Appendix 111. 



REPORT ON THE OPERATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE 



SERVICE. 



Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report relating to the operations of 

 the International Exchange Service during the year ending June 30, 1904: 



Tlie term "International Exchanges" has been applied by the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution almost since its foundation to the interchange of its publications for those of 

 scientific societies and establishments in foreign countries. A liberal distribution of 

 the works published at tlie expense of the Smithson fund was one of the principal 

 means adopted in the early plans of the Institution for administering that part of 

 the bequest of its founder relating to the "diffusion of knowledge among men." 



In order to carry out a systematic exchange of large quantities of books it was nec- 

 essary to enlist the cooperation of institutions and individuals in the populous centers 

 of the world, and as it became known that such arrangement existed, first one then 

 another society and finally the United States Government asked the Smithsonian 

 Institution to perform a similar service in exchanging its publications, until the 

 expense became a heavy tax on the income of the Institution. 



In 1881 Congress made a small appropriation to the Smithsonian Institution in aid 

 of the Exchange Service, and has since continued to make an annual appropriation, 

 though at no time has it been suflicient to cover the extire expense of the service, 

 consequently the Institution has been obliged to request a partial reimbursement of 

 the pro rata expense from Federal and State institutions. 



Nearly 159,000 packages were dispatched during the year ended June 30, 1904, each 

 of which was credited to the contributor and debited to the recipient. A recapitula- 

 tion was also made, showing the aggregate contributions and receipts by each country. 

 This necessary detail, in addition to the routine work of receiving and dispatching 

 parcels, requires the continuous service of fifteen employees. The work requires the 

 exclusive use of five rooms, which are arranged along the south basement of the Smith- 

 sonian building. These rooms, though originally remodeled and arranged expressly 

 for the exchange service, have since been enlarged to some extent, but at times, when 

 exchanges are received in unusual quantities, it is necessary temporarily to occupy 

 adjoining rooms and hallways. 



Aside from packing materials the supplies required are those necessary to a well- 

 regulated office and for the greater part are procured under annual (iovernment 

 contracts. 



Two instances have been reported during the year of loss or damage to exchange 

 parcels in transit. One case, No. 414, for China, was subjected to the process of 

 "general average" on account of damage to the steamship St. Bede, but a full report 

 has not yet been submitted. 



A case containing United States Government documents (designated as No. 90 of 

 the official set), destined for the Parliamentary Library, Hobart, Tasmania, was 

 destroyed while en route from London to Hobart, but most of the publications were 

 fortunately duplicated. 



The following tables describe the operations of the service during the year, and in 

 comparison with the preceding year show a gain of 8,7GG packages, or a total of 

 158,983, being an increase of 6,183 in the number sent abroad and an increase of 2,583 

 received from other countries. On the other hand, the total weight of exchanges 



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