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THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 



" The room used for the lecture hall, the only available room 

 in the building, is not large enough for the increasing demand for 

 admission by the city teachers. It will comfortably accommodate 

 about 300, a very small proportion of the 3,000 teachers of the 

 city. With sufficient accommodation, it is probable that at least 

 a thousand would be in regular attendance. On several occasions 

 during the autumn just closed, from 100 to 150 teachers provided 

 with tickets of admission (only a selected number being thus 

 provided), were unable to gain admittance for want of room." 



A reading of these reports will make it apparent how much the 

 want of additional space both for exhibition and storage purposes 

 is felt in all the departments. We have now arrived to the point 

 where an additional building is imperatively demanded. The 

 present structure is full to overflowing, and many interesting and 

 important collections have to be kept in their boxes unpacked for 

 want of space to exhibit them, and not even storage room remains 

 for the specimens that may be offered. Unless we soon have 

 another wing to our building, we fear the usefulness of the insti- 

 tution will be seriously retarded. It is calculated that by the 

 time another wing can be erected, we will have accumulated 

 enough material to more than fill the entire structure. 



Strenuous efforts were made during the year to secure an ap- 

 propriation for this purpose. The Trustees, in conjunction with 

 the Commissioners of the Department of Public Parks, appeared 

 before the Board of Estimate and Apportionment with that 

 object in view, and up to the close of the year had hoped that 

 their efforts had been successful. The appropriation, however, 

 was not granted, and the embarrassment to the Museum and the 

 public for want of a larger lecture hall and additional exhibition 

 space still continues, and becomes greater with each day's delay. 



MORRIS K. JESUP, 



President. 



