New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-21
SCIENTISTS ACTIVE.
Smithsonian Institution Engaged in
Various Investigations.
GFrom The Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington. July 20.-One of the most active
seasons il the history of the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition at Washington is promised in the fiscal
year just begun. That parent OF scientific gov
eminent bureaus and originator OF novel and in
valuable research has mapped out programme
for the work of the coming year, and the scien-
lists in connection with the institution are al
ready in the field. These include fossil re-
searches in the Yukon country. problems in
Switzerland. racial Investigations in Hawaii, an
expedition to view the soIa~ eclipse. and thu
removal of the National Museum. with its
rapidly Increasing collection, to the handsome
new building now in course of construction
The operation of the Smithsonian Institution
is peculiar among the Establishments of the
United States government in that, deriving its
own proper support from the SImthson fund.
a private foundation. it has i'm its charge various
branches Of government scientific work These
branches. to be sure are all of them outgrowths
of researches initiated through the institution
and later adopted and fostered by government
aid. Tho practical Importance of several former
Iuvestlga tons of the institution has been real
fed 10 such an extent that. Ike the bureau OF
fisheries, the Weather Bureau and perhaps
biological bureaus now included In the Depart
rlent OF Agriculture. they have been weaned en-
tlrely and conducted as separate branches Of
the government service.
AS the Smithsonian Institution now operates
there are included under its administration the
National Museum and in connection with it the
National Gallery Of Art. the Bureau of Arneri
can Ethnolosy, the system Of International Ex
changes. the international Catalogue OF Scien-
tifc Literature. the AstrophvsicaI Observatory
and the National Geological Park.
From the income OF the SmithsOn fund and
from contingent funds special researches ara
conducted In fields not covered by other gov
eminent scientific bureaus whether the fields be
the measuring OF pressure and temperature at
great attitudes. the studying of ecIipses. the
tracing of geological strata. or determining the
principles Of flight And for the increase and
diffusion Of knowledge among men, the words
of the Smithson beqUest. many scientific and
popular works are issued to libraries and insti-
buttons throughout the world.
Aided partly by SmiJhson funds and partly h,-
special government appropriations several In
vestigators are at present In the field. c. W
Gilmore, Of the National Museum. is in Alaska
undertaking archaeological explorations with a
special view to securing specimens OF fossil
mammals. MI GnnOre's researches. which fol-
low upon discoveries made several years ago by
Mr.. Maddren. are 10 extend over two seasons
and are confined to the Yukon basin and Buck
land River region
Under n recent Smithsonian grant Bailey
Willis. OF the Geological Survey. is directed 70
proceed 70 Europe for thorough study OF tho
puZzling geological structure OF the Alps and
the theories put forward by European geoIo-
Rists.