ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY 45 



which there was no definite provision in the constitution, may 

 perhaps be considered as a continuation of that publication. 



Although in 1875 the diplomatic representative of the Govern- 

 ment had signed the convention for the establishment of an inter- 

 national bureau of weights and measures, that action required 

 ratification by the Senate to be binding on the United States. 

 On recommendation of the Committee on Weights, Measures 

 and Coinage, the Academy in 1877 addressed a memorial to 

 Congress in which the members " respectfully urge that the 

 Senate ratify said convention, and that Congress make the 

 requisite appropriation to carry the same into effect." 



The treasurer reported in October, 1876, that the principal of 

 the Bache Fund amounted to $43,300, of which $42,300 was 

 invested in United States certificates, and $1000 in certificates 

 of the city of Davenport, Iowa. In addition, the Academy had 

 received from the Bache estate 160 acres of land situated in the 

 State of Missouri, and a house and lot in the city of Washington, 

 No. 723 Twentieth Street, S. W. In connection with the various 

 allotments made from the fund for scientific researches, some 

 pieces of apparatus had been purchased, and in 1877 the Academy 

 directed that all such apparatus when no longer needed for the 

 purposes of the investigations undertaken should be turned over 

 to the Home Secretary, and be at all times subject to the disposal 

 of the Academy. 



Jeffries W^yman, one of the original members of the Academy, 

 died in 1874, and another, Joseph Winlock, in 1875. In 1877 

 two others died, Alexis Caswell and Rear-Admiral Charles H. 

 Davis, the latter, as shown by this history, probably the first to 

 conceive a practical plan for the formation of the Academy. 



In 1877 the practice was established of having important in- 

 ventions based on scientific principles exhibited before the 

 Academy. In that year an exhibition was made in the chemical 

 laboratory of Columbia College, of the Jablokofif electric candle, 

 a form of arc light which caused a revival of interest in the 

 problems of electric lighting. 

 5 



