FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS, 1897-1899. 1809 
act, all or any part of the real estate in the District of Columbia for benefits resulting 
from the location and improvement of the said Rock Creek Park. 
Referred to Committee on the District of Columbia. 
INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES—ESTIMATES. 
December 6, 1897—House. 
Estimates for 1899. 
For the expenses of the system of International Exchanges between 
the United States and foreign countries, under the direction of the 
Smithsonian Institution, including salaries or compensation of all 
necessary employees, $24,000. 
Norr.—An addition of $5,000 to the current appropriation of $19,000 for Inter- 
national Exchanges is requested in order to meet the new demands made upon the 
Institution for the forwarding of documents, to improve the facilities for the prompt 
delivery of important packages, and to provide for the establishment of two new 
agencies in Europe. During the fiscal year 1896-97 there was an increase over the 
previous year of over 40 per cent in the weight of shipments, chiefly of Government 
publications, or from 126 tons in 1896 to 180 tons in 1897, and it is anticipated that 
further increases will occur during the present and the next fiscal years. It is still 
necessary to depend mainly upon the cheaper and therefore slower lines of steamers 
for the forwarding of packages, greatly to the dissatisfaction of both senders and 
recipients, and it is hoped that means will be provided for improving the service in 
this particular. 
Up to the present time all business with Germany, Austria, and Hungary, as well 
as with the States of southeastern Europe, has been conducted through a single 
agency long established in Leipzig. The extent of the sendings to those countries 
has so increased, however, as to render a continuance of this arrangement impracti- 
cable, and negotiations are now in progress looking to the establishment of separate 
agencies in Vienna and Budapest, to which all shipments to the countries of which 
they are the capitals will hereafter be made direct. The maintenance of these two 
agencies will involve an additional expenditure. 
Patent Office: Foreign exchanges, and transporting patents and 
other publications, $2,000. 
Norr.—By the act of July 31, 1886, the appropriations for the scientific library 
and for expense of transporting publications of patents to foreign governments were 
consolidated. Prior to this $3,000 was appropriated for the library and $2,000 for 
transportation expenses, but under this act only $3,000 was appropriated for both 
purposes. The appropriation for each should be distinct and separate. The Patent 
Office is frequently compelled to decline valuable foreign exchanges because of insuf- 
ficient appropriation to pay transportation. Many of these foreign publications 
would be of great value in the examination of pending applications. 
December 5, 1898—House. 
Estimates for 1900. 
For the expenses of the system of International Exchanges between 
the United States and foreign countries, under the direction of the 
Smithsonian Institution, including salaries or compensation of all 
necessary employees and the purchase of necessary books and periodi- 
cals, $24,000. 
Notre.—The estimate for this service is the same as was submitted a year ago. 
An increase in the appropriation from $19,000 to $21,000 was granted by Congress at 
H. Doe. 732——114 
