The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-01
a Virginian Page for Each Member Of the Family
The Smithsonian Institute.
special Correspondence to The virstnIan.
By FREDERIC j. HASKIN.

special Correspond
When James Smithson wrote his
win making bequest of half mil
Hon dollars for the founding OF an
institution for ethe increase and DIFF
fusion of knowledge among men," he
buildcd better than he knew. He had
become Disguised with his titles.
which profited him nothing. and oe-
remembered when all hts relatives
we're forgotten. Perhaps never in MIS-
tory has half million dollars yield
cd such splendid returns as that with
which Smtthson endowed the instr
tuition that bears his name. From the
time that 1t was established this or
ganfxation has led the scientific
thought OF the New World. 1t has
been Americas lookout upon the
watch towers of science.
When American science was in it's
swaddling clothes. the Smithsonian
Institution was it's wet nurse. In
the early days of the country men
were so intent upon forest conquer
ing and empire building that they had
little inclination and less opportunity
for scientific thought or original re-
search. But the Smithsonian took
the neglected infant into Its care ana
nourlshed it until to-day American
science Is respected throughout the
world.
- Tire science OF meteorotogy had it's
beginnings at the Institution. and the
worlds first weather map was pub,
lished there. Its second secretary,
Spencer F. Baird, practically estab-
lished the science Of fish culture and
organized the United States Fish
Commission. It's third secretary. Fro
lessor Langley, gathered the data upon
which Is based the budding science
Of aeronautics. These are only ex-
arnpies of the many things the In-
stftHtion has done In carrying out its
founders purpose-'the increase and
diffusion OF knowledge among men"
Langfey's FavOrite Theory.
1t was q favorite theory OF the late
Professor Langley that the sun does
not throw out uniform heat, and
that the variations In Its production
of heat have an intimate relation to
changes in the weather. He believed
that he could prove his theory that
the sun sometimes ioafs on Its job.
Having proved his inference that
there are fluctuations in the heat Of
the sun, he set about to determine
the laws OF this variation. believing
that with these causes discovered he
could make long range forecast OF
the weather as accurately as the AS
tronomer forecasts the changes Of the
moon. Professor Langley died In tho
midst of this work. but 1t has been
taken up by his assistant. Director
Abbot.
Think what benefits would result
II Director Abbot should be able to
establish the Langley theory! The
farmer could know in, advance what
the season was going to be. II a
wet season were assured he could
plant crop requiring plenty of
moisture, and II dry season were
indicated he could plant O crop UNI
affected by dry weather. The ocean
voyager could time his comings and
goings so as to escape the storms
Of the sea. The big fairs and other
open air meetings could plan their
programs SO as to escape Indictment
weather. A Thousand advantages
would come to man through accu-
rate long range weather forecasting
OF course Director Abbot is making
no positive promise that he will be
able to accomplish these things, but
he Is assured that there will be re-
suits important only In a less de-
gree.
Many Special Investigations.
Various other original inyestlga-
t3onS nre being made under the
direct supervision OF the Smithsonian
institution. The researches of the
Bureau OF Ethnology have done
great work In preserving for the
future the songs, customs and ira
dftions OF the first true Americans
the Indian. This bureau has coli
1ected data concerning sixty linz
guisttc stocks and upward of three
hundred tribes Of Indians. It II pub
li&htng a handbook on the Indian,
treating the subjects dealt with only
in broad outline.
The Roosevelt expedition to Africa
bears a peculiar relation to the
Smithsonian. While. officially, the ex-
petition In under the auspices OF the
institution. not dollar Of us ex-
penses is being paid by that organi-
ration. The financing Of the expedi-
ton Is being done by friends OF the
institution" That It has been sue
cessful In gathering much new
geological Information Is youched for
by Secretary Walcott, and the force
OF t1x1dermtztS and other experts
at the institution will be kept busy
for months to come In mounting the
specimens that have been arriving
from Momhaasa.
1t would make a long story to re-
late the details OF all the investi-
cations being made directly or In
directly through the Smithsonian In
stitution. They cover nearly every
field of human knowledge, though In
many cases the funds at Its disposal
limit the range of the work.
Nor Future Work.
Useful as the Smithsonian has been
in the past. its officials are anxious
to increase ita value In the future.
Secretary Wsicott declares that the
institution - peculiarly well fitted to
organfxS ard supervise investigations
and explorations on which the income
of $40. 900. 900 could be expended
wisely and effectively. He says that
the activities Of the Institution are not
limited to investigations In the fields
-xt~,au - bs.x xha& 1