20 
of Mr. Jesup, for certainly this institution could not be what it 
is to-day if it had not been conceived in a wholly liberal mind, 
and its work begun with the best of energy and understanding. 
Many of you are familiar with its entire growth. A few years 
ago it was a tenant on sufferance in cramped quarters in the old 
arsenal on the other side of the park. It is here an equal partner 
with the city in this admirable portion of a much greater build- 
ing still to come, recognized as one of the city's most valuable 
ornaments, with an equipment which gives it a place among the 
great public collections, and with a future of brilliant and un- 
limited hope. Its excellence may be judged partially by the 
readiness with which the City Authorities have contributed 
towards its enlargement. I think the Trustees will bear me out 
in saying that public money has always been forthcoming for its 
benefit, with all the freedom that is consistent with official respon- 
sibility. In order that you may have a better idea of what it is 
we are about to dedicate, I have been requested to describe it 
more in detail. The architect, as you know, was Mr. Cady. His 
success is evident. I trust that this later monument of his art 
may not meet with the unfortunate fate of one low r er down town, 
the Metropolitan Opera House ; but to guard against that this 
one is entirely fire-proof so far as it can be made so. Omitting 
the cases for exhibition it covers 23,000 square feet, which with 
the old building makes 37,000 square feet. It has three exhibi- 
tion halls, 60 x 110 feet ; six, 25 x 118; a lecture room, 60 x 1 10 ; 
and a library, 25 x 108, in which the books are piled in practically 
indestructible stacks of iron. There are five thousand running 
feet of exhibition cases. The money appropriated for the work 
was $800,000, of which $100,000 was spent in repairing the old 
building, and $75,000 in the cases, so that the net cost of the new 
wing was less than $600,000 ; and it is proper to say that there is 
not a charge for extra work in the record of its construction. 
Besides this, nearly a half million dollars has been assigned for 
further additions, chiefly for a lecture hall much larger than this 
to meet the need which has been amply proven by the success of 
the lectures. 
It is not for me to stop for any eulogy of this institution, 
although here, according to Mr. Spencer, are the foundation 
