SI 



of the survey and of the curator of the museum that this work 

 be carried out in a thoroughgoing manner. The director of 

 the Natural History Survey is ready to furnish materials 

 which may visually illustrate the work of his department, 

 and no doubt such a relationship would be extremely de- 

 sirable for many other departments, such as the Water Sur- 

 vey, Soil Survey, Board of Health, State Highway Commis- 

 sion, etc. The present obstacle to carrying out this plan is 

 the absence of room in the museum. The museum may thus 

 become a great and popular representative of the various lines 

 of scientific activity in the State. 



It should aim above all things to be a popular institution ; 

 one for the people. But w^hile so doing it does not cease to 

 aid investigation and to promote the advance of science. As 

 Dr. L. A. Baur, of the Carnegie Institution has said, "Sight 

 plays the greatest part in investigation." The museum ap- 

 peals first of all to this faculty, and is aiding investigation 

 when stimulating a boy in his early efforts to observe na- 

 ture, as well as when furnishing material for the trained 

 specialist in some particular line of investigation. 



One of the greatest needs of the museum is the interest 

 and cooperation of some permanent organization. Indi- 

 viduals may come and go, but the museum will last indefinite- 

 ly. Situated as it is at some distance from the scientific cen- 

 ter of the State, it may be regarded as being on the frontier 

 and extending the influence of science to the south and west. 

 Fortunate indeed would it be in having the hearty support of 

 the State University, of the University of Chicago, of the 

 Northwestern and of every educational institution of the 

 State. That interest might well be expressed through the 

 State Academy of Science. As the State Historical Society is 

 closely associated with the Historical Library and is asking 

 for a room for its meetings in the proposed new building, and 

 actively cooperates with the library, so the State Academy 

 may well be provided with a room in a new museum building 

 and use its influence to see that the museum collections are 

 properly preserved and utilized. If the Academy would make 



