-finished building as should be the home of the great national 

 collections. There is needed at once a spacious, absolutely fireproof building of 

 several stories, constructed of durable materials, well lighted, modern in equipment 

 and. on such a plan that it can be added to as occasion demands in the future. A 

 site for such a building is already owned by the Government; only the building 

 needs to be provided for. What the Capitol building is to the nation, the Librarj"- 

 building to the National Library, the Smithsonian building to the Smithsonian 

 Institution, the new museum building should be to tlie National Museum. * * * 



The growth of the U. S. National Musuem was rapid under the successful charge 

 of the late Dr. G. Brown Goode. When the character of the building and the funds 

 available for its maintenance are considered, it compares favorably with any modern 

 museum. It has received large collections from the scientific departments of the 

 Government, and through private contribution (with some additions by purchase 

 and exchange), all of which have been accommodated as well as could be in the 

 inadequate laboratories, storerooms, and exhibition space. The galleries just com- 

 pleted have added 16,000 sipiare feet of floor space, which will help to a certain 

 extent to relieve the crowded condition of the exhibition halls and courts below. 

 As an illustration of the present conditions and the necessity for more room, atten- 

 tion is called to the anthropological collections, which illustrate the development 

 and progress of man and his works. If the material now in the possession of the 

 Government in this department should be properly placed on exhibition, it would 

 occupjf the entire space in the present Museum building. The great collections in 

 zoology, botany, economic geology, general geology, and i)aleontology should be 

 entirely removed and jilaced in a building properly constructed for their study and 

 exhibition. 



In the present building there is a great deficiency in laboratory facilities. Cura- 

 tors and assistants are liampered for want of room in which to lay out, arrange, 

 classify, mount, and laliel specimens. There should also be rooms in which students 

 could bring together and compare various series of objects, and have at hand books 

 and scientific apparatus. The present Museum building contains a few room^ suita- 



