REPORT OF THK SKCRETARY. 29 



therefore, can not he expected to part with them except hy sale. 

 Ahout four years aoo a specitic item for purchase was agreed to h}- 

 Conjiress, and while the sum allowed was altoj^ether inade(iuate to 

 meet the requirements of the Museum, yet thr()u*;"h it many important 

 objects were secured. In the appropriation hill for the past year this 

 item was omitted by C^ong-ress, and many objects which should have 

 come into the possession of the (iov(n'nment have l)een obtained l)y 

 other museums. This is especially the case in connection with the 

 Louisiana Purchase Exposition, where exceptional opportunities were 

 presented for enriching the National Collections with needed nraterial. 



When the Museum building- was erected, the need of a working 

 library actually at hand was felt, and through the generosity of Pro- 

 fessor Haird, who presented his entire private collection of scientitic 

 publications to the National Museum, the nucleus for such a library 

 was established. In the years following, the Library of Congress 

 l)ecame so overcrowded that it was glad to have retained at the Museum 

 as much of the Smithsonian Library as was useful, and to send down 

 for iudetinite deposit as man}" of the Smithsonian books as were 

 required. This condition no longer obtains, however, and an enlarged 

 working library for the Museum has become absolutel}^ essential, if 

 the provisions of Congressional enactments for the classification and 

 arrangement of its collections are to be carried into effect. The sums 

 of money heretofore available have not sutiiced even for the purchase 

 of all such books needed in the work as were not contained in the col- 

 lection of the Library of Congress or in the Smithvonian deposit, and 

 the increase requested is a low estimate for the actual re(|uirements of 

 the Museum. 



The National Museum is open to the public only on week days, from 

 9 a. m. to 4.30 p. m. , and its important educational features are restricted 

 to persons having leisure only during otficial hours. It has long been 

 ui-ged that means be granted for so extending the hours of opening 

 that no one shall be deprived of the advantages which it offers for 

 instruction and enlightenment. Such an arrangement has been in suc- 

 cessful operation at the Library of Congress for several 3"ears, and a 

 similar course has long been followed by the larger museums elsewhere 

 in this country and in most European capitals. The National Museum 

 has recently been provided with a complete installation of electric 

 wires and lamps, and could, therefore, be opened both evenings and Sun- 

 days at the mere cost of the necessary additional supplies and help. The 

 Smithsonian building, however, has not yet been fui'nished with the 

 means for lighting the public halls, but could be opened on Sundays. 

 The expense involved is that needed for obtaining the extra amount of 

 coal and of electric current required, and for the employment of a few 

 additional persons to supplement the night and Sunday wat(;li force, 



