Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-21
TELLS Of YEARS WORK
Secretary of Smithsonian In
stitution Reports.
COVERS VERY WIDE FIELD
Includes Museum, Art Gallery, Zoo
Park and Other Bureaus.
RESOURCES ARE LIMITED
Describes Researches Conducted by
Several Observation-Disclosures
tions Under Hodgkins Fund.
RESOURCES ARE LIMITED

The report of Charles D. Walcott. secre-
tary of the Smithsonian Institution, for
the last fiscal year has just been submit
ted. telling of the work done during that
period by the National Museum. the Ma
tional Gallery of Art, bureau of Amer-
can ethnology, the international ex-
changes. the National Geological Park
and the astrophysical observatory. In
part Secretary Walcott says:
although the resources of the instltu-
ton proper are at present too limited to
permit OF large grants for extensive ex-
plorations or Investigations, as far as the
income allows aid Is given in various
lines of research work, and it is some
times found possible to engage in expedi-
lions likely to accomplish important re-
suits. During the year the secretary
continued his studies Of the older sedt-
mentary rocks Of the North American
continent which he has been carrying on
for twenty years. During the field sea-
sons covered by the report this work was
conducted in the Canadian Rockies. Many
thousand feet Of strata were measured
and collections Of fossils and rocks made
from many localities.
Crater-Form Depression.
LII. VI. Z =. MSt VI tuO hIuScuIl Cou>
Guided an investigation Of a remarkable
crater-form depression in the desert near
Canyon Dfablo. Arizona, three-fourths OF
a mile across and 500 feet deep, the origin
Of which has been much disputed. 1t
was concluded not to be an extinct vol
cano, but to have been caused by the i'm
pact Of some gigantic meteor striking the
earth at a prehistoric date. There has
not been discovered any meteoric fall on
earth equal to this.
IAN expedition to Alaska under Mr.. c.
w. Gilmore Of the National Museum. in
search Of remains Of large extinct verte-
brate animals. brought back many bones
showing a variation from those of the
present living species.
"Other researches were conducted by
Mr.. Bailey Willis of the United States
geological survey on the geology of the
Alps; by DR.. A. G. Webster on absolute
measurement of sound. with practical ref
erence to deafness, fog signals and sound
insulation; by Prof. r. W. Clarke, chair
man Of the international commission on
atomic weights. on rehabilitation OF these
weights: by Prof E. L. Nichols of Cor
nell on properties of matter at very low
temperatures; by Miss Alice Eastwood on
certain botanical species, and by num-
Der Of others.
Under the Hodgkins Fund.
Under the Hodskins fund special
fund for specified purpose. 81 800 was
offered as a prize for the best treatise
on The Relation Of Atmospheric Air to
tuberculosis In connection with the in
ternational congress on tuberculosis, held
in Washington this fall. Investigations as
to the action of air flowing at high
pressure through nozzle were made by
Prof. w. P. Bradley Of Wesleyan Uni
versity. Prof. A. Lawrence Rotch of Blue
Hill. Mass. was aided in studying the
atmosphere up to a height OF over ten
miles. These latter studies were made
with free balloons carrying self-register
ing instruments, and recorded tempera-
lures as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit
below zero about eight miles from the
beyond 1t as far as the balloons went.
Researches on the air sacs of the pigeon
by Bruno Muller OF the University of
Prague were published and Investigations
on the mechanics Of the earth's atmos-
phere collected by DR.. Cleveland Able of
aided.
THE United States National Museum
received during the year over 100000
specimens relating to many branches Of
science. The most important loan addi-
ton to the historical collections was the
American flag, nearly thirty feet square.
which hoated over'Fort McHenry during
the war of 1872. and which was the in
spiration for the writing Of the verses of
The Star-Spangled Banner" by Francis
Scott Key. Relating to ethnology and
biology. there were received. as in for
from DR.. w. l.. Abbott and Maj. Edgar
A. Mearns. Many geological and botan-
ical specimens have been deposited by
the Department of Agriculture. the bu-
reau Of fisheries and other government
institutions.