KEPOET OF THE SECRETAEY. 39 



largely engrossed the attention of the staff. Their general nature 

 may be gathered from the titles under which the results were issued. 

 One, "A Eeport on the Political and Commercial Control of the 

 Nitrogen Resources of the World," represents an effort to unravel 

 the complexities of the nitrogen situation left behind in the passing 

 of the war. The other, " The Energy Resources, a Field for Recon- 

 struction," coordinates and summarizes the work of several years. 



THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART. 



The National Gallery of Art is fortunate in the acquirement of 

 art works of exceptional importance during the year. Among these 

 the most noteworthy is a gift by Mr. Ralph Cross Johnson of 24 

 paintings, which comprises selections from the brushes of 19 of 

 Europe's foremost masters. The Gallery is thus more fully assured 

 of a worthy position among the galleries of the Nation. The exten- 

 sion of the Gallery's activities to wider fields than heretofore is 

 marked by the acquirement by gift of an installment of a rich col- 

 lection of art works of European origin from Rev. A. D. Pell, of 

 New York. 



Notwithstanding the prevailing labor conditions much progress 

 was made during the year on the building being erected by the 

 Institution at the expense of Mr. Charles L. Freer, on the south- 

 western corner of the Smithsonian reservation, to house the Freer 

 collections of American and oriental art. The building was entirely 

 inclosed at the end of the year, the exterior granite and marble 

 walls and the roofs being completed. Work on the interior is now 

 progressing satisfactorily, and it is expected that the structure will 

 be entirely finished this autumn. 



MEETINGS. 



Shortly after the armistice was declared and as soon as the audi- 

 torium, which had been vacated late in November, could be re- 

 painted and the chairs replaced, there was inaugurated a series of 

 popular lectures, under the auspices of the Institution, on alternate 

 Saturday afternoons, between the hours of 4.45 and 5.30, commencing 

 January 18, 1919. The lecturers and subjects are noted in the report 

 of the secretary. 



The meeting facilities afforded by the auditorium and committee 

 rooms were also availed of, as follows : 



By the United States Employment Bureau of the Department of 

 Labor, for lectures by Dr. Meeker on the gathering and interpreta- 

 tion of statistics, and by Dr. Prosser on training of the handicapped ; 

 by the Children's Bureau for a conference on child's welfare, with 

 an illustrated lecture ; by the Ordnance Bureau of the War Depart- 



