16 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1898. 



Some of the preceding suggestions have been adopted by the Museum 

 authorities and partially put into execution, and the carrying of them 

 out is dependent upon enlarged facilities for laboratory work and exhi- 

 bition space. During the administration of Dr. Goode, the Museum 

 developed as far as possible under the conditions surrounding it. No 

 one knew better than he that only by securing new buildings and ex- 

 panding the Museum could it take the place in America that the sev- 

 eral national museums of Europe had taken in their respective coun- 

 tries. It is well recognized that a public museum is a necessity in 

 every highly civilized community, and that, as has been so well stated 

 by Dr. Goode, "the degree of civilization which any nation, city, or 

 province has attained is best shown by the character of its public mu- 

 seums and the liberality with which they are maintained." At present 

 New York City is, in this respect, in advance of all other American cit- 

 ies and of the National Government. Whether the latter will take its 

 proper place by developing the National Museum as it has developed 

 the National Library remains to be seen. The question whether they 

 are willing to be represented by the Museum as it is to-day is before 

 the American people. 



