REPORT OF THE SECRETARY d 



work of your secretary and the work on the solar constant of radia- 

 tion under Doctor Abbot's direction, and both of these investigations 

 are partially supported by private financial aid. The Institution 

 has for several years been undermanned, and the ordinary running 

 expenses are met only by the exercise of rigid economy. 



This condition has been recognized for some years, and attempts 

 have been made from time to time to increase the endowment. But 

 during the past year the situation has become acute, and it has been 

 ?-ealized that without a marked increase in the Institution's resources 

 it would no longer be able to hold its place among the great research 

 institutions of the present day, the annual income of several of which 

 is greater than the Smithsonian's entire endowment. If allowed to 

 go on under these circumstances, the Smithsonian, America's na- 

 tional scientific establishment, which was the guiding light during 

 the formative period of scientific activity in this country, and which, 

 has been the parent of most of the present great scientific bureaus of 

 the Government, would be relegated to second or third rank, and its 

 world-wide reputation as a center of scientific efi^ort in America 

 would rapidly diminish. 



With a definite realization of these facts, the administration of 

 the Institution has concentrated during the year upon a direct effort 

 to increase its resources, and by the close of the year several plans 

 were under way and one definite step had been taken toward that 

 end. An agreement Avas entered into with the William T. De Van 

 Corporation, of New York, to issue a series of popular scien- 

 tific books, to be known as the Smithsonian Scientific Series, a 

 project similar in general plan to the Chronicles of America series, 

 published by the Yale University Press, which proved so success- 

 ful under Mr. De Van's direction. In the Smithsonian series it 

 is intended to present in readable form, and profusely illustrated, the 

 activities of the Institution and the bureaus under its direction in 

 many branches of science. The series will consist of 20 volumes, and 

 the following tentative titles of a few will indicate their nature: 



Sun-Rays in the Welfare of Man. 

 Man's Origin and Development. 

 Gems, Meteorites, and Stones. 

 North American Indians. 

 The Study of Our Seas. 

 Birds and Their Ways. 



The preparation of manuscripts was well under way at the close 

 of the year, and it is hoped that before very long the sale of these 

 books will add materially to the Institution's annual income. Two 

 other projects, each holding promise of a large increase of endow- 

 ment, were under consideration, but final action had not been taken 

 by June 30, and their discussion at this time would be premature. 



