KEPOET OF THE SECRETARY. 5 



It is clear that American science is almost incomparably stronger 

 than it was fifty years ago. With rich endowments for learned 

 societies, museums, and universities, and vastly augmented avenues 

 for scientific publication, American investigators no longer have the 

 need of the Institution for purposes of publication, as in times past, 

 and its most friendly relations to our great colleges and universities 

 are more those of an intermediary for their communications abroad 

 than in any other capacity. 



I wish that these relations may grow still more intimate and be still 

 more helpful in promoting the common cause. When the changed con- 

 ditions alluded to are fully appreciated, and the differentiation which 

 those conditions make necessary fully understood, new methods for 

 promoting the highest research by friendly arrangement will undoubt- 

 edly arise in this country. 



ADMINISTRATION. 



The wi'iter continues to be chiefly occupied with purely adminis- 

 trative duties, though certain important ones connected more particu- 

 larly with the interests of science consume a minor part of his time. 



In the administration of the various bureaus placed by the Govern- 

 ment under the direction of the Institution there continues to be a 

 greatly increasing amount of business that must be transacted in the 

 Secretary's office, and it has been found necessary during the yea,v to 

 provide additional assistance to attend to the increasing correspondence 

 pertaining directly to these and to legislative and civil service matters; 

 but though the Secretary has already been authorized by the Board 

 to call upon Congress for a special appropriation for the organization 

 of a force for the general administrative work of the bureaus, he 

 can only refer to what has been said on this point in previous reports, 

 and especially in that for 1897, and add an expression of his regret 

 that Congress has as yet done nothing to relieve the Institution's fund 

 of the burdens thus laid upon it for the support of purely Govern- 

 ment interests. 



FINANCES. 



The permanent funds of the Institution are as follows: 



Bequest of Smithson, 1846 $515, 169. 00 



Residuary legacy of Smithson, 1867 26, 210. 63 



Deposits from savings of income, 1867 108, 620. 37 



Bequest of James Hamilton, 1875 $1, 000. 00 



Accumulated interest on Hamilton fund, 1895 1, 000. 00 



2, 000. 00 



Bequest of Simeon Habel, 1880 '. 500. 00 



Deposits from proceeds of sale of bonds, 1881 51, 500. 00 



Gift of Thomas G. Hodgkins, 1891 200, 000. 00 



Portion of residuary legacy, T. G. Hodgkins, 189-4 8, 000. 00 



Total permanent fund 912, 000. 00 



