Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-24
Condition of the Smithsonian Institu-
ton Shown at Annual Session.
CHANGES IN tHEl MEMBERSHIP
The Additions tQfthe Collections
in This! City
POST-G ATE COURSES

Inc annual Ties ing OF tie board of re-
gents of the Smithsonian Ihsutution was
held today at 10 r'cleck. There were pres
ent: Chief Justice Melville W. Fuller. the
chancellor. who presided Senator William
P. Frye. president pro ten pore of the Sen
ate: Senator S. NJ. Cullcm Senator Orville
II. Platt, Representative r. R. Hit, Repre-
sentative Hugh A. Dinsmore Representa-
tive Robert Adams, jr., DR.. j. B. Angel,
Mr.. J. B. Henderson, Dr. Alexander Ora
ham Bell and Mr.. S. Z. Langley, secretary
of the institution. Mr. Andrew D. White
now ambassador to Berlin; DIR. William l..
Wilson and Senator William Lindsay were
unable to attend. The act of Congress ap-
pointing as regent Mr.. Richard Olney while
passed by Congress, had not yet received
the Presidents approval.
The secretary announced the death dur
ing the past year of two regents, President
William Preston Johi ston of Tulane Uni
versity of New Orleans on July III and
Vice President Garret A. Hobart on No
vember p. DR.. Angel pr Pronounced a eulogy
or DIR. Johnston and Senator Plat on the
late Vice Presidant. Appropriate resolu-
tons were then adopted, which were order
ed spread on the minutes and engrossed
pies sent to the families of the deceased.
The following changes in the board were
announced: Senator William P. Frye, pres
ident pro tempOre of the Senate, was in ac-
ccrGance win custom, invited to serve in
the place of the late Vice President Hobart:
Senator William Lindsay has been appoint
ed to succeed ex-senator George Gray: Rep
resentative Hugh A. Dinsmore was APP
pointed to succeed Gen. Joseph Wheeler:
Representative r. r. Hit and Representa-
tive Robert Adams were appointed to sue
coed themselves.
Annual Report.
The secretary presented his annual report
for the year ending June so, 1899, which
Tod ~rIa
searches We're being carried on in many de-
partments of knowledge, and that the re-
suits of these, well as of scientific re-
searches made elsewhere, were being wide
ly spread through publications. Particular
attention was called to the instruction that
the Smithsonian affords for the people
through the museum and the Geological
Park, and the secretary stated that never
before had the school CT ildren of the ma
tioral capital visited these places so fire.
quently.
The report recognized the fact that CON-
ditions had changed very much since the
time the Smithsonian Institution was
founded; that the very great endowments
Tor research in the various parts of the
country had somewhat changed the re.a-
tive position of the institution to other es-
adjustments here; that it now had over
-",Hb correspondents abroad and was very
much better known than ever before He
said that the future of the instit,Itior Nv
in having more private funds at its dis
posai ard that on another occasion he
would have asked the regents help in this
matter. 49, o
The permanent fund of the institution
stands at S9l2,UQo. and there are in addition
certain smaller 'furtds. particularly those
received from the Hodgkshs estate, which
area not yet deposited m 1he treasury.
\ room has been prepared for keeping
together the collections % physical aDnara
tus used by Professor Henry and nther
Investigators. Grants have been made to
Various persons during the year. among
whom may be mentioned Mr.. A Lawrence
Rotch. director of the Blue Hill observa-
tory, Massachusetts, for kite experiments
On February r. 1899. one of the automatic
Kites reached the height of 12,JO7 feet, or
neafy one and two-third miles, being the
highest ascent on record. The first Hode-
kins gold medal of the institution was
awarded to Professor Dewar of the RoyaI
institution, Tor his researches on the lique-
lactloh ana solldifaction of atmospheric air
ana other work in connection with LIQUID
air ana the discovery of the magnetic prom
critics of liquid oxygen.
The accessions to the National Museum
numbered over 100000 Specimens Among
these were to be specially mentioned the
great collection made by the late Professor
o. C. Marsh for the geological survey and
the collections made in Porto Rico and
valuable historical objects in connection
with the war with Spain secured through
the Navy Department.
The officers Of the bureau of ethnology
nave mace extensive researches In Califor-
MIA, Arizona, New Brunswick and various
PAGES in New York state, securing further
information concerning the Indians of those
neighborhoods and also very valuable re-
mains.
The exchange service handled o., S35
packages of government and scientific pub
locations during the year.
Geological Park.
The Geological Park has go animals and
within the year steps have been taken,
through the cooperation of the Depart
ment of State, the Navy Department and
the war Department to 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 resulted in Sc
curing some very interesting animals This
Is especially the case in the consignment
received from Commander Todd of the
steamship Wilmington 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
no" the largest carnverous animal in the
world. and which has not Yet been brought
INTO captivity. 1t is hoped to secure speci-
mems 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 better known
than the visible in the time of Newton or
even a generation ago. Probably no work
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.
Post-Graduate Study.
The board next gave unusually full and
deliberate consideration TO a communicate ton
received from committee representing the
American Associatidni Of Agricultural Col
ieges and Experiment Stations, requesting
the institution to organize bureau of
postgraduate studyt.in Washington looking
10 the utilization foFfsuef work of all the
existing scientific government bureaus This
matter had been reftfredt TO a special com
mittee consisting ofsex;Sanator Henderson,
Dr. William l.. WILSON, nProf Alexander
Graham Bell, DR.. J. 's3. eAngell and Repre-
sentative Hit Secretary Langley at his
own request having beer omitted from the
committee. 900 5 r %
A carefully considered report was pre-
scented by the commItteey which will short
~ be printed in full. Itsleoncluding words
were as follows: =" =
The committee d6ss n5t hesitate to ex-
press its warm and decided sympathy viii