The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-25
WORK OF THE SCIENTISTS
Meeting of the Board of Regents of
the Smithsonian Institution.
Senator William T. Frye Chosen NJ
she Successor Of The Late Vice Press
jdent Hobart-Othcr Vacancies Fill
ed-Report of Secretary Langley
Gratifying Progress of Sear.

The Board of Regents of the Smithsonian
Institution held their annual meeting yes
terday. the following named gentlemen
being present: Chief Justice Melville. the
Chancellor, who presided; Senator William
p Frye. President pro tempore of the
Senate: Senator S. NJ. Cullom, Senator Or
Vile II. Plat, Representative r. R. Hit
Representative Hugh A. Dinsmore, Repre-
sentative Robert Adams, jr., DR.. ]. B. An
CELL, Mr.. j. B. Henderson. Dr. Alexander
Graham Bell, and Mr.. s. P. Langley, Sec
rotary of the institution. Mr.. Andrew ID.
White, now Ambassador to Berlin; DR.
William l.. Wilson, and Senator William
Lindsay were unable to attend. The act
of Congress appointing as regent Mr.. Rich
ard olney while passed by Congress. had
not yet received the Presidents approval.
The secretary reported the death during
the past year of Regents William Preston
Johnston. President of Tulane University,
OF New Orleans, on July 16, and Garrett A.
Hobart, on November 81
DIR. ANGEL delivered a eulogy On DR..
Johnston. and Senator Plat on the late
Vice President. Appropriate resolutions
were adopted, ordered spread on the min
utes. and engrossed copies ordered TO be
Gent to ,he families of the deceased.
The following changes in the board we're
announced: Senator William p. Frye,
President pro tempore of the Senate was
invited 10 serve in the place OF the late
Vice President Senator William Lindsay
was appointed to succeed former Senator
George Gray; Representative Hugh
Dinsmore TO succeed Gen. Joseph Wheeler;
Representatives r r. Hit and Robert
Adams TO succeed themselves.
The secre,ary's report for the year end
ing June 80 1899 which was read and
adopted showed that researches were
being conducted in various departments of
science and that the results were being
made known to the public through pub
locations.
Particular attention was called to the in
struction that the Smithsonian affords for
the people through the Museum and the
Geological Park and the secretary stated
that never before had the schoolchildren
Of the National Capital visited these places
60 frequently.
The report recognized the fact that con-
ditions had changed very much since the
time the Smithsonian Institution was
iOhDueQs int very BItdA
for research in the various parts of the
country had somewhat changed the relative
position OF the institution TO other esiab-
lishments here; that 1t now had over 10000
correspondents abroad, and was very much
better known than ever before. he said
that the future of the institution lay in
having mere private funds at its disposal,
and that on another occasion he would have
asked the regents help in this matter.
The permanent fund OF the Institution
stands at SOL, 900. and there are in addition
certain smaller funds, particularly those
received from the Hodgkins estate. which
are not yet deposited in the treasury
room has been prepared for keeping
together the collections Of physical appsr-
stus used by Prof Henry and other investi-
gators. Grants have been made to various
persons during the year, among whom may
be mentioned Mr.. A. Lawrence Rotch. Di-
rector OF the Blue Hin Observatory,
Massachusetts,. for kite experiments. On
February j., 1899. one of the automatic
Kites reached the height OF l2.507 feet. or
nearly one and two-thirds miles. being the
highest ascent on record. The first Hodg-
kins gold medal OF the institution was
awarded TO Prof. Dewar, Of the Royal In
stitutfon, for his researches on the lique-
faction and solidifaction of atmospheric
air and other work in connection with
liquid air and the discovery OF the magnetic
properties of liquid oxygen.
The accessions to the National Museum
numbered over $1,000 specimens Among
these were 10 be specially mentioned the
great collection made by the late Prof o.
c. Marsh for the Geological Survey and