FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS, 1875-1877. 735 



ernmente. Thirty-two or thirty -three out of the forty nationalities 

 abroad have given us their entire exhibits at the Centennial Exhibi- 

 tion. Their money value is scarcely computable, but if it were to be 

 computed it exceeds our own, as large as our exhibits were there and 

 as creditable to the country. Our own, I believe, in money value, 

 have been computed at $400,000. These foreign exhibits are com- 

 puted, at least in money value, at the sum of $600,000, but in histor- 

 ical and scientific interest they perhaps surpass anything that has been 

 assembled in any national museum on the globe. 



I shall, therefore, hope to receive favorable consideration of the 

 report of the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds at an early 

 day, if in the meantime we do not receive a bill from the House on 

 the subject. 



Mr. J. W. STEVENSON. I now move, Mr. President, that this memo- 

 rial be referred to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds. 

 Allow me to add a single word. 1 hope that speedy action will be had 

 b} 7 both the Senate and the committee. I hope this building will be 

 put on the Smithsonian grounds. There is ample room on that square 

 without the cost of additional ground. Professor Henry assures me 

 that with the erection of the contemplated building on the plan of 

 General Meigs, with the articles now on exhibition in the Smithsonian 

 Institution, with those just donated, we shall have the nucleus of a 

 National Museum which in a few years will equal any in the world. 



Mr. SARGENT. Accompanying this memorial is a list of the various 

 articles contributed by different powers, by different exhibitors, and 

 by States of the Union, and I think that if Senators will take the 

 pains to examine that list they will find that articles rare in their char- 

 acter, of great interest in a scientific point of view, and of intrinsic 

 value, have been given to the Government of the United States. To 

 properly display these objects will be to furnish education of the most 

 valuable character to all of our people (and there are millions of them 

 who come here) who visit this capital. 



I wish to add my earnest desire that the committee will promptly 

 report a measure that will enable us to open this great educational 

 Institution to the people of the United States, to utilize this vast and 

 valuable collection which has been given to us, to show that we receive 

 them from these powers in good faith, and are disposed to show that 

 we properly appreciate the riches which they have placed within our 

 hands. 



I move that the list with the memorial be printed, and that they 

 both go to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds. 



Agreed to. 

 February 7, 1877 House. 



Mr. HIESTER CLTMER. I ask unanimous consent to' present for 

 reference to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds a memo- 



