REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 1 59 



2. PREPARATION AND INSTALLATION OF THE SMITHSONIAN EXHIBIT. 



Immediately on his appointment Br. Goode commenced active op- 

 erations. He soon outlined an exhibit which would require at least 

 20,000 feet of floor space, and it was not until the work was well under 

 way that it became known that only 12,000 feet could be secured. This 

 necessitated considerable change in the plans, and it was finally decided 

 to omit entirely certain subjects and to substitute pictures and models 

 for the more bulky specimens in other groups, in order to bring the 

 exhibit within the space assigned. 



In deciding upon the general character of the exhibit and the sub- 

 jects to be represented, he was governed largely by the objects of the 

 exposition as set forth in the preamble to the bill — viz : "To present a 

 panorama of the nation's resources and present state of progressive 

 development, by an exhibition of the products of agriculture, of the 

 various industries and line arts; also the results of advancement made 

 in the sciences; the whole illustrating the opportunities secured to and 

 the possibilities which wait upon the citizens of this Republic." 



As the National Museum has an average attendance of about 300,000 

 visitors yearly, it was necessary that its interests also should be consid- 

 ered; and it was decided to interfere as little as possible with those 

 departments, the exhibits of which were fairly complete and properly 

 arranged, but in so far as might be practicable, to select the specimens 

 for Cincinnati from the newer departments, and from the duplicate ma- 

 terials, and to secure from other sources such additional articles as 

 might be necessary to complete the exhibits, By this plan the educa- 

 tional value of the Museum was largely preserved, and its most inter- 

 esting series were left intact for comparison and study byits numerous 

 visitors. 



Having outlined, in a general way, the plan of the exhibit, Dr. 

 Goode called to his aid the curators of the several Museum depart- 

 ments which were to be represented. These officials were charged with 

 llic responsibility of preparing the necessary collections for their respect- 

 ive departments ; and, as only four weeks remained before the opening 

 of the exposition, they were obliged to neglect their regular museum 

 duties and to devote their entire time and energies to the Cincinnati 

 work. A large force of laborers and mechanics was at Qnce employed 

 in packing such articles as were ready for shipment, and in mounting 

 specimens, making models, cases, and other necessary art ides, while 

 the curators busied themselves with the selection and arrangement of 

 the available museum specimens, and in securing such new material as 

 was required tor completing the collections under their charge. 



The first car-load of exhibits left on June 22, and others followed in 

 rapid succession, so that by the 30th of the month eight of the twelve 

 car-loads had been forwarded, all of the remainder, with the exception 

 of the photographic exhibit, which was of necessity considerably delayed, 

 leaving by the 12th of July. 



