PROCEEDINGS OF THE REGENTS. 117 



commercial development, of the patents. In this connection it would 

 seem desirable that the compan}^ should have the support of the 

 Institution to the extent that tlie secretary and the permanent com- 

 mittee, if desired, could take up Avith the members of the company 

 the question of the appointment of the members of the board of di- 

 rectors, that they might be of such experience and ability that the 

 best results would be secured from the patents. Without such co- 

 operative support, it was doubtful whether the men best fitted to 

 guide the affairs of the company would be willing to serve on the 

 board of directors. This would not involve the management of the 

 business by the Smithsonian Institution, but Avould strengthen the 

 board of directors by the feeling that they had the opportunity of 

 consulting with the secretary. 



The secretary remarked further that the offer had come through 

 Prof. F. G. Cottrell, professor of chemistry in the University of 

 California. He represented a company which had been organized 

 for the purpose of developing and carrying on the process. They 

 desired to present the patents to a learned institution as a foundation 

 for a research fund, and had decided to offer them to the Smithsonian 

 Institution.] 



After discussion, on motion, the resolutions were adopted. 



[At this point Prof. Cottrell Avas introduced to the board and made 

 a brief statement showing the development of the " Precipitation 

 process " work, and assuring the board that it was proposed to give 

 to the Institution the very fullest freedom in the use of the fund, he 

 and his associates not wishing to be represented in the least degree, 

 though desiring to assist in any manner possible. 



Prof. Cottrell gave several instances of the establishment of plants 

 ranging from a cost of $2,000 for the first one to a cost of about 

 $125,000 for one soon to be erected, and explained that their work 

 covered the abating of smoke nuisances, as well as the economic object 

 of saving the solids in the gases and smoke. In this way it was esti- 

 mated that one companj^ would save from $50,000 to $100,000 a year 

 by the precipitation of lead from the smoke passing out of its stacks, 

 and others had been saved damage suits by the precipitation of mat- 

 ter contained in the gases and smoke passing into the air, which had 

 formerly done great injury to crops.] 



'■'■The George W. Poore bequest.— The committee also took under 

 consideration the matter of the George W. Poore bequest. The board 

 will remember that at the last meeting it was announced that Mr. 

 Poore had made the Institution the residual legatee of his estate, 

 Avliich was estimated to be worth about $40,000, under the condition 

 that the income from this sum should be added to the principal until 

 a total of $250,000 should be reached. Mr. Choate has been very 

 kindly looking after the interests of the Institution and has recom- 

 85360°— SM 1912 9 



