16 REPOKT OF THE SECRETARY. 



are referred to the proper otiicials for recommendations to the Secre- 

 tary or for direct reply. 



The sj^stem of recording and distributing letters lias been unchanged 

 since 1.S90, except in a few unimportant particulars. Every letter 

 receives a reply, which is sent as promptl}^ as the circumstances may 

 allow. The matters of inquiry are perhaps more varied and embrace 

 a wider range of topics than obtains in other departments of the Gov- 

 ernment. A register is kept of such letters as are of importance, in 

 which is noted in each instance the date of the letter, its subject, the 

 official to whom referred for attention, the date of reply, and the place 

 of tiling. The letters are tiled alphabetically, with a notation of each 

 on a card catalogue, giving a brief synopsis of its contents. The 

 papers relating to certain special matters are kept separately in a 

 series of smaller tile ))oxes. 



In preparing the correspondence involved in the distribution of pub- 

 lications much labor is saved b3'the use of printed mailing cards, often 

 requiring on!}' the insertion of the name and address of the person for 

 whom intended. 



The correspondence relating to civil-service matters has grown 

 steadih' since the bureaus of the Institution were placed under the 

 ©Iteration of the civil-service law in 1896, and a separate series of 

 press-copy books and a separate tile of letters relating to such matters 

 are kept, as well as a special tile for the reception of papers not relating 

 directly to the personnel of the several bureaus. 



EXPOSITIONS. 



Buffalo and Charleston exposition.^. — The Institution audits bureaus 

 participated in the Pan- American Exposition held at Butfalo from May 

 1 to November I, l!>()i, and 1)}' authority of the President the exhibits 

 there displayed were transferred to the South Carolina Interstate and 

 West Indian Kxposition held at Charleston from December 1, 1901, 

 to May 31, 1902. Dr. E. W. True, of the National Museum, was 

 appointed by the Secretarj^ to represent the Institution on the board 

 in charge of the Government exhibits at both these expositions, and 

 his report on the Buffalo Exposition will be found in the Appendix. 



Lomxiana Parehuse E.vposition . — Congress having made an appro- 

 priation for a Government building and exhibit at the exposition to 

 t)e held in St. Louis in 1901, the Secretary has appointed Dr. True to 

 represent the Institution and its bureaus in the preparation and 

 installation of the exhibits. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Baird statue. — Several petitions having been presented to the 

 Senate at its last session for the erection of a statue to Prof. Spencer 



