The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-09
A GREAT INSTITUTION.

comparatively lew peISOIS are aware
of the number, variety and scope of the
publications issued by the United States
government. The annual reports of the
heads Of departments, complete as they
are in their summary of results, barely
hint at many bureau reports of great in
terest. Many of these reports discuss mat
tiers of scientific interest in a scientific man.
rer and are mines of information regard
ing subjects of general interest. Others
relate in detail the operations Of particu-
lar branches Of the government or of gov
eminent institutions, concerning which the
public only knows in a general way. A
library containing all of the executive,
departmental and bureau reports since the
foundation of the government, together
with the reports of congressional commit
tees on special topics, would be invaluable
for reference.
These remarks are suggested by the last
annual report of the board of regents of
the Smithsonian Institution. If there ever
was an institution which in its growth and
operations illustrated the saying that III
huilded better than he knew" it is this
one. When James Smithson. an English
man, bequeathed s515, 1863 to the United
States to be devoted to ''the increase and
diffusion Of knowledge among men, he
could little have foreseen what a great
and useful institution he was founding.
Smithson, by the way, was an illegitimate
son of the Duke of thumberlan and an
Englishwoman of good family. He de-
voted his life to- scientific pursuits, and
died in Italy in 1879. His bequest became
available in 1895, but it was nine years
later before Congress agreed on a plan
for carrying it into effect. To the original
bequest of $5l5. 1863 was added, by authority
of Congress, Feb. s, 1867, the residuary
legacy of Smithson, savings from income
and other sources, to the amount of s134.-
SCI. In addition to this there have been
requests by several persons that bring
the permanent endowment fund Up to
$4,000. Fortunately, the original plan for
the organization of the institution was a
wise one. and the first president of the
institution, the eminent Joseph Henry.
showed great wisdom in carrying il into
effect. The endowment fund remains in
the treasury as a perpetual loan to the
United States at 6 per cent. interest, the
interest going TO the support of the in
stitution and the principal remaining I'M
touched. The organization of the institu-
ton is simple and inexpensive. 1t is gov
erned by a board of regents composed OF
the Vice President of the United States,
the chief justice of the Supreme Court,
the mayor of Washington, three members
Of the Senate and three of the House of
Representatives. with six other persons
not members of Congress. of whom W
are residents of Washington and four Of
different States. This board elects a chan
eellor of the institution and a secretary.
These and their assistants are salaried
officers. Since the organization of the
science have been important and valuable
beyond all calculation. It's publications
have included reports of original researches
into different branches of science; mis-
cellaneous collections consisting of mono
graphs designed TO facilitate the study of
natural history. chemistry. photography.
etc; annual reports containing a statement
10 Congress Of the operations of the in
stitution. with translations from foreign
books. biographies OF distinguished scien-
lists. chronological and meteorological
essays. correspondence and accounts of un-
usual phenomena. From the beginning the
| publications Of the institution have taken
| Ugh rank throughout the scientific world
1t would be impossible to say how many