REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 7 



control of the Smithsoniau Institution, and this proximity, in connec- 

 tion with the long-established policy of cooperation between the two 

 organizations, will cause them to be, for all practical purposes, united 

 -in interest. 



POSSIBILITIES OF INCREASE AND IMPROVEMENT. 



Although the appropriations from the public treasury for the main- 

 tenance of a national museum are small, compared with those in sev- 

 eral European countries, the value of objects given by private individ- 

 uals is proportionately larger. The actual value of such contributions 

 for ten years past, has not, it is estimated, fallen short of $20,000 a 

 year, and in some years has been greater. 



Among the more important gifts may be mentioned the George Catlin 

 Indian gallery, of inestimable value to the American historian and eth- 

 nologist; the Riley collection of North American insects, the finest in 

 existence, containing 150,000 specimens, and easily worth $50,000; the 

 collection bequeathed in 1887 by the late Isaac Lea, of Philadelphia, 

 containing besides minerals aud other objects, about 20,000 concholog- 

 ical specimens, and appraised by the State at $10, 00 J; aud the collec- 

 tion of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, for the transfer of 

 whi3h from Philadelphia to Washington, a special appropriation was 

 made by Congress. 



Some exceedingly valuable collections in this country and in Europe 

 have been bequeathed to the Smithsonian Institution which have not 

 yet come into its possession. Within the past ten years it is estimated 

 that individuals to the number of at least a thousand have made gifts 

 to the museum to the value of $100 or more. 



Not a day passes during which some stranger, pleased with the work 

 of the Museum, does not voluntarily send in some contribution more 

 or less important. 



The National Museum now contains nearly 3,000,000 specimens, dis- 

 tributed among the various departments, as is shown in the table on 

 page 22. 



The late Professor Baird was once asked whether the value of the 

 collections in the National Museum was equal to the amount which had 

 been expended in its maintenance. He replied, unhesitatingly, that 

 although it would be by no means a fair criterion of their value, he did 

 not doubt that by a judicious and careful system of sale the entire sum 

 could be recovered. 



One of the most striking features in the affairs of the Museum is the 

 manner in which its collections are increasing. 



In 1887 the number of specimens was more than ten times as great 

 as five years before. 



In the last fiscal year more than twenty eight thousand new lots or 

 groups of specimens were entered upon the Museum catalogue. 



