8o8 The Smithsonian Institution 



and great consideration was paid to their inquiries and sug- 

 gestions. Many of these collaborators, perhaps a large 

 majority, were already connected with colleges, schools, and 

 local associations having a scientific purpose. Others were 

 isolated, lonely students or observers, far from good instru- 

 ments and books, deprived of intercourse with men of like 

 pursuits. Some were persons of great ability and influence ; 

 some were very humble. Many were enrolled as local me- 

 teorologists, and were led to keep accurate records of the 

 weather, and send their reports to Washington. The study 

 of local natural history and archaeology was encouraged in 

 these and other correspondents. The formation of libraries 

 and museums was promoted by many agencies, among which 

 the loan on deposit of objects to be exhibited and the gift of 

 valuable publications were especially noteworthy. It is diffi- 

 cult in these days, when traveling is easy and when endow- 

 ments, large and small, have been provided in every part of 

 the land for the benefit of science, to appreciate the educa- 

 tional influence of the Smithsonian, in places far distant from 

 the capital, during the first fifteen or twenty years of its active 

 operations. The actual, almost universal, appreciation of the 

 value of science among the American people is doubtless due 

 in a very considerable degree to the influences referred to. 

 There has been no "conflict" between men of letters and 

 men of science in our schools of learning, and the appre- 

 hensions of religious teachers with respect to the tenden- 

 cies of scientific doctrines have been transient and mild. 

 Far and near, the quiet, unobtrusive influence of the Smith- 

 sonian has contributed to this result. 



The mode in which the Smithsonian publications were dis- 

 tributed aided not a little the building up of libraries. To 

 possess these works was the laudable ambition of many 

 people. The annual reports were widely distributed. They 



