REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



15 



both grade-line and original surface ; the levels of all intersections with 

 other roads are important as means of comparison, and for checking 

 results. Due credit will be given to all contributors to this work. 



Exchanges. — The system of international exchanges, established by 

 the Institution, has been continued with unabated zeal during the past 

 year. The number of foreign establishments to which the Smithsonian 

 and other publications are distributed, and from which returns are 

 received now amounts to over seventeen hundred. It includes not only 

 all the first-class libraries and societies which have established a repu> 

 tation, but also a large proportion of the minor institutions of the Old 

 World. The following table exhibits the number of foreign institutions 

 in each country with which the Smithsonian Institution is at present in 

 correspondence : 



Turkey 



Africa 



Asia 



Australia 



New Zealand 



Polynesia 



South America . . 



West Indies 



Mexico 



Central America. 

 British America. 

 General 



10 

 14 

 30 



25 



10 

 1 



31 

 G 

 5 

 1 



27 

 5 



1,744 



Sweden 19 



Norway 11 



Iceland 2 



Denmark 25 



Russia 154 



Holland 59 



Germany 529 



Switzerland 54 



Belgium 119 



France 80 



Italy 141 



Portugal 5 



Spain 9 



Great Britain and Ireland . . 286 



Greece 6 



During the year 1870, 1,805 packages, containing many thousand dif- 

 ferent articles, were transmitted to foreign countries. These packages 

 were contained in 121 boxes, having a cubical content of 1,189 feet, and 

 weighing 31,383 pounds. The parcels received at the Institution for 

 parties in this country numbered 3,705. The separate volumes con- 

 tained in these parcels would largely increase the number, the Institu- 

 tion having received 5,182 articles for its own library. The war between 

 France and Germany, which commenced in July, affected, in some 

 degree, the number ©f packages received from these countries, and it is 

 probable that the result of this unfortunate conflict will be still more 

 marked in the diminution of the number of scientific publications which 

 may be received from Europe in the year 1871. The Smithsonian pack- 

 ages are passed through all the custom-houses of the world free of duty. 

 The only exception which existed at the date of the last report was 

 that of Italy, and through the intervention of the American minister, 

 Hon. Mr. Marsh, the Italian government has since granted the same 

 privilege. 



