EEPOET OF THE SECRETARY. 5 



desire has been to unite modern work with masterpieces of certain periods of 

 high civilization harmonious in spiritual and physical suggestion, having the 

 power to broaden esthetic culture and the grace to elevate the human mind. 



The original collection consisted of about 2,300 paintings and other 

 objects of art, and has since been increased to 5,346 items, including 

 American paintings and sculptures, the Wliistler collection, and 

 oriental paintings, pottery, bronzes, and jades from China, Korea, 

 Japan, and other Asiatic countries. 



A full catalogue of items is given by Mr. Eathbun in his Museum 

 Bulletin on the National Gallery of Art. 



EXPLORATIONS AND RESEARCHES. 



The usual activities were continued during the past year in ad- 

 vancing one of the fundamental objects of the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion, the increase of knowledge. In this work various explorations 

 and researches were inaugurated or participated in by the Institution 

 and its branches, covering practically all divisions of astronomical, 

 anthropological, biological, and geological science. The extent of 

 these explorations and researches during the history of the Institu- 

 tion covers a wide range, although a great deal more of most impor- 

 tant work could have been accomplished had adequate funds been 

 available. Friends of the Institution have generously aided this 

 work, particularly during the last few years, through the contribu- 

 tion of funds for specific purposes, but much yet remains undone, and 

 opportunities for undertaking important lines of investigation are 

 constantly being lost through lack of means to carry them into 

 execution. 



Several proposed expeditions to various parts of the world have 

 been temporarily delayed by the war in Europe. 



I will here mention only briefly some of the recent activities of the 

 Institution in these directions and for details of other investigations 

 may refer to the appendices containing the reports of those directly 

 in charge of the several branches of the Institution. 



GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 



In continuation of my previous work in the Rocky Mountain re- 

 gion, I was engaged during the season of 1915 in field investigation 

 in the Yellowstone Park area and from there north into the Belt 

 Mountains east of Helena, Mont. The work in the Yellowstone Park 

 was carried on with two objects in view : 



First. To determine, if possible, the extent to which the lower forms 

 of algae and possibly bacteria contributed, through their activities, 

 to the deposition from the geyser and hot spring waters of the con- 

 tained carbonate of lime and silica. 



