National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-20
THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
Annual Meeting of the BOARD OF Regent.
Condition oE the Fund.

| Condition of the Fund.
| The Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition held their annual meeting yesterday morn
ing: present the Chancellor ChiefJustice Morrison
R. Waite, Vice-President William A. Wheeler, Sem
ator Withers, of Virginia Representative Clylher,
of Pennsylvania; General Sherman, Hon. Peter
Parker, Rev. John MacLean, DIR. Henry Coppee,
Dr. Noah Porter, and the secretary of the board,
Professor s. F. Baird. Senators Hamlin and Booth
were absent on account of sickness. The
| first business transacted was the considera-
| ton of the report of the executive committee.
| 1t showed that the amount originally received as
| the bequest of James Smithson, of England, and
deposited in the United States Treasury, in accord
ance with an act of Congress passed August 10,
1876, was s51s, lG9 The residuary legacy of Mr.
Smithson, received in 1865 added Sc 2lO63 to the
fund The amount of OS62O.S7, derived from
savings had also been added to the fund. Two
requests, one from James Hamilton, of Pennsyl-
vania, for 81 600, and the other from DR.. Simeon
Habel for $500, had been acknowledged, and the
total permanent fund now in the United states
Treasury bearing interest at six per cent, payable
semiannually, is S651 800 In addition the lnstltu-
ton has invested in Virginia bonds and certificates
SSS,12520, valued January /, 1881 at $4,000, and
cash balance in the United States Treasurers
hands January l. 1881 of $50 93i.52 making the to-
tai Smithson fund January l, 1881, S719,43i.52.
of which s42 22S3 Is was derived from interest on
money invested, and S2O,93452, the cash on hand
in the custody of the United States Treasurer The
expenditures during the same period were 49,
S318, divided as follows: Buildings, S20 91 Sc !;
general expenses SIC 929 70 publications and re-
searches, S12,72l9S exchanges Qiterary and scien-
ticl 99i605; gallery of art, $3.50, and increase
of the permanent fund.- $500. TWAS estimated that
$4,000 of the smithsOn fund would be required
for the ensuing year.
The report concluded with the following state
ment of appropriations made by Congress in 1880:
For the preservation and care of articles presented
to the United States at the Centennial Exposition,
5000; preserving collection in the ArmOry build
ing, $500; furniture and fixtures for the National
Museum, $4,000: s:eam-heating apparatus and
fuel, $4,000: water and gas fixtures and electrical
apparatus, Sl2500: construction of connecting
sewer 81 900; continuing chronological researches
among the North American Indians, $4,000, and
completing and illustrating the report of Dr. Emil
BeSSels of the scientific results of the Arctic
petition under the late Captain Hail. 5000; total,
$4,000
The report was unanimously adopted, as was a
resolution authorizing the expenditure of the in
come for the ensuing year by the airy for the
service of the institution.
The secretary presented several applications for
use of the new museum building after the 4th of
March, but the board decided that the building
could not be used except for the inaugural Teccp-
ton of President Garfield.
General Sherman submitted the report of the
building committee for the new museum, the de-
tails of which have already been given in THE
REPUBLICAN, and it was adopted.
Professor Baird stated that he had been informed
by the American consul at Genoa, Italy, that the
corner posts of the railing surrounding the tomb
Ofthe late James Smithson the founder of the in
sitution, required resetting and the fence needed
Strengthening. A motion was thercupon adopted
instructng the secretary of the board TO take suit
able measures for the repair and preservation of
the tomb and its inclOSure.
The annual report of the secretary, showing the
operations, expenditures, and condition of the
institution for the past year, was read part, ac
cepted and ordered to be transmitted TO Congress.
Senator Withers made statement relative to the
Virginia bonds owned by the Institution, and on
motion of Representative Clymer, of Pennsylvania.
the executive committee authorized, if they
saw fit TO dispose of them, and deposit the pro-
ceeds in the United States Treasury part of the
permanent fund. The Board then adjourned
sine die