6 
[Assembly 
size of these rooms, (as we are informed by the superintendent of the 
building,) is 22 by 32 feet respectively, with an elevation of 10 feet. 
They are well lighted. The questions to be disposed of, prior to their 
occupation, are, whether they will be needed by the State officers; and 
again, whether the height may not be so great as to prevent the desira- 
ble attendance of visitors. 
Some idea may be formed of the internal arrangement that is neces- 
sary from the following detail. 
The Zoological specimens must be placed in glass cases, to preserve 
them from dust and decay. The smaller beasts and birds may thus be 
arranged along the walls, but the larger animals, as the moose, bear, 
wolf, &c. may require to be placed in the centre of one of the rooms, 
protected by glass on each side. The fishes, and several of the lower 
classes of animals, will need to be kept in spirits, and an outlay will 
therefore be required for it and the proper glass vessels. The insects 
and shells will probably show to most advantage in drawers covered 
with glass; and the drawers may form the lower part of the cases above 
suggested e 
The Botanical specimens will require a separate case. They will be 
preserved in bound volumes, lettered according to the arrangement that 
may be adopted. 
The major part of the collection, however, will consist of the Me- 
teorological and Geological specimens, (including fossils.) These 
should all be arranged in cases covered with glass. And we respectful- 
ly suggest that a double suite of specimens be placed in the museum: 
one in the order which shall be agreed upon as most conformable to 
the existing state of science, and another geographically arranged; by 
which we mean, that' a separate division be appropriated to each county 
in the State, and that the minerals, rocks and fossils found in each be 
placed together, leaving at the same time sufficient space for new dis- 
coveries. 
The magnitude of this collection will be in some measure apprecia- 
ted, when we state, that the number of minerals, rocks and fossils in 
this State w^ill probably exceed 4,000. If it should be determined to 
preserve any of the soils, of course more room will be required for the 
specimens of each county. 
In the above remarks we only intend to give a general idea of the 
preparation necessary to fit the rooms in question for the reception of 
