The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-25

the collections made in Porto Rico, ans
valuable historical objects in connection
with the war with Spain, secured through
the Navy Department.
The officers of the Bureau of EthnologY
have made extensive researches in Cali.
| fornia, Arizona, New Brunswick. and va.
rious places in New York State. securing
further information concerning the Indian.
Of those neighborhoods, and also very val.
liable remains.
The exchange service handled 1888;
packages of Government and scientific
| publications during the year.
/ The Geological Park has 615 animals
and, within the year, steps have been
/ taken. through the cooperation of the
Department of State, the Navy Depart
ment and the War Department 10 secure
animals through the vessels of the navy.
through army officers in Cuba, Porto Rico,
and the Philippines, and by the aid of
American Consuls. Already this has re-
suited in securing some very interest
ing animals. This is especially the case
in the consignment received from Com
mander Todd, of the steamship Whining
ton, from its voyage up the Amazon River.
Endeavor has been made for some time
TO secure specimens of the great bear on
Kadiak Island, which is now the largest
carnivorous animal in the world, and
which has not yet been brought into cap
tivity. 1t is hoped TO secure specimens
OF this before another year is out.
In the Astrophysical Observatory the
work on the invisible spectrum has been
carried TO such point that this is bet
ter known than the visible in the time
of Newton, or even a generation ago.
Possibly no work that is now being carried
on here is more interesting than this, as
there have been obtained automatically in
the dark results almost as accurate as
those which can be reached with the eye.
The board next gave unusually full and
deliberate consideration to a communica
tion received from committee represent
ing the American Association of Agricul-
tural Colleges and Experiment Stations.
requesting the institution 10 organize
bureau of postgraduate study in Wash
ington. looking 10 the utilization for such
work of all the existing scientific Gov
eminent bureaus. This matter had been
referred TO a special committee. consist
ing Of former Senator Henderson. Dr.
William l. Wilson. Prof Alexander
Graham Bell, DR.. J. b. Angel. and Rep
resentative Hit. Secretary Langley at his
own request having been omitted from
the committee.
sented by the committee, which will short
ly be printed in full. Its concluding words
were as follows:
The committee does not hesitate to
express its warm and decided sympathy
with the general purpose OF the movement
thus made by the associated colleges. The
object sought commends itself to us all and
the zeal and ability with which it has been
pressed upon our consideration By the very
able and distinguished educators and scien-
lists connected with these colleges furnish
ample assurance that the consummation OF
the great and leading object sought by
them is only a question of time. The ma
terial already collected in the bureaus and
departments of the Government furnishes
rich mine OF educational wealth that will
not be permitted TO remain forever unde-
veloped. This material is now being con-
stantly enriched by the most valuable ad-
ditioDs TO its present enormous wealth
Already it has invited to the National Cap.
ital many distinguished scientists, anxious
to avail themselves of the superior advan-
tages thus offered for investigation and
research.
Your committee however is painfully
impressed with the fact that the powers of
The Smithsonian Institution, as at present
organized. are scarcely broad enough TO
embrace the work proposed. And the COM
mittee is equally impressed with the fact
that even with enlarged authority its pres
ent financial condition would absolutely
prevent anything like efficient and credit
able performance Il the work contem-
plated.
1T is well known to the members of this
board that a great wealth Of material
material which would be of immense utility
in the successful accomplishment of the
purposes indicated by the associated col
leges-les buried in the crypts and cellars
of the National Museum.
II our institution is unable for want OF
room. as IL undoubtedly is. even TO place
this valuable material on exhibition for the
public eye and as little to arrange ii for
scientific uses. the problem of providing
halls for lectures and meeting the neces-
sary expenditures incident to the ,Sork pro-
posed becomes serious and formidable in
the extreme.
Your committee is not prepared to make
definite recommendations TO the board for
fits final or ultImate action.
That which is clearly inexpedient to-
day may become not only expedient but
eminently desirable tomorrow