REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



In accordance with the above lesohition the Board flnet on Decem- 

 ber 6, 1904, January 25, 1905. and March 6, 1905, 



The following is an abstract of its proceedings, which latter wmII 

 be found in tlic annual report of the Board to Congress: 



REGULAR MEETINti OF DEC'EMnEK H, 1904. 



A statement concerning the disposition of the renuiins of James 

 Smithson, and the report of the special committee having in charge 

 the final disposition of the remains, was presented to the Board, 

 which adopted the following resolution : 



" Resolccd, That the special committee having in charge the matter 

 of the final disposition of the remains of James Smithson be author- 

 ized to receive the original tomb, and to place it, suitably inscribed, 

 with the remains, in some proper jiosition that they may select in the 

 grounds of the Institution; the expenses involved in the matter to 

 be met from the funds of the Institution." 



The Secretarj'^ made a statement to the Board concerning the prog- 

 ress on the new building for the National Museum. The excavation 

 for the building was begun on June 15, 1904, and the laying of the 

 foundations in concrete was finished November 9, 1904. The con- 

 tracts for the granite had been entered into. 



The Secretary recalled to the Board the various bills introduced 

 for the preservation of antiquities on the national domain. He had 

 learned in the meantime that the Secretary of the Interior had in 

 contemplation a bill which Avould meet the needs of the Department 

 and Idc satisfactory to the Institution, which had prepared for the 

 Secretary of the Interior the requisite maps giving the location of 

 antiquities on the public lands. The Secretary of the Interior had 

 also taken preliminary steps for the appointment of guardians for 

 important ruins. 



ANNUAL MEETING. JANUARY 25. 1905. i 



The Secretary announced the reappointment of Dr. J. B. Angell 

 as a Kegent for six j'ears, by joint resolution approved by the 

 President January 19, 1905. 



The usual resolution relative to income and expenditure was 

 adopted, and the annual reports of the Secretary, tiie executive com- 

 mittee, and the j^ermanent commit tec were submitted. 



The s})ecial counnittee on the disjjosition of the icmains of Jamas 

 Smithson reported the arrival of the original tomb, and their decision, 

 under the authority given at the previous meeting, to place it and the 

 renijiins within the Smithsonian building. A statemeiU of the rein- 

 terment of the remains will be found on a subsetjuent page. 



The Secretary informed the Board of the i)roposal of Mr. C'liarles 

 L. Freer, of Detroit, to l)e(|ueath or to make a tleed of gift, to take 

 effect upon his death, of a collection of paintings and etchings, largely 



