KEPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 3 



searches. The Institution was founded for the increase and dif- 

 fusion of knowledge. It is an Institution of record, research, and 

 education, and also of cooperation. It offers facilities for the ad- 

 vancement of human knowledge through original research and in- 

 vestigation in every field and educates the people through the pub- 

 lication of the results of such researches. There is reciprocal 

 cooperation between the Smithsonian Institution and the several 

 departments of the United States Government and learned societies 

 in this country and abroad in carrying forward important explora- 

 tions and lines of investigation. 



Some of the scientific studies originating with the Smithsonian 

 Institution in this country have since developed into distinct and 

 important bureaus and departments of the Government. The influ- 

 ence of the Institution is world-wide; through its international ex- 

 change service alone it is in correspondence with more than 60,000 

 individuals and learned societies in the United States and prac- 

 tically in every land on the globe. During its entire existence there 

 has been an unbroken record of friendly intercourse with every 

 agency devoted to the encouragement of learning. As was said in 

 1896, by the late Dr. Daniel Coit Gilman, " Without any patronage, 

 without the power to bestow much pecuniary assistance, * * * 

 the Smithsonian has been, and is, the great auxiliary of science and 

 education throughout the length and breadth of the land." 



The extent of the activities of the Institution is limited only by 

 the amount of the funds available. During recent years its private 

 income has been supplemented on several occasions by friends of the 

 Institution who have generously provided the means for carrying 

 on certain explorations and lines of research, but opportunities for 

 further important work constantly arise which must be declined or 

 temporarily held in abeyance. Some of the projects proposed are 

 such as could not properly be carried on through Government appro- 

 priation, but which the Smithsonian Institution could readily under- 

 take were the means available. 



Research Cor'poration. — The work of the Research Corporation, 

 organized primarily for handling the Cottrell patents offered to the 

 Institution for the benefit of research, has been progressing steadily 

 during the year. As explained in detail in my last report, this cor- 

 poration was organized February 8, 1912, under the laws of the 

 State of New York as a means of furthering scientific and technical 

 research. It objects as stated in its prospectus are: 



First, to acquire inventions and patents and to make them more available in 

 the arts and industries, while using them as a source of income, and, second, 

 to apply all profits derived from such use to the advancement of technical and 

 scientific investigation and experimentation through the agency of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution and such other scientific and educational institutions and 

 societies as may be selected by the directors. For these purposes the corpora- 



