REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 29 



The system has now attained a great development, and increases 

 measurably every year. The expenses hitherto have been principally 

 borne by the Institution, but their amount has now become so great 

 as seriously to interfere with other operations, and I therefore think 

 it advisable that a charge be made, to the parties receiving a certain 

 amount of packages annually, sufficient to reimburse some of the 

 outlay, of the Smithsonian funds. "What would not be felt by each 

 one individually would, in the aggregate, materially lessen the burden 

 of expense connected with this part of the operations, which amounted, 

 in 1857, to about $3,000. 



The expenses of the Smithsonian exchanges would be considerably 

 greater than they are but for the liberality of various transportation 

 companies in carrying packages free of cost. No charge on freight is 

 made by the United States Mail Steamship Company, the Panama 

 Railroad, or the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, forming the mail 

 line from New York to San Francisco, while the agents of the line 

 in these two cities, Messrs. I. W. Eaymond and A. B. Forbes, serve 

 the Institution in various ways. The California Express Agency 

 of Wells, Fargo & Co., has also acted with the greatest liberality, 

 and the same should be stated of the old line of Bremen and New York 

 steamers. None of the domestic agents of distribution — namely. Hick- 

 ling, Swan & Brewer, of Boston; D. Appleton& Co., New York; J. B. 

 Lipi^incott & Co., Philadelphia; John Russell, Charleston; B. M. 

 Norman, New Orleans ; Dr. Wislizenus, St. Louis ; H. W. Derby, 

 Cincinnati ; and Henry P. B. Jewett, of Cleveland — make any charge 

 for services ; and the same may also be said of Messrs. Oelrichs & 

 Liirman, of Baltimore. 



The amount of labor involved in the exchanges is, of course, very 

 great, as will be readily inferred from an examination of the tables 

 of receipts and transmissions during the past year, given by Professor 

 Baird. The entries in the several record books fill over 700 pages ; 

 the circulars, invoices, and acknowledgments, exceed 4,300, in addi- 

 tion to over 600 receipts for packages. For a detailed account of all 

 the operations of the exchanges I would refer to the accompanying 

 report of Professor Baird. 



Explorations, researches, d'c. — It was stated in the last report that 

 the magnetic instruments belonging to the Institution were given in 

 charge of Baron Miiller, for investigations in Mexico and Central 

 America. Two series of records of observations have been received, 

 but for nearly a year past nothing further has been heard from the 

 expedition. We should regret the loss of the instruments, although 



