The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1908-08-29

change system established between
France and the United States
The National institute of this coun.
try in 1910 set up similar interna-
tiQnal exchange of natural history
specimens. Although the Smithsonian
exchange system had no direct con
neCtion with those established be
tween national governments by NJ.
Vattemare, it soon superseded all 9th
er plans for international exchanges
The institution was founded in 1886
"fer the increase and diffusion of
knowledge among men" TO further
the second term of this bequest, the
first volume of the Smithsonian pub.
licatiOns, on the ancient monuments
of the Mississippi valley, by Squier
and Davis, was issued in lS4S, and
distributed in this country and abroad
The germs of the present exchange
system are evident in the words of the
first secretary, Joseph Henry, who
wrote as early as 1892:
The worth and importance of the
Institution are not to be estimated by
what it aCcumulates within the walls
of its building, but by what it sends
forth to the world It's great mission
is to facilitate the use Of all the i'm,
plements OF research, and to difuse
knowledge, which this use may de
velop. The Smithsonian publications
are sent to some institutions abroad,
and TO the great majority of those
at home, without any return receipt,
save in some cases that of co opera
tion in meteorological and other OBJ
sefvations"
AS now conducted, the rules for the
control of the exchange service pro
vide in addition to the distribution Of
the United States government publica-
tions to foreign libraries, for the dis.
tributiOn abroad of books, pamphlets,
charts and other printed matter sent
as gifts or exchanges from literary and
scientific societies or individuals to
correspondents abroad, without ex-
pCnsC TO tho sender beyond that OF de
livery 10 the Smithsonian institution
in Washington. No charge is made
to the receiver except in some in
stances the cost Of delivery from the
Smithsonian agent or correspondent
nearest to him Similar material sent
from abroad TO this country is for
wardcd to the recipient without cX-
pense TO him, the packages having
been delivered free Of freight charges
TO the foreign agent or correspondent
Of the institution.
The international exchange service
has now grown to huge proportions.
Three paid agencies abroad are main
tanned in London, in Lcipsic and in
budapest The shipments sent abroad
By the Smithsonian exchange service
include practically every organized
community in the world from Ireland
TO South Africa. They are made In
uniform packages or boxes, and ship.
meEts TO smaller communities are sent
whenever enough material has accu
mulated to warrant its transmission
To larger agencies the sc.yice is
weekly. To France, in 1907, went 1873
boxes and l2,OGl packages TO Great
Britain ana Ireland. 30S boxes and %
2I3 packages, and similar amounts t.
other large agencies, supplying in all
nearly 10000 correspondents In re.
turn France sent 4GS7 packages Of
books Great Britain and Ireland T.
927 British America 309, and so on
1t may ne seen from the larger fg
ures on the shipment side that tn"
United States government is more
generous than any other nation in the
matter Of publishing and giving away
Literature Of a scientific and an cduca
tiOnal nature.
The exchange service is limited to
voluntary contributions from recog
nizcd societies institutions or facul-
ties The United States does not un-
dertake TO ship free Of charge books
purchased in different countries, nor
scientific apparatus nor instruments
The exchanges are still administered
for the same purpose as at their begin
ming, for the diffusion Of knowledge
among men