the nation is the only instance of such an action in its history. The Institution, then, occupies a peculiar relation to the Government. It is composed as follows: MEMBERS OF THE INSTITUTION. Presiding officer (ex officio): The President of the United States. Chancellor: The Chief Justice of the United States. The Vice-President of the United States. The Secretary of State. The Secretary of the Treasury. The Secretary of War. The Secretary of the Navy. The Postmaster-General. The Attorney-General. The Secretary of the Interior. The Secretary of Agriculture. The high functionaries above-mentioned are its members ex officio, with the exception of the chancellor, who is elected. The law also creates a secretary of the above body, whom it calls "the Secretary of the Institution." ADMINISTRATION. The law further directs that the business of the Institution shall be managed by a Board of Regents, composed of the Vice-President and the Chief Justice of the United States, three Senators, three members of the House of Representatives, and six other eminent persons nominated by a joint resolution of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Secretary of the Institution is also the Secretary of the Board of Regents and their principal executive officer. His duties in this regard are analogous to those of a director. All correspondence should be addressed to him. It will be observed that the immediate and primary object of the Smithsonian Institution, as above constituted, is to administer a certain fund, of which the United States has accepted the custody, for the especial purpose of "the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men," so that its purpose in its most general sense is not limited to the people of the United States of America, but extends to all mankind. This has been interpreted as indicating such a direction of the activities of the Institution as shall result (1) In the increase of knowledge by original investigation and study, either in science or literature. (2) In the diffusion of this knowledge by publication, not only through the United States, but everywhere, and especially by promoting an interchange of thought among those prominent in learning among all nations, through its correspondents. These embrace institutions or societies conspicuous in art, science, or literature throughout the world. Its publications are in three principal issues, namely, the Contributions to Knowledge, the Miscellaneous Collections, and the Annual Report. Numerous works are published annually by it under one of these forms and distributed to its principal correspondents, while there is also published, at the expense of the Government, an edition of the Report of the Board of Regents, containing an account of the operations of the Institution during each year, which is distributed throughout the country by the Congress. The Institution has been authorized by law to deposit its original fund in the Treasury of the United States, and it has further been authorized to accept certain special bequests made by individuals, where these have been such as to promote its general purpose, "the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." Thus, for example, the Institution has accepted and administered a fund which, under the name of the donor, is called "the Hodgkins 'fund," and which is given for the especial purpose of "the increase and diffusion of more exact knowledge in regard to the nature and properties of atmospheric air in connection with the welfare of man." This fund is also deposited in the Treasury of the United States. Other donations have been received and are administered for other specific purposes. The seat of the Institution is at Washington, but its activities reach throughout the world in various ways, and principally through the system of correspondence already referred to. The present number of correspondents is about 24,000, and by means of this system the Institution not only gives, but receives, communications from men of learning in all countries. In this and other ways it has gathered at Washington a special library of books bearing upon the history of arts, sciences, discoveries, and inventions. The library now includes 300,000 titles, the greater proportion of which is, by permission of Congress, deposited in the same building and accessible with the National Library. Besides the above activities, which are carried on with the special fund already referred to, of which the nation has consented to act as the guardian, there are certain bureaus or divisions of the Government which the Legislature has placed in its especial charge, and for the cost of which Congress has, at different times, made special appropriations. In this way it has placed under the charge of the Institution the United States National Museum, the Bureau of International Exchanges, the Bureau of Ethnology, the National Zoological Park, and the Astrophysical Observatory. These also are administered by the Secretary, under the direction of the Board of Regents. The present Secretary of the Institution is S. P. Langley, to whom all communications should be addressed, at Washington. NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK-ENTRANCE TO PARK. April 30, 1894 Senate. Mr. WILLIAM M. STEWART proposed an amendment to sundry civil ́ bill for 1895 (H. 5575): For improving the Adams Mill road for a driveway into the Zoological Park from the entrance thereof, $15,000. Referred to Committee on Appropriations. June 22, 1894 Senate. Mr. I. G. HARRIS reported favorably amendment proposed by Mr. William M. Stewart to District of Columbia bill for 1895 (H. 5481): For grading and macadamizing the Adams Mill road from Columbia road to the Zoological Park, $3,000. August 7, 1894. District of Columbia act for 1895. For opening entrance into Zoological Park, from Woodley Lane road, and opening driveway into Zoological Park, from said entrance along the west bank of Rock Creek, $2,500, to be paid wholly from the revenues of the District of Columbia. (Stat., XXVIII, 251.) January 10, 1895-House. Letter from the Acting Secretary of the Treasury. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, January 9, 1895. