2 ANNUAL REPOBT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1911. 



On July 4, 1910, Chief Justice Fuller died and was succeeded on 

 December 19 by Chief Justice Edward Douglass White as ex officio 

 member of the board. 



At a meeting of the Board of Regents on December 8, 1910, the 

 Hon. James S. Sherman, Vice President of the United States, was 

 elected Chancellor. 



The personnel of the board has been further changed by the resig- 

 nation of Hon. John B. Henderson and the appointment of John B. 

 Henderson, jr., as a Regent. 



GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. 



The Smithsonian Institution has had a powerful influence for more 

 than GO years in the development of science in the United States. 

 Its achievements in many lines of research and exploration have been 

 of great good in the promotion of the welfare of the human race. 

 The Institution and its branches continue to be engaged in a wide 

 range of activities, covering practically the entire field of natural 

 and physical science, as well as anthropological and archeological 

 researches. 



In my last report I referred to the establishment of a trust fund, 

 through the generosity of Mrs. E. H. Harriman, which yields an 

 annual income of $12,000, to be devoted to the definite purpose of car- 

 rying on scientific studies, particularly of American mammals and 

 other animals, the donor specifying Dr. C. Hart Merriam as the in- 

 vestigator to carry on the work during his lifetime. I believe it desir- 

 able to establish a number of such research associateships, whereby 

 especially capable men in other branches of science may be afforded 

 opportunities for research work without the care and burden of 

 administrative duties, and with full assurance that as long as their 

 work is properly conducted it will be continued and that provision 

 will be made for them when incapacitated for active service. The 

 field for scientific investigation is extensive, and there are numbers 

 of worthy projects that can not now be undertaken because of lack 

 of means — projects that could not properly be carried on through 

 Government appropriation, but which the Smithsonian Institution 

 could readily undertake were the means available. 



Friends of the Institution have from time to time generously pro- 

 vided funds for carrying on important explorations and researches. 

 as in the case of the Smithsonian African expedition, and more 

 recently by largely supporting the Smithsonian biological survey of 

 the Panama Canal Zone. 



It seems proper that I should here call special attention to the 

 motive which led the late George W. Poore, of Lowell, Massachu- 

 setts, who died December 17, 1910, to make the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution his residual legatee. By the terms of the will the estate, esti- 



