Evening star., 1925-10-12
MIDDLETON SMITH
CLAIMED BY DEATH
Arctic Explorer and Veteran
u. S. Worker Dies at
Age of 78.

Middleton Smith, IS years old,
Arctic explorer and author on numer-
Gus scientific subjects, who had an
unusual career in Government service
for IL years. died at his residence,
1924 Euclid street. last night after
an illness lasting since January. He
was retired in 1922 from the Depart
ment of Agriculture. where he had
charge of statistical work 20 years.
Mr.. Smith knew both the late Adj
miral Peary ana DIR. Cook intimately
and was asked. officially. to give an
opin!on on whether Admiral Peary
and DR. Cook had reached the North
Pole. This opinion Is to be found in
the congressional records. AS vice
president Of the Arctic Club OF New
York, Mr. Smith was ii member of
party which met DIR. Cook on his re-,
turn to New York after visiting the
Arctic circle.
Went to Arctic in 1881.
Mr.. Smiths first work with the
Government was in 1881. when he vol
unteered his services in connection
with international polar work. He
was a member OF the Point Barrow
polar expedition of the year last men
toned and spent two years with 1t In
the Arctic as il naturalist and OBJ
server.
He assisted in editing reports both
of that expedition and the Lady Frank
lin Bay expedition. 1883 and 1890.
Mr.. Smith was special Government
agent in the United States eleventh
census. 1S90-a+, and from that time To
1900 did statistical work in the Bureau
of Statistics. United States Treasury
Department From 1900 until his re-
tirement III 1922, he was doing stads-
teal work for the Department of
Agriculture.
Although having reached the retires
ment age when the retirement act
went into effect in 1920. Mr.. Smith
was retained as statistican in the De
partment Of Agriculture for two more
years by special request of the Secre-
tary of Agriculture.
Author of Many Works.
Mr. Smith served as a delegate from
the Department of Agriculture to the
Eighth international Geographic Con
gress of 1904. to which he contributed
an article. The Range and Habit of
the Resident Birds of Point Barrow.
Ala ska"
He was also author Of numerous
other scientific subjects and bulletins.
Among these were Agricultural
Graphics," Bulletin IS. Department Of
Agriculture. and was joint author with
DIR. O. +. Baker and X. G. Hainsworth
of "A Geographic Summary of Amer
lean Agriculture. and Yearbook. De
partment of Agriculture, 1917. Other
publications of which he was author
We're How to Give Elementary Les
sons in Zoology" Life and Supersti-
tions of the Eskimo Gardening in
Northern Alaska and Primitive
Methods of the Capture of the Bow
head Polar Whale
Mr.. Smith was the inventor Of the
single dot system for graphically
showing crops and live stock, based
upon the United States census of 1910
He was a member of the American
Association for the Advancement OF
Science, the Explorers Club and the
Arctic Club of New York, of which
he was one-time vice president. and
was also an active member OF the
Republican Club of this city.
Mr.. Smith was native OF Balm
bridge, Pa, and is survived by his
widow, Mrs Marie Van Hook Smith
Funeral services will be conducted
at the residence Wednesday morning
at II o'clock. Rev. John j. Queally
will officiate. Interment will be in
Congressional Cemetery