2 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1909. 
There has been no change in the personnel of the Board since my 
last report. 
Meetings of the Regents were held on December 15, 1908, and on 
February 10, 1909, the proceedings of which will be printed as cus- 
tomary in the annual report of the Board to Congress. 
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. 
I deem it proper here to point out the fact that the activities of the 
Institution are greatly restricted by the very limited annual income 
at its disposal. 
The influence of the Institution in the development of science in 
this country is too well known to require comment. Its advice is 
daily sought on scientific matters, not only by other establishments of 
learning but by individuals all over the land, and that its usefulness 
has been by no means restricted to this country is evidenced by the 
- fact that the name of the Smithsonian Institution is equally as well 
known and respected abroad as at home. 
But the means derived from the interest on the Smithson fund 
and other private funds for keeping up the work of the Institution 
proper have not kept pace with the growth of the country and the 
constantly increasing demands upon them. The original amount of 
the Smithson fund of about half a million dollars meant many 
times over in 1846 what it does to-day, even with the half million 
which has been gradually added since then. Its income has been 
economically administered, but it is too limited to carry on any ex- 
tensive investigations. There are many researches and explorations 
which the Institution is peculiarly well fitted to organize and super- 
vise, on which the income from an endowment of twenty millions 
could be wisely and effectively expended. 
The Institution has in the past few years received a number of 
noteworthy gifts in the Harriet Lane Johnston, Freer, and Evans 
art collections, and an endowment for the fine arts would give a great 
return for centuries to come by making possible the fostering and 
stimulating of the fine arts in all its branches. 
Under the general plan of organization adopted by thé Board 
of Regents in 1847, the work of the Institution in the “ increase of 
knowledge” is not limited to investigations in the field of science 
and art, but historical and ethnological researches, and statistical 
inquiries with reference to physical, moral, and political subjects, are 
enumerated as objects for which appropriations should be made. © 
In the humanities there is need of a fearless, thorough, scientific 
study of the elements entering into the great race problems of the 
Americas. Until the fundamental tendencies of the differing races 
now within these areas are intelligently understood, not only by the 
few, but by the many, a practical understanding of threatening social 
