24 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



In order to relieve in some slight degree this increasing crowding of 

 of the halls, I have for some years asked for an appropriation for the 

 erection of galleries in two or more of the halls in the Museum build- 

 ing. Such galleries were provided for in the original plan of the 

 building, and they may be supported in such a manner as not to detract 

 from the appearance of the halls or to interfere with tlie installation of 

 the collections. They would afford very material relief in the matter of 

 exhibition and indirectly in that of storage. 



There has been but little effort to increase the bulk of the collections 

 although, as in previous years, no opportunity has been spared to 

 increase the completeness and scientific value of the series in several 

 departments by the addition of special desiderata. Notwithstanding 

 this fact, the increment from legitimate sources, especially from the 

 various Departments of the Government, which are required by law to 

 deposit their accumulations here, has been more than 171,000 specimens. 

 This total, although double that of the previous year, was far below 

 that for 1892, when 200,000 specimens were added to the collections, 

 and not very much greater than that for 1891. The falling off in 1893 

 was due to the fact that the entire activities of the Museum stafl" were 

 devoted to preparations for the World's Fair, and that a large number 

 of the correspondents of the lustitution, as well as other persons to 

 whom the annual increase is ordinarily due, were also occupied in the 

 same way. A certain proportion of the accessions in 1891 were acquired 

 at the close of the World's Fair iu Chicago. These were almost with- 

 out excei)tion collections which had been prepared by foreign exhib- 

 itors with the Smithsonian Institution in mind as the ultimate place of 

 deposit, and which were sent here at the close of the exposition. 



It would have been possible to have obtained an immense number 

 of specimens on this occasion, but it was deemed i)roper to refrain from 

 efforts in this direction, not only because of the considerations just 

 referred to, but also on account of the desire of the people of Chicago 

 to retain such objects in their own city as a beginning toward a great 

 civic museum which might serve as a permanent memorial of the 

 World's Columbian Exposition. It has always been the policy of the 

 Smithsonian lustitution to encourage the development of such institu- 

 tions throughout the United States, and to assist in developing them, 

 and on this account many proffers of specimens were declined, with the 

 recommendation that they be offered to the Chicago Museum, and so 

 far as it was possible to do so, the attention of exhibitors who had col- 

 lections to dispose of, was directed toward that institution. 



A careful approximation of the number of specimens now contained 

 in the various departments of the Museum shows that the total is about 

 three and one-quarter millions, almost all of which have been acquired 

 by gift, in exchange for other specimens, or as an equivalent for i)ubli- 

 cations. 



