PROCEEDINGS FOR 189» i XXI 



which they are yet housed. The fact that over 26,000 persons visited 

 the collections during the past year, imperfectly exposed as they are at 

 present, shows how great an educational effect might be produced by 

 means of a properly ai^pointed National Museum. This effect Avould not 

 be merely a local one, for Ottawa is visited not only by large numbers of 

 persons from all the provinces of Canada, but also by an increasing 

 number of travellers from all parts of the world. 



To the public at large, a well equipped museum in which the natural 

 resources and products generally of the country find ordei-ly and 

 sufficient expression, constitutes the best method of disseminating infor- 

 mation on such subjects. It constitutes, if it may be so expressed with 

 propriety, the liest possible advertisement. 



In the summary report of the Geological Survey Department for 

 1894, the director writes as follows on the buildings now occupied by the 

 Survey : 



•' I may also again venture to direct your attention to the wholly 

 inadequate accommodation afforded to the museum and offices by the 

 present building on Sussex street. The collections now contained in this 

 building, including the departinents of mineralogy, lithology, palaeonto- 

 logy, botany, zoology and ethnology, either on exhibition or classified 

 and readil}^ accessible, aggregate more than 120.000 specimens. The 

 greater part of the space available is devoted to the illustration of the 

 minerals and general geology of Canada, but it is impossible to display 

 the specimens to advantage, or in such manner as to attract the public 

 notice Avhich they deserve. The position of the building and its con- 

 struction further render it liable to the constant danger of destruction 

 by fire, and when it is remembered that the collections include the 

 typical specimens which have been described in the publications of the 

 Survey since its initiation, besides man}- others of a character which it 

 would now be impossible to duplicate, the very serious nature of this 

 risk will be understood. The building also contains much accumulated 

 material in maps, plans, notes and records, together with the entire 

 reserve stock of the j)rinted reports of the Svirvey and a library com- 

 prising a large number of scarce and valuable scientific works." 



While dwelling especially in the foregoing paragraph upon the 

 absolute necessity for the proper exhibition and preservation of the 

 collections of the Geological Survey, the council think that any new 

 structure that may be erected ere long should contain adequate accom- 

 modation for the Royal Society Avhich is now endeavouring to 

 supplement the work of the Geological Survey, and whose valuable 

 accumulating library is now practically lost to students. 



The society is devoting much attention to historical work, and would 

 be able, in case of adequate accommodation, to form, in the course of 

 time, a valuable collection of historical jDapers, relics and other illustra- 



