In former reports attention has been drawn to the need of 

 more exhibition space. During the year a very large amount of 

 material has been accumulated, including a collection of the 

 building stones of America, which remain packed in cases ; also 

 3,000 birds and 150 mammal skins. These specimens, together 

 with other large and interesting collections, cannot be exhibited 

 for want of space. 



The Educational Department has made most gratifying progress 

 under Prof. A. S. Bickmore. 



The following bill, granting aid to extend the Museum, has 

 become a law, and is herewith given in full. 



AN ACT 



To provide for enlarging the building situated on Central Park in 

 the City of New York and occupied by the American Museum 

 of Natural History, for the purpose of furnishing proper facili- 

 ties for giving increased exhibition and public instruction. 



The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate 

 and Assembly, do enact as follows : 



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 author- 

 ized to erect and equip an addition to the building situated on that part of 

 Central Park, formerly known as Manhattan Square, and now in the possession 

 and occupation of the American Museum of Natural History, in accordance 

 with a contract made in pursuance of chapter 139 of the laws of eighteen hun- 

 dred and seventy-six. Said addition shall include suitable space for the exhi- 

 bition of the specimens of the Museum, now stored for want of room to display 

 them to the public, and shall also include a lecture hall, which can be used for 

 the purpose of giving to the teachers of the common schools, and the normal 

 schools of the State, and to artisans, mechanics and other citizens, the instruc- 

 tion provided for them in chapter 428 of the laws of eighteen hundred and 

 eighty-six. The Trustees of said Museum shall select an architect 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 and approved by said Trustees, shall be submitted to the Commis- 

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

 of the present building made necessary by the enlargement, and such improve- 

 ments and repairs to it as the Commissioners of said department and the 

 Trustees of said Museum may agree are proper and necessary. The Commis- 

 sioners of said department shall provide for the compensation of the architect 



