Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-27
Plans for New Buildings.

At its last session Congress authorized
the construction of fireproof building for
the use of the National Museum at
cost not to exceed $3.5OO,O00. The plans
for this structure are now practically nm
ished, and borings for the foundation have
been made. The actual work will begin IN
warm weather. though it will probably be
three or four years before the building is
completed
Two hundred and thirty-sx thousand
specimens We're received, making the
present total over $3.50 600, and about 33,Oo3
objects were distributed to educational es-
adjustments Among the most int. esting
accessions were those illustrating the ma
tive arts and industries of Sumatra and the
Straits Settlements, collected by -. w. l..
Abbott series of models of United States
war vessels and of land and naval ord
nance; and some relics of General and Mrs.
Grant, of much intrinsic and historic in
terest.
After paying tribute to the late Major
John w. Powell, the first director of the
bureau of American ethnolOgy, the report
describes the continuance of the work, I'M
der the direction of its new chief. Prof. W..
H. Holmes. Systematic field work has been
successfully prosecuted in many states and
territories, and in Santo Domingo ana
Porto Rico. The preparation of the die
tiOnary of Indian tribes has been taken up
with renewed VigOr.
The number of correspondents and bene-
ficiaries of the international exchange serF-
ice is now over A $50.
In the National Geological Park a new
elephant house has been built. In view OF
the increased number of buildings IN the
park each one of which has now TO De
provided with it's own heating apparatus
it is recommended that a special pulldlns
in the park, lying within a reasonable
radius, be erected for a central heating
plant Much interest has been SHOWN III
the park by our officers abroad, OF whon
there may be specially mentioned DT: r.
w. Cooling, United States consul at New
NNalE xuhn
more than 14O specimens from that region
Astrophysical Observatory.
An astrophysical observatory has been
enriched by a large horizontal telescope 10
be used for studies of special portions OF
the solar radiation. Results of uncommon
interest have been reached in the polo
gre phic work, and it has been SHOWN tllal
the earth's atmosphere has Deen more
OPAQUE than usual within the present
calendar year, SO as to reduce the dlrect
| radiation of the sun at the earth's surface
by about ten per cent throughout inc
whole visible spectrum, and by more IMAM
double this amount in the blue ana Vloiet
portions of the spectrum. This ALTERATION
of the transparency of the air has not peea
confined to the region of Washington. a
new determination of the temperature OF
the sum- based Ton the distribution OF the
solar radiation in the spectrum, has yleioeo
result of $500 degrees of the 3centiSrade
scale above absolute zero. A horizontal re-
fecting telescope of 14o-feot focus and 10
inch aperture, and coelostat OF improved
construction, to furnish at all times -
inch horizontal northerly directed solar
beam, has been provided. The most in
teresting part of the results consists III
showing notable variation of atmos-
pheric transparency which is likely to have
affected climate and the growth OF Vege-
tation over considerable part of the
earthS surface, and in the studies relating
to the solar constant, that there seems
renewed 1promise of progress toward the
goal 'foretelling by such means those re-
| moter changes of weather which affect
harvests," which is one of the aims had i'll
view In the foundation of the observatory.
The question of vandalism and exploita-
ton for commercial purposes and archaso-
logical sites having been brought to the at
tention of the board, the following resolu-
ton was adopted:
Resolved. that the passage by Congress
of an act for the preservation of archaeo-
logical objects on the public domain IS
in the national interest, and would aid in
promoting the science of archaeology and
ethnolosy; and that the secretary be re-
quested to present to the Congress the draft
! Of bill having this end in view.