Page:The museum, (Jackson, Marget Talbot, 1917).djvu/29

Rh been made in the case of this museum that in Berlin, at least, no other museum would be subjected to a similar fate. Unfortunately, however, an old decree made by the grandfather of the present Emperor called for the building of all museums on the so-called Museum Island. When, therefore, money was given for the building of the new German, Oriental and Pergamon Museums, there was no question in the mind of any one where they would be placed. The expense of building the foundations in the soft soil was cheerfully met and, though it seemed a criminal waste to put so much money below ground, all would have been well had they not stumbled upon a place where, in spite of boring to great depths, they were unable to find solid bottom. This proved to be a glacial pocket, small on top and broad beneath, which had to be cleared out and filled in before the work could proceed. In the process of excavating, so much water had to be pumped out that the neighboring Neues Museum began to show signs of weakness. For about twenty-four hours it was in imminent danger of collapse and only immediate stoppage of all work and great precautions to relieve the strain prevented the subsidence of the whole building. After wasting two years of time and about a half-million dollars on this one bad place in the earth, the hole was filled up with