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^[[16.]]

[[underline]] CONSIDERATIONS: [[/underline]]

It is incumbent on the Smithsonian Institution to care for the national collections and utilize them for the benefit of the American people.

The art works as at present installed seriously embarrass every department of the Institution, occupying space required for the development of the various scientific branches.

A new building devoted exclusively to art is thus imperatively demanded.  Not only are the other branches embarrassed, but advance in the field of art is seriously hampered.  Hundreds of thousands in value have gone elsewhere as a result of the unfortunate lack of space.  The great collection of arms and armor, one of the richest in the world, could find no place and finally went to the Metropolitan Museum in New York.  The Freer collection, valued at millions, would have gone elsewhere for the same reason had not President Roosevelt induced Mr. Freer to provide funds for a building to house it.  Other great collections would doubtless accrue to the nation if they could be properly cared for.

Art works more than any other national possession are typical of advanced civilization, and the public should demand means of acquiring and keeping and facilities for utilizing them.

Most modern nations have made their capital cities principal centers of art development and art accumulation, and advance in this respect may well be regarded as an index of the degree of advancement of the people toward the higher civilization.