314 The Smithsonian Institution 



influence of the Institution was brought to bear on those 

 officials of the government who had the several surveys in 

 charge. 



The extent and form of participation by the Institution in 

 the explorations of the government surveys varied in different 

 cases. In some instances the Secretary of War was induced 

 to grant an officer of the Army leave of absence for the pur- 

 pose of making scientific explorations in some little known 

 part of the country. Again, the Institution furnished outfits 

 and directions for collecting to such surgeons and other offi- 

 cers of the surveying and exploring parties as manifested an 

 interest in natural history explorations. In some cases the 

 personnel of an exploring party included a naturalist of 

 known abilities and experience, and the Institution furnished 

 every facility for collecting. 



On this point Professor Baird, referring to the Mexican 

 Boundary and Pacific Railroad surveys, reported in 1853 as 

 follows : 



"Without a single exception, all these parties have been 

 fitted out at the Smithsonian Institution with all necessary 

 instruments and apparatus for natural history research, much 

 of it contrived with special reference to the exigencies of 

 the particular service involved. Full instructions were also 

 supplied, by which persons without previous practice were 

 enabled to master all the general principles required for mak- 

 ing observations and collections of every kind.' 



i 



The participation of the Institution also took the form of 

 aid in the publication of results. Every year one or more 

 publications based on the collections of the government 

 parties were issued. 



Fostered by the Institution, to whose interest Professor 



1 " Smithsonian Report," 1853, page 52. 



