9 



out of the fund hereby provided for the erection of said addition. Said equip- 

 ment shall include all the cases and fittings required for the preparation, exhibi- 

 tion and preservation of the specimens, books and property of the Museum, 

 also furniture and fixed apparatus of the lecture hall, and the other rooms of 

 this building. 



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

 visions of this act, it shall be the duty of the Comptroller, upon being there- 

 unto authorized by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, to issue and 

 sell, but not at less than their par value, bonds or stock of the Mayor, Alder- 

 men 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 four 

 hundred thousand dollars, bearing interest at a rate not exceeding three 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 are hereby repealed.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. 



The annual growth and proper development of your institution 

 necessarily involves yearly increasing expenditures. The arrange- 

 ment and rearrangement continually necessary in a large and 

 growing scientific department not only occupies much time and 

 care, but demands the employment of gentlemen of notable skill 

 and acquirements. 



Our only assured annual income at present is from the City 

 appropriation of $15,000 and the interest of the $55,000 invested 

 funds. 



It would appear to be very desirable to place the Museum on 

 such a permanent basis of maintenance that the annual contribu- 

 tions of the Trustees and members could be appropriated exclu- 

 sively to the purchase of objects of science. Valuable collections, 

 which the Museum needs, are continually being offered us for 

 sale, but we are obliged to decline their purchase for want of 

 funds. 



The great museums of Europe are chiefly sustained by public 

 fund, through the force of an enlightened public sentiment both 

 as to their educational and economic value. 



The value of what you have already accumulated in your halls 

 rises to a large figure commercially, but it is a difficult task to 

 estimate the money value of what belongs to science and scientific 

 institutions. To their value must be added their ameliorating 



