33 



CHAPTER 175. 



AN ACT to provide for enlarging the building situated in Central park, in the 

 city of New York, and occupied by the American Museum of Natural 

 History, for the purpose of furnishing proper facilities for increased exhi- 

 bition. 



Accepted by the city. 



Became a law April i, 1896, with the approval of the Governor. Passed, three- 

 fifths being present. 



The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do 

 enact as follozvs : 



Section i. The department of public parks in the city of New York, 

 with the concurrence of the board of estimate and apportionment, is hereby 

 authorized to erect and equip an addition to the building situated in that part of 

 Central park formerly known as Manhattan square, and which is now in pos- 

 session and occupation of the American Museum of Natural History, under and 

 in accordance with a contract made in pursuance of chapter one hundred and 

 thirty-nine of the laws of eighteen hundred and seventy-six, chapter two hun- 

 dred and seventy of the laws of eighteen hundred and ninety-two, and chapter 

 thirty-one of the laws of eighteen hundred and ninety-three. Said addition shall 

 include in its halls for public exhibition suitable space for the proper display of 

 the specimens of the museum. The trustees of said museum shall select the archi- 

 tects to prepare, under their direction, the plans, and to superintend under the 

 direction of the commissioners of parks the construction of said addition. Said 

 plans, when completed, shall be submitted by said trustees to the commissioners 

 of said department for their approval, and may include any alteration of the 

 present building made necessary by the enlargement, and such additions, 

 improvements and repairs to it as the commissioners of said department and the 

 trustees of said museum may agree are proper and necessary. The commission- 

 ers of said department shall provide for the compensation of the architects out 

 of the fund hereby provided for the erection of said addition. Said equipment 

 shall include all the cases and fittings and other apparatus required for the 

 exhibition and preservation of the specimens, books and other property of the 

 museum. 



§ 2. For the purpose of providing means for carrying into effect the provis- 

 ions of this act, it shall be the duty of the comptroller, upon being thereunto 

 authorized by the board of estimate and apportionment, to issue and sell, but 

 not at less than their par value, bonds or stocks of the mayor, aldermen and 

 commonalty of the city of New York, in the manner now provided by law, 

 payable from taxation, but not exceeding in the aggregate the sum of five hun- 

 dred thousand dollars, bearing interest at a rate not exceeding four per centum 

 per annum, and redeemable within a period of time not exceeding thirty years 

 from the date of their issue. 



§ 3. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with the provisions of this act are 

 hereby repealed. 



§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately. 



