6 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1900. 



The transfer of Government collections to the Institution was, in 

 accordance with the Congressional act of 1846, to be effected "when- 

 ever suitable arrangements can be made from time to time for their 

 reception." In the absence of any stated limitations as to the time or 

 character of arrangements, the date for accepting the obligation rested 

 with the Regents, who, while confronted with the mandator}' language 

 of the law, were still forced to recognize the inadequacy of the Smith- 

 sonian fund for the support of so large an undertaking. The cost of 

 the large and elaborate building, designed mainlj- for the accommoda- 

 tion of the museum and library, would have drawn heavily upon the 

 principal of the fund had not a policy of dela}' prevailed, and thus 

 nine 3^ears were allowed to elapse between the laying of the corner 

 stone, in 1846, and the completion of the structure. This delay gave 

 opportunity for influencing a change in sentiment, so that when, in 

 1857, the necessary arrangements became possible, Congress was 

 prepared to vote means for building cases, for transferring the speci- 

 mens from the Patent Office, and to a certain extent for the care and 

 preservation of the collections. The appropriations continued verj^ 

 small, however, for many years, during which the Institution was 

 obliged to make up the deficit. 



The vast amount of material secured for the Government at the 

 close of the Centennial Exhibition of 1876, which impelled the erec- 

 tion of a second building, for the exclusive use of the Museum, resulted 

 in a larger and more systematic organization. Twenty -five more 3'ears 

 have now elapsed, noteworthy for extensive explorations and surveys 

 both at home and abroad. Material has been pouring in from these 

 in a never-ceasing flow, first filling far beyond their ordinar^^ capacity 

 the halls and storerooms of the two large buildings, and then requiring 

 to a greater and greater extent each year the use of outside quarters 

 for their mere shelter. The main buildings are essentiall}^ fireproof, 

 but not so the others, containing collections valued at hundreds of 

 thousands of dollars, which, through accident or maliciousness, might 

 at any time be destroyed. 



While the collections in the custody of the National Institute 

 remained at the Patent Oflice until 1858, material for a museum was, 

 in the meantime, being accumulated at the Smithsonian Institution. 

 Reference has been made to the cabinet of minerals which had belonged 

 to Smithson, unhappih' destroj'ed by fire in 1865. The personal bent 

 of Professor Baird, who became the Assistant Secretar}^ of the Insti- 

 tution in 1850, was toward the collection of natural-history specimens 

 for the purposes of stud}'. AVith the approval of Secretar}- Henry, 

 he put into operation plans for the accomplishment of this object, 

 which, fostered and encouraged, were soon yielding regular and abun- 

 dant returns. Professor Baird's own vacations were spent in field 

 researches. Officers of the Armv and Navv and of other branches of 



