118 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1913. 



of their development; each has its aeronautic station equipped with 

 machines in actual service throughout the year. Besides various 

 aviation establishments, the War Department has a balloon plant at 

 Fort Myer, Va., and at Omaha, Nebr. ; the Navy has its marine model 

 basin, useful for special experiments in aeronautics, its extensive 

 shop^ at the Washington Navy Yard, available for the alteration or 

 repair of air craft or the manufacture of improved military types, 

 and at Fort Myer three lofty open-work steel towers suitable for 

 studies in meteorology or aerodynamics in the natural wind. Further- 

 more, the Navy Department has detailed an oflScer for special re- 

 search in aeronautics at one of the principal engineering schools. 



Because of their fundamental interest in aeronautics^ each of these 

 departments has two representatives on the advisory committee, 

 and each will be able to place at the service of the committee one or 

 more skilled aviators and aeroplanes for systematic experimentation. 



PRESENT NEEDS. 



In presenting the needs of the organization, it is well to remark 

 that the Smithsonian Institution possesses the unique character of 

 being a private organization having governmental functions and 

 prerogatives. It can receive appropriations directly from Congress; 

 it can be the recipient or the custodian of private funds for the in- 

 crease and diffusion of knowledge; it can deposit such private funds 

 with the United States Treasury, or place them otherwise, as may be 

 required by the donor. Likewise, it can be the recipient or custodian 

 of material objects representing any province of nature or any 

 branch of human knowledge or art. This unique character allows the 

 public to anticipate or supplement the cooperation of Congress in 

 promoting the aerodromical (aeronautical) work of the Institution. 



Endowment funds. — Persons approving the purpose of the organi- 

 zation and desiring its continuity and permanence can not do better 

 than to provide for it a steady income, either for general or for 

 specific use. Individual endowment funds bearing the name of the 

 giver or other person, and presented to the Smithsonian Institution, 

 or placed in its custody at the disposal of the committee, may be 

 recommended; also collective funds bearing the name of a society, 

 organization, or section of the country, whether in the interest of 

 scientific progress or of national defense. 



Temporary funds. — For the prompt achievement of definite results, 

 funds may well be offered for immediate application, both of prin- 

 cipal and interest ; as, for example^ for the erection of laboratories or 

 other buildings ; for the purchase of experimental air craft, or appa- 

 ratus, instruments, etc. 



Most needed is an expansion of the Langley Aerodynamical Labo- 

 ratory providing a large and a small wind tunnel, ampler shops, and 



