130 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1914. 
As a preliminary step in starting the work of the laboratory, Dr. 
A. F. Zahm, the recorder of the advisory committee, was sent to 
visit the principal aerodynamical laboratories near London, Paris, 
and Gottingen, in company with Assistant Naval Constructor Jerome 
C. Hunsaker, United States Navy. 
Dr. Zahm’s trip proved most satisfactory, and his report will con- 
tain valuable data for the committee. 
Three meetings of the advisory committee have been held, and its 
work has progressed to such an extent as to render necessary the 
transmission to Congress of an estimate for an appropriation of 
$50,000, which received the President’s approval. There is also need 
for a tract of land and water near Washington suitable for tests with 
experimental air craft, and, as chairman of the advisory committee, 
I requested the President’s approval of the use for this purpose of the 
portion of Potomac Park east of the railroad embankment, which 
the committee believes to be the best site for the purpose. It ap- 
pears, however, that in the opinion of the War Department, author- 
ity for such use of the park rests alone with Congress. 
Freer gallery of art—The secretary exhibited elevation and floor 
plans of a proposed building for the art gallery to be erected by 
Mr. Charles L. Freer for the collections donated by him to the In- 
stitution, stating that a trust fund of $1,000,000 had been set aside 
by Mr. Freer for its construction. 
In answer to inquiries the secretary said that the collections were 
now thought to represent an expenditure, exclusive of the building, 
of about $1,750,000. 
Building for art objects—tWarge numbers of art objects are being 
received by the Institution almost weekly for the National Gallery 
of Art. Urgent necessity exists for a proper place for their care 
and exhibit, as the space now devoted to their use in the new build- 
ing of the National Museum is more and more needed for the natural 
history collections. The present art objects represent a value of 
about $1,000,000, and I wish to urge upon the members of the 
board the importance of a very early consideration of the question 
of requesting Congress to provide for the erection of a building 
adequate for the national art collections. 
Expeditions—The various expeditions under the auspices of the 
Institution, concerning which reports have been made to the board 
from time to time have, with few exceptions, been completed. 
Borneo expedition—This expedition is still in the field... Dr. W. 
L. Abbott, a collaborator of the National Museum, provided $8,000 
for its expenses, and under his general direction the collecting is 
being carried on by Mr. H. C. Raven. Two shipments have been 
received by the Institution, that include 557 mammals and 560 birds, 
with skins and skeletons of crocodiles and giant lizards. Mr. Raven 
expects to remain in Borneo for another year. 
