KEPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 63 



also referred to in tlie discussion of the explorations carried on during 

 the year by the' Smithsonian and aftiliated organizatioDS. 



Exposition Work. — The jjarticipation of the Smithsonian Institution, 

 as directed by Congress in three exhibitions, has, although in many 

 respects detrimental to the growth of the Museum, contributed largely to 

 the prosperity of several of its departments. In the first x^lace, in order 

 »that material might' properly be selected for exhibition, it was found nec- 

 essary in mauy departments of the Museum to employ additional assist- 

 ants in making a thorough overhauling of the material and getting it 

 systematically arranged. In the second place, it was found necessary 

 to purchase a considerable amount of material to fill vacancies in the 

 various series of specimens which were shown at the exhibitions. It 

 has been our-policy to expend the appropriation for the New Orleans 

 Exposition in such a manner that there also might result a perma- 

 nent benefit to the Museum. This we have found to be entirely con- 

 sistent with the interests of the exhibitions, since the material which 

 is useful for these temporary displays is even more useful for the per- 

 manent exhibition series of the Museum. At the same time, in many 

 of the departments, an effort has been made in selecting specimens for 

 the expositions, to make use of duplicate material from the Museum, in 

 order that, should we be called upon in future to participate in other 

 exhibitions, the preparation of a collection can be effected with less ex- 

 pense of time and money than has been heretofore practicable. 



I can, at present, only present a brief preliminary report upon what 

 has been done in connection with the exhibitions at Cincinnati, Louis- 

 ville, and New Orleans. 



By direction of Congress the Smithsonian Institution, in connection 

 with the Executive Departments of the Government and the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, has taken part during the year in three industrial 

 exhibitions — the "Cincinnati Industrial Exposition," atCinciunati, open 

 from September 3 to October 4; the " Southern Exposition," at Louis- 

 ville, open from August 16 to October 25, and the "World's Industrial 

 and Cotton Centennial Exposition," at New Orleans, which opened on 

 December 16, and will not close until June 30 of the j^reseut year. Out 

 of $300,000 appropriated to the Government executive board for the 

 New Orleans Exhibition, the Smithsonian received $75,000, and of the 

 $10,000 for the boards participating at Louisville, and a like sum for 

 Cincinnati, the allotment to the Smithsonian was $5,000 — $2,500 for 

 Louisville and $2,300 for Cincinnati. The conduct of the displays on the 

 part of the Government was intrusted to an executive board appointed 

 by the President of the United States, of which Col. S. C. Lyford, U. S. 

 A., was designated president. Mr. G. Brown Goode was nominated 

 by me and appointed by the President member of this board on behalf 

 of'the Smithsonian Institution, National Museum, and Fish Commission. 



The passing of the nppropriatiou bill was so long delayed that when 

 the money finally became available, only two weeks' time remained be- 



