Viewing page 387 of 488

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[preprinted]]
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 797
[[double line]]
[[/preprinted]]

[[preprinted left margin]]
MADE BY BAKER-VAWTER CO.
[[/preprinted left margin]]

February 14, 1929.

PROGRAM FOR BUILDINGS FOR THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.

Assistant Secretary Dr. Wetmore presented the following memoranda in connection with the needs of the Institution for buildings and grounds:

In this connection Dr. Wetmore exhibited photographic copies of the plat of land south of the Smithsonian grounds and also showing the Smithsonian Reservation and the sites of the present buildings.

In the discussion that ensued, Senator Smoot said the first and indispensable step was to acquire additional land south of the present Smithsonian grounds. He suggested that the Chairman of the Permanent Committee, Mr. Delano, take steps to secure options on the property referred to. Mr. Delano agreed to undertake this.

The Program follows:

[[underlined]]General Considerations[[/underlined]].

Modern developments in our museums, exhibition galleries and laboratories are such that reconsideration of the space allotment for the Smithsonian Institution, made in the report of the Public Buildings Commission published in 1918 (Public Buildings in the District Of Columbia, Senate Document No. 155, 65th Congress, 2d session, 1918, pp. 35-36, 381-398, pl. 112) is necessary. Congestion in practically all of our offices, laboratories and exhibit halls is now serious.

If Ninth Street is cut through the Mall in accordance with a recent plan (which it is understood is not yet approved) the area available for Museum structures will be considerably changed.

[[underlined]]Arts and Industries Building.[[/underlined]]

This is the most pressing need for space in our general congestion.

The Arts and Industries building is designed to house collections dealing with engineering, industry, power and transportation.

If Ninth Street is carried through the Mall this will divide the space originally indicated to house these exhibits. To provide the necessary housing under this contingency it is desired to construct two
[[initialed]] CGA [[/initialed]]