Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-23

which he was almost the living embodi-
ment. While he did this in part because OF
their harmony with his own personal ten
denotes and convictions as to their value.
he did it also because Of his affection and
reverence for the first secretary, Joseph
Henry. whose pupil he had been In youth;
with whom he had in middle life main tain
ed the relation of friend and confidant, and
at whose personal request he had. shortly
before Henry's death, consented to add
to his already burdenSome duties those OF
the chairman Of the executive committee:
so that he had been. in fact, link be-
tween the past and the present in the
history of the institution.
The report of the executive committee
upon the expenditure of the funds of the
institution and the appropriations by Con-
greSS was considered and approved. The
tied In the United States treasury. is now
1911, 600, in addition to which there Is $42.-
600 derived from the Hodgkns beQuest,
which is otherwise invested.
Report of the Secretary.
The report Of the secretary for the year
ending June 30. 1894. was presented. sup
rlemented by a statement of what has been
done since the close Of the last fiscal year.
The progress Of the museum. he said. has
been very considerable. The collections
were never in better condition. and the
contributions to science derived from their
study have been of more than usual extent
and value. The buildings have been visited
by 100000 persons during the year, and q
very large number of specimens. accurate
ly named and labeled have been sent to
other museums and institutions through
out the United States. 1t is a matter Of
concern, however, that owing to lack OF
provision for the purchase Of collections
great amount of valuable material, which
can never be replaced, especially In the
field Of ethnology and archaeology, is year
" being taken to other countries.
European museums, the report stated,
have recently spent hundreds of thousands
of dollars in availing themselves of the
fast diminishing opportunities for making
collections of chronological and natural his
tory material gathered on this continent
The entire sum Of money that has been
available for the purchase of specimens
has teen little over 5000. notwithstand-
ing the great opport unities offered at the
close of the Chicago exposition Within
the past year, it was stated, the new Field
Columbian Museum. in Chicago, has ex-
De nded more than half million dollars in
purchases, and other museums in the Unit
ed States, outside Of Washington. large
sums.
The Geological Park.
The Geological Park, the report continued,
is in as satisfactory condition as Is pos
s,ble with the opportunities which have
been provided for it's development. The an
tic;pation that 1t would be possible to gather
here in sufficiently large numbers to secure
beyond reasonable certainty the perpetua-
ton Of the various large animals which are
rapidly vanishing from the continent has
| been partially realized. secondary. though
legitimate purpose of the park 1t was
| stated, is being most amply filled. for, to Use
| q common expression, 1t Is becoming like
| the lungs Of the city. From its position 1t
| is accessible to the poor, as well as to the
| rich, and is for the health and recreation
| of every citizen. 1t is an evidence OF the
public appreciation that even in its present
| incomplete condition it has been visited by
as many as 10000 people in a single day.
map was presented showing the size of
| the park in comparison with that OF the
principal geological gardens Of Europe,
| from which 1t appeared that 1t covers i6G
| Plantes at Paris has seventeen acres. the
GEOLOGICAL Garden Of London thirty-siX,and
! the Berlin Geological Garden sixty-three,
so that our park Is In al conslderaoIy
| pa tional capitals united. This IS a very
| Inadequate statement, however. the report
said Of the relative superiority Of the Ma
| tional Park, which is singularly varied and
picturesque in its features, while the ma
| tional parks Of Paris and Berlin and the
| gardens Of the London Geological Society
| are in fat country, without any natural
features of interest.
Important Phases of the Work.
The bureau Of ethnology. the report stat
| ed has carried on its important work in
preserving the records of the vanishing
| civilization of the aboriginal races, and
especially in obtaining before 1t Is too
| late, material for the study OF their Ian
guages, upon which all conclusions as to
| their origin and relationship SO closely de-
| pend Important results were OBTAINED
| from recent expedition to the Papagos
| and Serbs Indians of the far southwest.
The bureau of exchanges is continuing
| it's work of disseminating the results OF
scientific investigation in America to all