Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-15
FURRY ~ SCIENTIFIC ctucLns.
vacant ncrth IN the Smithsonian In
siIImIe Snnm To- Ito INlIIrh.

WASHINGTON. oct ii.-prcsidcnt Ior.
dan Of Leland Stanford jr., university Of
California is most prominently mentioned to
succeed the late Prof. Goodc as assistant
| secretary OF tho Smithsonian institute and
director Of the national museum. The ap-
| pointmont is not likely to be made before
the January meeting Of the Board OF Re
gents OF the Smithsonian. but the question
is already attracting muUh attention in
SV'htlho circles, The directors OF national
! museums in England, France and other
european countries are from the ranks Of
the foremost svicut SITS, and IL is bope1 that
the successor Of Prof Gooir will no o,r of
the hrSt scientists Of this country r,pahlc
OF expanding the museum and makin, 4,
truly national New buildings arc 10 br
buiIt ana THIS VIII AFFORD the new director
an opportunity for administrative work
The appointment is made by m, nnsT1 -,
Regents, usually on the recommendation nf
the secretary Of the Smithsonian irstif,t,
Prof Langley. The latter has rCccutly nv,
turned after an absence Of some time ana
mas not yet taken up the question of Prof
Gondc's successor. II is saiu. however that
the appointment is Of such Importance that
the members Of the board will take per-
sonal interest in It, deierrng largely to
ifot. langlcy's judgment The executive
committee. consisting OF Senator Hem
drrSon, Hon. Gardiner Hubbard and Post.
master General Wilson. live in WASHINGTON
ana II need BE- special meeting can be held
70 make the appointment, but this is not
expected.
Prof Jordan of Leland stanford ir.. uni.
F'rSlty is being urged for his eminent sci
thtIhc atiainmCntS. He is one of the hest
known naturalisS in America, and il ap-
pears 20 be conceded that a naturalist win
br chosen, although an cthuologist is aiming
,noSt mentioned for the place Mr.. Jordan
mas recently completed an elaborate renort
OIL Inc tSlNrlt, of Nnrtb
appointed last spring as president o3 tho
'pii'u.IS&luh or experts to Eo to Boring sea
ana investigate the condition Of seaI lifc
nViore gong to Leland stanford MIR Ior-
can was president ot Indiana rniversity
IN both positions he showed rnnrl,n1 ay
ecutive ability, which. 1t is said. wouId bc
~ value IN the development OF the national
museum ''""'
Dr. Chart Merriam, ethnologist Of the
Agricultural department, is also prominently
mentioned in connection with the appoinf.
ment. He has developed the biological sur.
Ney IN which the government IS now on
Gagged, mapping the general distribution of
ANIMALS and plants, and fixing the economic
status of birds and mammals. In the course
ot IN" work Mr. Merriam has written tho
series Of monographs on North American
i''ha' which, when completed, will make
me hrst exhaustive work on that subject.
r. w Irue, curator OF mammals at the
museum ana since the death of Prof Goode
-, ''' ''"i ~ ul inc museum, is also
spoken OF as possible appontcc. Mr.. W
). Meege Of tho bureau of ethnolcgy Is also
mentioned. although It is felt that his
branch Of study is not the one to cguin
MN Tor taking charge of the museum.
NhiIe these names are more or less dis.
cussed the drift of sentiment in srirutiBc
circles is strongly toward Prof Jordan. II
ls not known that he would accent IJis
present salary is 10000. while thai ,r d.
rector OF the museum is less than half AZ
much. IL is said. however, that the di-
rectorship would afford scientist oppor
luhities for conducting his researches which
"ouid compensate for any money loss.