Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-02
Some Things You Want to Know
The Smithsonian Institution.

done a great deal IN preserving for the
future the songs. customs and traditions
OF the first true American-the Indian.
This bureau has collected data concerning
sixty linguistic stocks and upwards OF 800
tribes Of Indians. II is publishing q hand
hook on the Indian, treating the subjects
dealt with only in broad outline. Other
hand books, dealing with his more impor-
rant activities. are IN course OF prepare
tion The first Is the hand book OF Ian
guages, In two volumes. The arts and
industries are also being treated IN separate
volumes. and hand books concerning
religion, folk lore, government, pathology
and medicine are In prospect.
The Roosevelt experition to Africa bears
a peculiar relation TO the Smithsonian.
while. officially, the expedition II under
the auspices OF the institution, not a dol
lar Of its expenses is being paid BY that
organization. The financing Of the expedi-
ton is being lone by friends OF the in
stitution." That II has been SUCCESSFUL in
gathering much new geological Information
ls vouched for by Secretary walcott and
the force OF taxidermists and other ex-
psrts at the institution will be kept busy
for months to come in mounting the speci-
mtIlh lnhl naNN DtCH dAIlNlhb AIOhh AVth-
bassa.
1t would make a long story TO relate the
details Of all the Investigations being made
directly or Indirectly through the Smith
sonian institution. They cover nearly
every field OF human knowledge, though
In many cases the funds at its disposal
limit the range Of the work, Two years
ago It offered q prize Of 1850 for the best
- -, Nta ,iaNgon - satunnmnharNk air
to tuberculosis, and sighty-one papers on
the subject were entered in the contest
These papers represent the best thought of
tho day on tuberculosis, and form a waltz
able contribution to medical literature
Other Investigations and studies are tint
lated by the offering Of prizes.
Useful as the Smithsonian has been In
the past, it's officials are anxious to In
crease its value in the future, Secretary
Walcott declares that the institution Ii
peculiarly well fitted to organize and
sapSrvlss Investigations md authorizations
on which the income Of $2o,0oO,0oo could be
expended wisely and effectively. He says
that the aCtivitles OF the institution are
not limited to Investigations in the fields
OF science and art, but that historical and
chronological researches, and statistical in
quiries with references to physical, moral
and political subjects are also within It's
province
The secretary sees great need for q fear
less, thorough. scientific study OF the eie-
ments entering into the race problems OF
the Americas He feels that until the
fundamental tendencies of the differing
races are inteiligently understood, not only
by the few but by the many, a practical
understanding of threatening social condi-
lions is impossible. Ethnolosv, anthfo-
pology, Psychology, preventive medicine
and education are some OF the tools thhi
must be used In shaping the. national
community and individual life Of the future
The national gallery Of art, which Is I'm.
der the control OF the Smithsonian, IL ex.
pected to form the nucleus Of what ma,
become Americas foremost art collection.
In the diffusion Of knowledge the In
stitution has been nc less successful thai
, In the Increase thereof. 1t was recognize,
: by smithson that there should be q sort o
Z international clearing house of knowledge
!, where the progress OF each Individual an
/ OF each nation could be given to the world
|, Therefore his bequest was as much for tn.
, diffusion of knowledge as It was for in
v~estigation. Through the Smithsonian,
International exchange service wonderful
puDlclLy n&S DSen BlNcH 10 the EcbtlECnc
l and Investigations that have proved o
/, value to the race. Through this servic
|, the United States exchanges sets OF al
: government documents with the othe
principal countries Of the world. ana partia
>, sets with other countries. This include
, all Of the scientific papers published. Ii
addition It serves as a medium. Of ex
/. change between all Of the colleges, uni
!, versities, learned societies and Institution
I OF the United States and those OF forelgi
/, countries. The Smithsonian contribution
! to knowledge are monographs dealing wit
> positive lessons learned from original re
|, search. and hundreds OF these pamphlet
90 out in every mali to people intereste
in scientific subjects. Last year IL handle,
nearly 10000 packages. Weighing approxi
mately $1,000 pounds. The service Ia
more thai 10000 correspondents.
: Bx FREDE1Io J. KAgKm.
3 TomOrrOw-The Leather Industry.