424 



The Smithsonian Institution 



Graham Bell, a sum of $5000 was at this time put at the dis- 

 posal of the Secretary, for scientific researches, and Doctor 

 Kidder had given a legacy of the same amount, which was by 

 his wish to be devoted to advancing the interests of the new 

 observatory. 



Under these circumstances, the writer, in 1890, made a re- 

 quest to Congress for the assignment of a site, removed from 

 the tremor of the city, on which it was proposed to erect a 

 building of such an extremely modest character as could be 

 put up for the sum in question, to be supplied with instru- 

 ments, in part at least, by the Institution, and to be main- 



been mentioned. In this shed there have 

 been built, as the most expensive part of the 

 structure, a number of brick piers required 

 for the firm support of the delicate apparatus 

 employed. 



"The principal instrument consists of a 

 siderostat constructed by Sir Howard Grubb, 

 of Dublin, Ireland, for the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution, to meet my special requirements. 

 This arrived in March, 1890, and has been 

 mounted and put approximately into position 

 for use. Another important and novel in- 

 strument, a spectro-bolometer, was made un- 

 der my directions to meet new and unusual 

 demands, and has also been received and 

 put in place. A third piece of apparatus, a 

 special galvanometer, also designed for the 

 particular class of work in view, has been re- 

 ceived ; and the only considerable instrument 

 now required to complete the outfit is a re- 

 sistance box, which has been ordered and is 

 expected from London before the end of the 

 calendar year. 



"The siderostat is probably the largest 

 and most powerful instrument of its kind 

 ever constructed. The spectro-bolometer is 

 the largest instrument of its kind, and with 

 this improved apparatus it is hoped that in- 

 teresting investigations begun several years 

 ago will be continued. 



" Supplementary to these there are a few 

 pieces of apparatus, the personal property of 

 the Secretary, so that at the close of the year 

 it might be said that the Institution was in 

 possession of the nucleus of a modern astro- 

 physical laboratory. With this apparatus 



temporarily mounted, researches have already 

 begun, and one of a scientific and economic 

 character, upon ' The Cheapest Form of 

 Light,' has been the subject of a communi- 

 cation to the National Academy of Sciences. 

 This work is mentioned as indicating my in- 

 tention to give greater place to one of the 

 chief objects of the Institution, — the direct 

 addition to knowledge by original research, 

 — which, at least as regards the physical 

 sciences, has received comparatively little at- 

 tention since the time of Professor Henry. 



" The prospects of renewed contributions 

 to physical science by the Institution in the 

 field of original research are happily now 

 better than for many years past. The late 

 Doctor Jerome H. Kidder, formerly an offi- 

 cer of the United States Navy, and later 

 attached to the United States Fish Commis- 

 sion and to the Smithsonian Institution, had 

 bequeathed to the Institution, in a will made 

 several years ago, the sum of $10,000, to be 

 employed for biological researches. Doctor 

 Kidder, having become especially interested 

 in the proposed astrophysical observatory, 

 had the intention of transferring this bequest, 

 or at least a portion of it, to such an end, and 

 he even ordered that a codicil giving $5000 

 to the Institution for an astrophysical ob- 

 servatory should be added to bis will, but he 

 was stricken with so sudden an illness that 

 he was unable to sign it. In view of these 

 circumstances and after careful deliberation 

 upon the matter, the Regents decided to ac- 

 cept as finally and decisively indicative of the 

 wishes of the testator the provisions of this 