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, an estimate of appropriation submitted by the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, under date of the 7th instant, for the construction of a road from the Holt Mansion entrance, on Adams Mill road, into the National Zoological Park, to connect with the roads now in existence, including a bridge across Rock Creek, $15,000. Respectfully, yours, C. S. HAMLIN, Acting Secretary. The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, Washington, D. C., January 7, 1895. SIR: I have the honor to forward herewith an estimate for the sum of $15,000, for the construction of a road in the National Zoological Park. It is desired that, if possible, this estimate be inserted in the "Act making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1896, and for other purposes." I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, S. P. LANGLEY, Secretary. The SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. National Zoological Park: For the construction of a road from the Holt Mansion entrance (on Adams Mill road) into the park, to connect with the roads now in existence, including a bridge across Rock Creek, $15,000. Referred to Committee on Appropriations. February 25, 1895-Senate. Mr. I. G. HARRIS. On page 40 [of the sundry civil bill], after the legislation in respect to the Zoological Park, I move to insert, after line 21: For continuing the entrance into the Zoological Park from Woodley Lane and opening driveway into the Zoological Park from said entrance along the west bank of Rock Creek, $5,000, to be immediately available, which sum is hereby appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, one-half chargeable to the revenues of the District of Columbia. I merely desire to state that the owners of the real estate have dedicated the land free of cost. The roadway is partially constructed and it requires, as I am informed by the District Commissioners, this appropriation to complete it. For continuing the entrance into the Zoological Park from Woodley Lane, and opening driveway into Zoological Park from said entrance along the west bank of Rock Creek, $5,000, to be immediately available, which sum is hereby appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, one-half chargeable to the revenues of the District of Columbia. (Stat., XXVIII, 924.) NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK-REPORT OF EXPENSES. August 18, 1894. The sundry civil act for 1895 provided that "hereafter a report in detail of the expenses on account of the National Zoological Park shall be made to Congress at the beginning of each regular session." (Stat., XXVIII, 384.) NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK-ESTIMATES. December 4, 1893-House. Estimates for 1895. For continuing the construction of roads, walks, bridges, water-supply, sewerage, and drainage, and for grading, planting, and otherwise improving the grounds; for erecting and repairing buildings and inclosures; and for care, subsistence, transportation, and purchase of animals, including salaries or compensation of all necessary employees, and general incidental expenses not otherwise provided for, $50,000. (The Smithsonian Institution estimates for an increase in this item of $25,000 over the present appropriation.) February 8, 1894-House. Deficiency estimates for 1894. For repairs to the Holt mansion to make the same suitable for occupancy, and for office furniture: To pay Devereux & Gaghan, plumbing and gas fitting NOTE. $320.47 14.00 46.00 25.75 20.35 426.57 When the above liabilities were incurred it was supposed that they could be properly paid from the item for "miscellaneous expenditures." The property has been actually in use in the public service for two years past. To reimburse the Smithsonian fund for assuming expenses of labor and materials for repairs urgently necessary for the preservation of the Holt mansion, including the following: C. Burlew, concreting and pitching..... Belt & Dyer, doors and moldings... H. C. Mounie, lathing and plastering. C. W. Dawes, carpentry $60.48 37. 11 173.64 24.00 NOTE.-The amount appropriated by Congress for repairs to the Holt mansion was expended before the roof was covered in, and upon the decision of the Comptroller that it could not be covered in from the item for "expenditures not otherwise provided for" the Smithsonian Institution advanced this sum from its private funds to prevent the destruction by the weather of what had already been done. For amount necessary to pay the bill of V. Baldwin Johnson for coal furnished by him for the National Zoological Park, the certificate of inspection required by section 3811, Revised Statutes, being hereby waived, $4.75. NOTE. This coal was delivered without being weighed and inspected by a bonded inspector. This was done through the ignorance of the dealer, and it was impossible to afterwards rectify the error, as the coal was consumed. It was weighed and inspected by the officers of the Park, and the account is known to be correct and just in all respects except in that of fulfilling the technical condition of being verified by a bonded inspector. December 3, 1894-House. Estimates for 1896. For continuing the construction of roads, walks, bridges, water-supply, sewerage, and drainage, and for grading, planting, and otherwise improving the grounds; erecting and repairing buildings and inclosures; care, subsistence, transportation, and purchase of animals, including salaries or compensation of all necessary employees, and general incidental expenses not otherwise provided for, $75,000. January 28, 1895-House. Deficiency estimates for 1895, etc. For repairs to the Holt mansion to make the same suitable for occupancy, and for office furniture: To pay Devereux & Gaghan, plumbing and gas fitting $320.47 14.00 46.00 25.75 20.35 426.57 NOTE.-When the above liabilities were incurred it was supposed that they could be properly paid from the item for "miscellaneous expenditures." The property has been actually in use in the public service for three years past. To reimburse the Smithsonian fund for assuming the expenses of labor and materials for repairs urgently necessary for the preservation of the Holt mansion, including the following: C. Burlew, concreting and pitching. Belt & Dyer, doors and moldings... $60.48 37.11 |