The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-10-10

OU4sl0 6Am II OOloB ulu U0ot - Inc
dissemination Of literature. He ID at
the head Of . mighty international
book exchange which annually handles
about 100000 packages Of books az
grsgating half . million pounds in
weight, and which are distributed to
al parts Of the globe. 1t IL the gov
srnments clearing house for ofncial
and scientific literature. and 10 known
~ the international exchange system
or the Smithsonian exchanges.
Most Of the shipments made contain
full sets Of United States government
documents fer authorised repositories.
and the balance consist Of depart.
mental and other publications for
miscellaneous correspondents. The
lists Of Smithsonian exchange CORE
spondents include about 10000 sepa-
rate addresses.
These figures furnish some idea Of
the large scope Of operation Of sys-
tenn which. outside the scientific and
academic world. u not generally
known. DR.. Cyrus Adler, assistant
secretary Of the Smithsonian Institu-
ton. in charge Of the library and ex-
changes, explained recsntly the pur-
pose and work Of this International lit
erary clearing house. i..-..
1.-THE exchange service" he said, rs
almost a. old ~ the institution itself.
It was originally designed for the pur-
pose Of exchanging Smithsonian pub
locations for those Of other learned 20
cieties and faculties. Through the &C
ton Of congress and through treaty
negotiated with various foreign coun-
tries. to which many nations have
since adhered, 1t has become IN i'm
portant International agency for the
exchange Of governmental, scientific
and literary publications. 1t II devised
to beneflt the institutions in this coun-
try and abroad. serving n one Of the
most important means for carrying
out the fundamental purpose Of the in
stitution. the increase and diffusion Of
knowledge among men,
ut Il through this system that tho
original documents. reports Of scien-
the experiments. oflicial transactions
Of societies, governmental publications
and like productions are sent to the H.
braries and kindred institutions of the
world, At . great saving of labor and
expense. Instead Of each society. as
ISOLATION or academy sending docu-
ments to thousand others, q constant
circulation IL maintained through the
medium of the Smithsonian Institu-
don.
The operation of an onicial ex-
change bureau Of this sort gains the
benefits of centralized effort. When
boxes and packages are properly
stamped BY the Smithsonian Institu-
ton and marked international Elk
changes customs inspection 10
waived. For . long time many steam
ship lines went 10 far ~ to provide
free transportation on all packages
Of Smithsonian exchanges. Further
privileges. such a. the waving Of Ger
tain consular fees ON bills Of lading
are enjoyed BY the exchange system,
making It altogether of great service
not only to the government which sup
ports It, but to its citizens ~ well.
The government appropriation avail
able for this service during the pres
emit year 10 $4,000"
The idea Of an international liter
airy exchange system IL not new. 1t
was arst permanently established 70
years ago BY H. Alexandra vattemafe
Of PafIs. Al early a. 1894, how
ever, the royal library Of France,
authorized by King Louis XIV. con-
Quoted an international exchange for
several years. and the American Phil
osophical society bounded in 1743)
and the American Academy Of Arts
and Sciences BOUNDED in 1880.
at the beginning Of the ninsteenth cen
tury, traded their proceedings and
transactions for those Of foreign scien-
tic societies. Mr.. vattemare's Of.
forts began in 1889, when he succeed
cd In interesting many learned men Of
Europe in his plans. In 1893 he visit
Cd the United States and obtained the
Endorsement Of many leading Ameri-
cans, among them Washington Irving,
Joel r. Poinsett, then secretary Of
war; Cuban C. verplanck, and also
the governments Of . number of cities.
On his second visit to this county hs
was designated ~ the agent Of tho L.
brary Of Congress to conduct tie az
change system established between
France and the United States.
The National institute of this coun-
try in 1910 set up . similar internA-
tional exchange Of natural history
specimens. Although the Smithsonian
exchange system had no direct COZ
nection with those established b.