6 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 
elsewhere in this report to the special needs of the exchange depart- 
ment, on account of the over-crowded condition of the store-rooms occu- 
pied by the Government. 
The new buildings erected or in process of erection for the collection 
of living animals, being all in the Zological Park, are mentioned in the 
report upon the park. 
RESEARCH. 
Tam gratified to report that it has been possible by reducing ex- 
penses in other directions to revert in some measure to an early prac- 
tice of the institution, eminently consonant with its founder’s purpose, 
that of offering aid in original research to certain investigations of 
much importance which were hindered by lack of means. 
Among the special grants may be named that of $500 to Prof. A. A. 
Michelson, of Clark University, for continuing his important work upon 
a universal standard of measure founded on the wave-length of light; 
also a sum of $600 placed at the disposal of Prof. E. W. Morley, to pro- 
cure a Special apparatus for determinations of the density of oxygen 
and hydrogen, an investigation requiring extreme precision and delicacy 
of manipulation, and promising results of wide application; while $200 
was placed at the disposal of Dr. Wolcott Gibbs, for investigations 
at his laboratory in Newport upon chemical compounds. 
To Prof. E. S. Holden, director of the Lick Observatory, California, 
a grant of $200 was made, to assist in perfecting his apparatus for 
securing photographs of the moon. The results of his studies in this 
field Prof. Holden has offered to place at the disposal of the Smith- 
sonian Institution for publication at some future day, should it seem 
desirable. 
Prof. Pickering, director of the Harvard Observatory, has also placed 
at the disposal of the Institution for publication a very valuable series 
of photographs of the moon, which have been secured at the Harvard 
Observatory, and which will be supplemented by photographs to be 
taken at the Harvard Observatory high-altitude station in the moun- 
tains of Peru. : 
The director of the Paris Observatory, Admiral Méuchez, has like- 
wise promised his co-operation in securing lunar photographs of the 
highest degree of excellence now attainable. 
With the aid of these three prominent observatories, which have given 
especial attention to the subject of lunar photography, it is proposed to 
prepare a volume representing upon a large scale the best results that 
can be secured, thus placing on record a detailed description of the 
lunar surface, the value of which for comparison with observations and 
photographs of the future can scarcely be over-estimated. 
In furtherance of the plan for the establishment of standard sizes of 
screws and of diameters of tubing, ete., for astronomical and physical 
apparatus—a subject which has received the attention of committees of 
the National Academy of Science, as also of the American Association 
