Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-03
The Smithsonian Institution
Bv Frederic j. HaSkin

ogy have done a great work in pre-
serving for the future the songs, Gus
toms and traditions of the first true
American-the Indian. This bureau
has collected data concerning sixty
linguistic stocks and upward of 300
tribes of Indians. 1t is publishing
handbook on the Indian, treating the
subjects dealt with only in broad out
line. other handboolIs, dealing with
his more important activities. are in
course of preparation. The first is the
handbook of languages, in two vol
umes. The arts and industries are also
being treated in separate volumes, and
handboOks concerning religion, folk
lore, government, pathology and modi-
cine are in prospect.
The Roosevelt expedition to Africa
bears a peculiar relation to the Smith
sonian. While officially the expedition
is under the auspices of the institution,
not a dollar of its expenses is being
paid by that organization. The flnanc-
ing of the expedition is being paid by
friends of the institution" That it
has been successful in gathering much
new geological information is vouched
for by Secretary Walcott, and the force
of taxidermists and other experts at
the institution will be kept busy for
months to come in mounting the spec
linens that have been arriving from
Mombassa.
1t would make a long story to relate
the details of all the investigations be-
irg made direct or indirectly through
the Smithsonian 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
a prize of $1500, for the best essay on
the relation of atmospheric air to tu-
LerculosiS, and eighty-one papers on
subject were entered in the con-
test. These papers represent the best
thought of the day on tuberculosis and
form valuable contribution to medi-
cal literature. { her Investigations and
studies are stimulated by the Offering
of prizes.
Useful as the Smithsonian has been
in the asst its officials are anxious to
increase it's value in the future Sec
retary Walcott declares that the insti-
tuition is peculiarly well fitted to or
ganize and supervise Investigations and
explorations on which the income of
$20,00O000 Id be expended wisely and
effectively He says that the activ-
tiles Of the institution are not limited
to Investigations in the fields of science
and art, but that historical and ethnol-
ogical researches, and statistical in
quiries with reference to physical,
moral and political subjects are also
within its province.
The secretary sees great need for a
fearless, thorough, scientific study of
the elements entering into the race
problems of the Americas. He feels
that until '7e fundamental tendencies
of the differing races are intelligently
understood, not only by the few but
by the many, a practical understand
ing of threatening social conditions is
impossible. Ethnology, anthropology
psychology, preventive medicine and
education are some of the tools that
must be used in shaping the national,
community and individual life of the
future. The national gallery c art
which is under the control of the
Smithsonian, is expected to form the
nucleus of what may become Amer
icas foremost art collection.
In the diffusion of knowledge the in
stitution has been no less successful
than in the increase thereof. 1t was
recognized by Smithson that there
should be a sort of international clear
ing house of knowledge where the
progress of each individual and of
each nation could be given to the
world. Therefore his bequest was as
much for the diffusion of knowledge"
as it was for investigation. Through
the Smithsonian international exchange
service wonderful publicity has been
given to the researches and investiga-
tions that have proved of value to the
race. Through this service the United
States exchanges sets Of all govern
ment documents with the other princi-
nal countries of the world, and partial
sets with other countries. This in
cludes all Of the scientific papers pub
lished. In addition it serves IS med
ium of exchange between all of the
colleges, universities, learned societies
and institutions of the United States
and those of foreign countries. The
Smithsonian contributions to knowl-
edge are monographs dealing with pos
tive lessons learned from original re-
search, and hundreds of these pamph-.
let's go out in every mail to people in
terested in scientific subjects Last year
il handled nearly a quarter million
packages, weighing approximately a
half million pounds. The service has
more than sixty thousand correspond
ents.
Tomorrow-The Leather Industry.