The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-24
RESEARCHES In SCIENCE
Report of the Secretary of the
Smithsonian Institution.
Board of Regents Hold Their Annual
Mceting-The Extensive BioEraphi-
cal and chronological Researches
Conducted - The Disposition of
the Remains of John Smithson.

The progress and results of many in
teresting scientific investigations, con-
Quoted under the direction of the Smith
sonian Institution. were presented at the
annual meeting of the Board Of Regents,
held yesterday morning. With other bust
ness, the annual report of the Secretary
was submitted in which were considered
at length the extensive biographical. eth
biological, and other researches carried on
in all parts of the world.
The Secretary's report, covering the
year ending June 80, 1900, showed that
scientific researches were carried on in
many directions. Experiments have been
made with the light emitted from certain
substances kept in absolute darkness. and
by this light photographs have been
taken. a most striking investigation
was that undertaken at the Blue Hill OBJ
servatory by Mr.. Lawrence Rotch, his
experiments having to do with kites
which had reached the extraordinary
height of nearly three miles. and with
space telegraphy. 1t was found that
when the distances between stations were
increased. The long wires which support
ed the kites collected. so much electricity
as to interfere with the messages sent
from station to station. The institution
has continued to support table at the
Naples Biological Station, which has been
occupied by American students.
The Secretary announced that the in
stftution had undertaken the publication
OF great work on the standards OF color,
which will give in an absolute form, a
large number OF colors and shades, which
are found IN nature, as well as those
which are employed in the arts. An en-
deavor will be made to give standard CON-
mon names to them, and for scientific pur-
poses to fix their exact wave lengths in
the Spectrum, so that even IL colors fade
in the book absolute standards will
have been established for scientific use.
The value OF this work will not be con-
fined to naturalists, but will be equally
useful to the artist the dyer, and the
manufacturer.
The officers of the Bureau OF Ethnology
havo made extensive researches in vari-
o"s parts Of the country, and important
results have been obtained and some
studies carried on in Cuba, Jamaica, and
the Philippine Islands.
The Geological Park has received many
important additions during the year, and
now has 800 animals. Quite a large num-
Der Of improvements to the animal houses
have been made and a temporary house for
birds has been built.
The Secretary reminded the regents
that. while the great herds of buffalo had
been suffered to perish from off the earth
by lack of any protection from Congress,
the same experience was now about to re-
peat itself with regard to the great ami
mails of Alaska, where the largest carni-
vorous animal on the planet. the Kodiak
bear and the giant moose have nearly dis
appeared. The Secretary had made earnest
representations to Congress for several
years on the subject without effect, anG
unless something was done this year or
the next the final end OF these animals
might soon be expected.
Most interesting work was carried on
during the year in connection with the
observation OF the eclipse of the sun of
May Is 1900. the institution sending a
party to Wadesboro, N c. which made
numerous observations. and secured most
excellent results in the way OF photo
graphs While there were many interest
ing observations, the most important were
those looking toward the discovery OF an
intramercurial planet. and on the heat Of
the Corona These observations it was in
tended to improve, extend, and correct by
the observations of small Smithsonian
tAPthiAloh ~ LOT tue eclipse Oh
the present year.
The report Of the executive committee
showed that the permanent fund now de-
posted in the United States Treasury is
1912 600, and that the institution holds
other funds amounting 10 s42, 000
The board considered a resolution of
fered at the last annual meeting by Pro-
Alexander Graham Bell for "the utillza-
tion of the Government departments for
the purposes of research" and after con-
siderable discussion the following amend
ed resolution was adopted:
in order to facilitate the utilization of
the Government departments for the pur-
poses of research, in extension of the
policy enunciated by Congress in the
joint resolution approved April u, 1892:
Resolved. That it is the sense OF the
board that it is desirable that Congress
extend this resolution so as to afford IA
cilities for study for all properly quail
fled students or graduates of universi-
ties, other than those mentioned in the
resolution. and provide for the appoint
ment of an officer whose duty il shall be
to ascertain and make known what facili-
ties for research exist in the Government
departments, and arrange with the heads
Of the departments. and with the officers
in charge of Government collections, on
terms satisfactory to them. rules and reg
ulations under which suitably qualified
persons may have access to these col
lections for the purpose of research, with
due regard TO the needs and require
ments OF the work OF the Government;
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