El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-02-01

: peryfsion of the Smithsonian institu-
ton. The researches of the bureau
Of ethnology have done a great work
in preserving for the future the songs,
customs and traditions or the first true
American-the indian
This bureau has collected data con-
corning so linguistic stocks and up
ward of 800 tribes OF indians 1t is
publishing a handbook on the indian,
treating the subjects dealt with only
In broad outline Other handbooks.
dealing with his more important activi-
ties are in course Of preparation The
first IS the handbook of languages, in
two volumes. The arts and industries
are also being treated in separate vol
umes, and handbOOks concerning re-
ligion. folklore. government. pathology
and medicine are in prospect
Geological Work.
The Roosevelt expedition to Africa
bears a peculiar relation TO the Smith
sonian While, officially, the expedI-
ton is under the auspices of the insti-
tuition, not a dollar OF its expense Is
/ being paid by that organization. The
financing of the expedition is being
done by friends of the institution.
That it has been successful in gather
ing much new geological information
and the force Of taxidermists and
other experts at the institution will
be kept busy for months 10 come in
| mounting the specimens that have been
| arriving from Mombasa-
1t would make a long story TO re-
late the details of all the investiga-
lions being made directly 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 IL offered
prize of $500 for the best essay
on the relation Of atmospheric air TO
tuberculosis. and 81 papers on the sub
ject were entered in the contest. These
papers represent the best thought OF
the day on tuberculosis, and form
valuable contribution TO medical liter
| ature. Other Investigations and studies
are stimulated by the offering OF
prizes.
Want to Increase Value.
Useful as the Smithsonian has been
in the past, its officials are anxious
TO increase its value in the future.
Secretary WaIcott declares that the
institution is peculiarly well fitted TO
organize and supervise Investigations
and explorations on which the incom'
of $50. 10000 could be expended wisely
and effectively. He says that the &C
tivities OF the institution are not linn
tied to Investigations in the fields Of
science and art. but that historical and
chronological researches. and statistical
inquiries 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 the fundamental tenden-
cies of the differing races are intelli-
gently understood. not only by the few
but by the many, a practical under
standing OF threatening social condi-
tons is impossible.
Ethnology. anthropology. psychol-
ogy, preventive medicine and educa-
ton are some Of the tools that must be
used in shaping the national. COM
munity and individual life of the flu
ture- The National Gallery OF Art.
which is under the control Of the
Smithsonian, is expected to form the
nucleus Of what may become Americas
| foremost art collection
Publicity to Work.
! In the diffusion OF knowledge the
institution has been no less successful
than in the increase thereof. It 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 il was
for investigation
Through the SmithsOnian's Interna-
| tional Exchange service wonderful
publicity has been given to the re-
searches and Investigations that have
proved of value to the race Through
this service the United States exchanges
sets of all government documents with
the other principal countries of the
world. and partial sets with other coun-
tries This includes all of the scientific
papers published In addition ii serves
as medium 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
knowledge are monographs dealing
, with positive lessons learned from or
iginal research. and hundreds of these
pamphlets go out IN every mail to peo-
pie interested in scientific subjects.
Last year it handled nearly 100000
packages. weighing approximately
half million pounds The service has
more than $4,000 correspondents