EEPOUT OF THE ACTING SECRETAUY. 3 



information as to the advancement of science and the progress of 

 knowledge to all who have an intelligent desire to keep themselves 

 abreast of the world's thought. 



The fine arts, which were provided for in the original law of the 

 Institution, and which formed the object of its care at the beginning, 

 had made but little progress for many years, because of the pressure 

 of other subjects. He revived interest in this field in the early years 

 of his administration and his action in this regard was more than 

 justified by the noteworthy developments in the department of fine 

 arts here in the past few years, developments which were slowly 

 taking shape just as his life was drawing to a close. 



In the passing away of this distinguished man of science, broad 

 minded, cultivated, this Institution and the world at large lose a 

 great leader, and the writer of these lines an inspiring guide and a 

 sincere friend. 



Out of respect to his memory the flags on the buildings of the In- 

 stitution were carried at half mast until after the interment of his 

 remains at Boston, on March 3. The offices of the Institution were 

 closed on March 1, on which day the remains arrived in Washington, 

 and on March 2, the day of the funeral services here. On the latter 

 day business was also suspended in the offices of the National Mu- 

 seum, International Exchanges, Bureau of American Ethnology, 

 National Zoological Park, and Astrophysical Observatory, and dur- 

 ing the hours of the funeral services the exhibition halls were closed 

 to the public. 



A formal announcement of the death of Secretary Langley was 

 sent to the foreign correspondents of the Institution, and many ac- 

 knowledgments have been received, expressing regret at the loss 

 which the world of science and the Institution have sustained. 



In consequence of this sad event, it becomes my duty as Acting 

 Secretary to submit a report showing the operations of the Institu- 

 tion during the year ending June 30, 1906, including the work placed 

 under its direction by Congress in the United States National Mu- 

 seum, the Bureau of American Ethnology, the International Ex- 

 changes, the National Zoological Park, and the Astrophysical 

 Observatory. 



In the body of this report there is given a general account of the 

 affairs of the Institution and its bureaus, while the appendix pre- 

 sents more detailed statements by those in direct charge of the differ- 

 ent branches of the work. Independently of this, the operations of 

 the National Museum and of the Bureau of American Ethnology 

 are fully treated in separate volumes. The scientific work of the 

 Astrophysical Observatory is recorded in occasional publications. 



