12 Forty-fourth Annual Report on the 



ciation and understanding of the order of succession, and the 

 geographical distribution of the geological formations of the state 

 of New York and of their relations to other states. The import- 

 ance of this knowledge either for a teacher or for a man in any 

 practical department of life becomes of the greatest importance, 

 and is everywhere applicable and useful. 



Since Dr. Merrill has already shown a deep and appreciative 

 interest in the Museum, its plans, purposes and its future advance- 

 ment, he has naturally turned his attention to its present condi- 

 tion, both in the , building upon State street, and to the location 

 of departments in the State Hall and the Capitol. 



At the present time the Agricultural and Geological Hall on 

 State street is the only available place for collections which are 

 to be arranged for public exhibition. The building scarcely 

 affords accommodation for the officer in charge of the Museum 

 and for the Assistant Zoologist. The State Botanist is located in 

 a room in the State Hall, the State Entomologist has quarters in 

 the Capitol, while the State Geologist and Assistant Palaeontologist, 

 with the enormous collections in the latter department together 

 with the draughtsmen occupy rooms in the upper story of the 

 State Hall. It is needless to comment upon the inconvenience 

 coming frpm these distant and isolated locations, and the barrier 

 it places to free intercourse and consultation among the members 

 of the Museum staff. Nothing would more conduce to harmony 

 and unanimity of purpose and action than the concentration of 

 the Museum staff in a single well lighted and fire proof building, 

 adapted to the wants of a scientific Museum in all its departments 

 of natural history. But I need not dwell upon this aspect of the 

 case ; it has already been presented to your honorable body on 

 many occasions. 



It should not be forgotten, however, that a natural history 

 museum must necessarily increase its collections, and increase of 

 collections demands additional space. To a considerable extent 

 these collections should be on exhibition and accessible to the 

 public. 



Our* Museum has been no exception to the general rule of all 

 natural history museums, the world over. In every country of 

 Europe enlargements of space in old buildings or additions to 

 these buildings have been made, or new buildings have been 

 erected, adapted to the ever increasing demand for more space. 



