The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-10


 By this. not the United States but the people of the United States became the benehciaries of a bequest of $515 169 in English gold, which was brought over by special agent, coined into American money at Philadelphia, and placed in the treasury al Washington. On this money the government has pledged itself to pay per cent Interest forever. As the money lay idle for eight years before the Con gress decided what to do with 1t. interest accumulated and since then many be- quests. large and small have augmented the original principal until 1t now mounts to s979,O00. The income from this private fund is now over $60,000 a year. and as the goVernment allows the bureaus under the institution's supervision S500,000 a year for research work, the funds seem ade- quate for the perfection of the work at present planned
 b Great controversy was provoked among the mighty men of the nation before the acceptance of the bequest was decided upon. Calhoun and Preston argued stormily against the people accepting a gift of the kind. claiming that it was beneath the dignity of the nation to take such offerings from outsiders. John Quincy Adams led the more liberal minded faction and it was decided to accept the gift. 1t was long time, however, be- fore there was a definite decision as to its use. Every kind of educational plant and institution was suggested from moral schools and lecture bureaus, to schools for the blind.
 Finally it was decided to develop such an idea as that proposed by Prof. Joseph Henry of Princeton-establish an insti- tuition for scientific research, publish the results of each investigation, and place a copy of the publication in every first class library on the face of the earth. An act passed in 1646 provided for this use of the Smithson fund and named the President of the United States the vice president the secretaries of the depart ments the chief justice, the commissioner of patents, and the mayor of the city of Washington as the persons to consti- tue an establishment for the direction of such an institution. The institution was to be directed by a board of regents, composed of three of these with three representatives, three senators and six "citizens' of the United States
 A building was then erected to suit the needs of so great scientific establish ment. The United States government gave site on the mall and on this was erected of red stone an excellent em- republication of the Norman or Lombard style of architecture a style which ante dates the Gothic, and which harmonizes admirably with the surroundings. Here were placed from time to time results of expeditions, practical proofs of re- search and exploration, until the exhibits outsrew their quarters and on the mall near the Smithsonian the government later erected building known as the National museum, which now houses most of these exhibits.
 A noble building of white marble is now being erected in the mall, just op- posite the Smithsonian, for the accom- modation of the National museum, which has long since outgrown it's present quar- ters In this new home the exhibits will be so arranged as to afford the visitor opportunity to see what he is looking for without trouble. From the coat that George Washington wore al Valley Forge to the swords of officers who fought at Fl Caney, the national history is pre- served and Illustrated in hallowed ma terial form. The first rude telegraph in- strument, the experimental stages of the telephone-but there are more than 60O0,000 things to see in the National museum.
 The great need for such an institution is best realized when 1t Is recalled that in its earliest days the Smithsonian was with one or two small exceptions. the sole representative of active scientific work in this country. Wise men have served as secretaries to the institution, a position of great influence and respon- sibility. Only four has the Smithsonian known in this capacity in the sixty-nne years of its existence, each being iden- tified with some important scientific work Dr. Joseph Henry, the first secretary was noted for his experiments with the electro magnet and on his discoveries