26 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1918. 



have been not only in great demand by publishers of technical papers, 

 engineers, and business enterprises interested, but of particular value 

 to the Government bureaus handling these matters. They have fur- 

 nished, also, a large amount of data to the Shipping Board, the fuel 

 and fertilizer administrations, and the War and Navy Departments, 

 including suggestions for insuring a sustained source of oil, and for 

 the systematic assemblage of industrial data as a basis for reconstruc- 

 tional work in man power. 



The division of physical anthropology has furnished a large 

 amount of information on racial questions, particularly relating to 

 the Balkans, to the National Research Council, and the Army and 

 Navy Intelligence Bureaus. 



In the conservation of food, the curator of the diyision of textiles, 

 having charge of food and animal products, cooperated with the 

 Food Administration in planning graphic exhibits for use through- 

 out the country on the subject of conservation. He was also ap- 

 pointed exhibits director in the District of Columbia and served as 

 chairman of the campaign committee to carry out food conservation 

 in the District. Incidentally he has prepared and placed on exhibi- 

 tion an instructive exhibit of foods in the National Museum. Infor- 

 mation was also furnished by him to the United States Shipping 

 Board on raw commodities, and assistance in working out a system 

 for classifying commercial data on vegetable fats and oils. 



The Museum photographer has rendered valuable assistance in 

 connection with the organization of laboratories in the War and 

 Navy Departments, and also in confidential matters. 



Other lines of work in which the Museum was active included geo- 

 logical and biological problems arising in gas warfare, peat investi- 

 gations, questions in connection with the construction of concrete 

 ships and other similar problems, the translating of communica- 

 tions, etc. 



Since the war commenced 24 employees of the Museum have been 

 granted furloughs to enter the military service of the country. 



Bureau of War Risk Insurance. — In October, 1917, at the request 

 of the President of the United States, space in the natural history 

 building of the Museum was placed at the disposal of the newly or- 

 ganized Bureau of War Risk Insurance of the Treasury Department, 

 the foyer on the ground floor and the adjoining rooms being con- 

 verted into offices for the preliminary stages of the work. By re- 

 arranging some exhibition halls and by closing others, additional 

 space was given for the purpose from time to time as the force of the 

 bureau increased, so that at the close of the fiscal year the bureau 

 occupied 69,286 square feet in the foyer, adjoining rooms, auditorium, 

 and ranges on the ground floor, and in the rotunda and the exhibi- 

 tion halls on the first floor, extending from the center of the north 



