80 



Department was given administrative responsibility. The first 

 marine hospital constructed with Federal funds was completed in 

 1800. 



The U.S. Public Health Service traces its beginning to these 

 hospitals. (1 Stat. 605) 



April 24, 1800: Library of Congress was established by law ap- 

 proved April 24, 1800. (2 Stat. 56) 



February 10, 1807: Coast Survey established under administrative 

 direction of the Secretary of the Treasury by Act of Congress. 

 (Act of February 10, 1807; 2 Stat. 413) 



February 19, 1818: Surgeon General's Office and the Army Medical 

 Department established with authority to prevent and treat dis- 

 ease and to collect weather data for processing and analysis. (3 

 Stat. 408) 



1830: Secretary of the Navy established a Depot of Charts and In- 

 struments, which later evolved into the Naval Observatory. 



June 14, 1836: Secretary of the Treasury was directed to cause a 

 complete set of all the weights and measures adopted as stand- 

 ards to be delivered to the Governor of each State for the use of 

 the States. (Resolution No. 7; 5 Stat. 133) 



July 4, 1836: Permanent office of commissioner of patents created. 

 (Act of July 4, 1836; (5 Stat. 117) 



August 31, 1842: By act of Congress a sum of $25,000 was author- 

 ized for a building for the Navy Depot of Charts and Instru- 

 ments, later the Naval Observatory. 



August 10, 1846: The Smithsonian Institution was chartered by 

 Congress. Initial endowment came from gift of $500,000 from 

 James Smithson in 1829. (9 Stat. 103) 



March 3, 1849: Department of the Interior was established, taking 

 over the General Land Office from the Treasury Department, the 

 Office of Indian Affairs from the War Department, and the Pen- 

 sion Office and the Patent Office, which had been independent 

 offices. (9 Stat. 395) 



May 15, 1862: U.S. Department of Agriculture established. Among 

 its missions was the systematic application of scientific methods 

 to agriculture. The department was elevated to Cabinet status in 

 1889. (12 Stat. 387, ch. 72) 



July 2, 1862: Morrill Act or Land Grant College Act passed provid- 

 ing for establishment in each state of at least one college to pro- 

 vide instruction in agriculture and the mechanic arts. The sig- 

 nificance of the act was that it formally recognized the national 

 need for trained manpower in selected fields, and established 

 mechanisms for cooperative Federal and state government par- 

 ticipation in financing academic activities related to science and 

 research interests. (12 Stat. 503) 



March 3, 1863: National Academy of Sciences was established by 

 Congressional charter. (12 Stat. 806) 



March 2, 1867: Office of Education was established. (14 Stat. 434) 



1869: Office of Education became a part of the Department of the 

 Interior. 



July 8, 1870: Further general revision of the patent laws. (16 Stat. 

 198) 



December 18, 1884: Joint resolution extending the time fixed for 

 the joint commission (Allison Commission) appointed under the 



