492 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MU8EUM, 1903. 



building- for the Historical Society and of the New])eiTy Library (see 

 p. 459), in the English Gothic stylo, the material being a tine-grained, 

 gray sandstone, the treatment being very pleasing and agreeably 

 diversified, and, in spite of the avoidance of superfluous decoration, 

 not monotonous. 



WALKER MUSEUM. 



The Walker Museum, named after the donor, is a three-storied 

 building that cost about $180,000 and was opened in 1893. It lies 

 with its broad sides toward the north and the south, which is unfavor- 

 al)le to the entire south side, for, as an excess of light thus comes from 

 that quarter, the lighting of the cases would be improved if some of 

 the windows were closed. It is seldom that a museum is too well 



i Chicago. Walker Mnsinim. 



lighted. It occurs here because of the narrowness of the window 

 piers and from the circumstance that the principal hall, on the ground 

 floor, forms an undivided room, and therefore the light falls into the 

 relatively small hall from all four sides, thereby causing annoying 

 reflections. The building is fireproof throughout, and is heated by 

 steam from the university plant. The ventilation is insufficient. The 

 cases are of wood, with broad frame work and doors that slide up and 

 down; they are primitive, and not dust proof. A practical arrange- 

 ment is used for the consultation of maps which are kept in large 



monly helpful disposition which characterizes the Americans, and which I have 

 already pointed out at a former occasion. This obliging gentleman was a geologist, 

 a bachelor of science, H. V. Hibbard by name, and I remember with pleasure and 

 gratitude his attentions to me, by which I was saved much time. 



