58 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



through the American minister, Mr. George Williamson, having asked 

 to be supplied with an experienced geologist to explore the recently dis- 

 covered gold fields of the state. Of coarse in such cases the advice of 

 experts is always solicited, and several of these uniting on the name of 

 Mr. Goodyear, a resident of California, and formerly connected with the 

 geological survey of that State, he was selected for the mission in ques- 

 tion, and has already entered upon his duties. 



Communication from the Belgian Government in regard to a prize for the 

 improvement of Belgian harbors. — On the 27th of December, 1879, the 

 following communication was received from the charge d'affaires of Bel- 

 gium : 



[Translation.] 



"Belgian Legation, 

 " Washington, December 27, 1879. 

 " Sir : Inclosed in a communication dated March 29, 1875, Mr. Del- 

 fosse, the Belgian minister at Washington, transmitted to Prof. Joseph 

 Henry a copy of a royal decree of December 11, 1871, instituting an 

 annual prize oi* 25,000 francs for the purpose of encouraging intellectual 

 labors iu Belgium, and to induce foreigners to take part in this move- 

 ment. 



"According to the terms of article 12 of this decree, the prize to be 

 contested for in an international competition will be awarded in 1881 for 

 the best paper on the means of improving harbors situated on low and sandy 

 coasts like those of Belgium. 



"The government desires again to call the attentiou of foreigners to 

 this subject, inviting them to compete with Belgian authors. To this 

 end I shall be obliged to you if you will have a translation of the in- 

 closed notice published in the annual report of the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion, or in any other manner you may see fit, to insure it the greatest 

 possible publicity in the United States. 



"Accept, sir, the assurance of my most distinguished considerations, 



"Geo. Neyt, 

 "Charge 1 d/ 'Affaires of Belgium. 

 "Prof. Spencer F. Baird, 



"Secretary Smithsonian Institution, Washington, I). C. n 



"Xotice. — By a decree of December 11, 1871, Uis Majesty the King 

 of* the Belgians has instituted an annual prize of 25,000 francs ($5,000) 

 for the purpose of encouraging intellectual labors. 



"The prize to be contested for in an international competition will be 

 awarded in 1881 for the best paper on the means of improving harbors situ- 

 ated oit loir and sandy coasts like those of Belgium. 



" Foreigners desiring to take part in the competition should send their 

 papers, printed or manuscript, before the 1st of January, 1881, to the 

 minister of the interior at Brussels. 



"The manuscript which wdl receive the prize will be published in the 



