Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-03-19
MEXICAN RESEARCH.

MERlCAN RESEARCH.
What the Smithsonian Institution Is Do
ing for Science. ~
Although our General and State gov
ernments do little or nothing for the
practical advancement of at, the re-
port OF the secretary of the Smithsonian
Institution at Warrington shows that
our Government is not deaf to the de-
mands of science. I'm 1886 this institu-
ton was established through the be.
quest was formally accepted by Con-
gress, and still years later before def
mite plan of organization was adopted.
Since that time the original bequest
has increased by natural action and by
two small requests to something over
$7O0,O00. This is the total amount OF
the permanent fund of the Smithsonian
Institution, which is deposited in the
Treasury of the United States, and
bears interest at the rate of six per
cent. per annum. When one becomes
aware of the great work and extensive
investigations in channels of practical
science which the institution performs,
this endowment, in comparison with
that of some of the colleges of our coun-
try, seems pitifully small. Were it not,
therefore, for the fact that the institu-
ton is regarded by our Government as
its ward, and provides by annual ap-
preparations for its maintenance, the
cause which it promotes would be but q
slight gamer through its endeavors.
The last Congress appropriated for the
continuance of the scientific researches
OF the institution and for it's main
tenance, for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1880, various sums, amounting in the
aggregate to 1888, 900. Although these
appropriations do not approach in lib
crafty those made by the British Gov
eminent for the cause of art, yet by
their judicious use the secre-
tary and regents of the institu-
ton have been enabled to do much dur
ing the past year for the cause of science.
The museum, through the energy of
the management, and by judi
cious system of exchanges, has grown
to be one of the most val
liable in existence. The department
OF zoology has of late years received
much attention, and to-day an interest
ing and valuable collection of living ami
mails of this and other countries is avail
able for the inspection of the public and
for purposes of scientific study. Under
the patronage of the institution, al
though not wholly at its expense, ex-
plorations have been undertaken in
various distant parts of the world, with
view of studying the botany, geology
and archaeology of those regions and of
collecting specimens for the enrichment
of the National Museum. Perhaps the
most interesting of these explorations
has been undertaken by Talcott Will
Jams, of Philadelphia, who has visited
the northern countries of Africa and
made inquiries, in the interest
of the Smithsonian Institution, in
regard to the civilization of
the modern Arabs and the history of
that region. Under the auspices of the
institution DR.. j. NJ. Crawford, the late
ly-appointed Consnl-General of the
United States at St. Petersburg, is to
conduct special researches into the ira
ditions and antiquities of the Finnish
race and related peoples. It was with
especial reference to DR.. Crawford's abil-
ity to conduct these researches with
success that his appointment was made;
an additional evidence of the interest of
our Government in the cause of science.
The rapidly-growing interest of the
people of our country in the work of the
Smithsonian Institution is evinced by
the remarkable demand which has arisen
for its INSTRUMENTATION Advertiser.