GEOGRAPHIC WORK OF GENERAL GOVERNMENT 333 



two dollars per hundred. Other maps are sold at different prices, 

 depending upon their size. The annual reports are free to appli- 

 cants. The monographs and bulletins are, under the law, sold 

 at certain stated prices. 



SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION AND ITS DEPENDENCIES 



The Smithsonian Institution was created in 1846, under the 

 provisions of a bequest by James Smithson, and has since been 

 maintained by use of the interest on the sum originally be- 

 queathed and the various additions made subsequently. Ac- 

 cordingly the work of the Institution is not conducted under the 

 auspices of the government, though the fund is administered 

 by a regency appointed by the government, and different lines 

 of scientific work undertaken by the government have been from 

 time to time conducted under the direction of the Institution. 



During its earlier years the Smithsonian Institution gave 

 much attention to the encouragement of geographic work and 

 began a series of meteorologic observations now continued in 

 the Weather Bureau. It also promoted geologic work and 

 aided in the establishment of the Federal Geological Surveys. 

 Throughout it has been the policy of the Institution to initiate 

 lines of scientific work of public importance, to maintain them 

 until their importance came to be recognized, and then to trans- 

 fer them to the general government. In carrying out this policy 

 the Institution has contributed in large measure to the develop- 

 ment of the scientific institutions of the National Capital. 



There are now three federal bureaus connected with the 

 Smithsonian Institution, but maintained by federal appropri- 

 ations, viz., the United States National Museum, the National 

 Zoological Park, and the Bureau of American Ethnology. The 

 National Museum issues an annual report and other publica- 

 tions relating to its work and the collections made and displayed, 

 while the superintendent of the Zoological Park issues an annual 

 report in connection with that of the Institution. No surveys 

 or extensive field researches are made by these bureaus. 



The Bureau of American Ethnology is engaged in researches 

 relating to the American Indians, its operations extending over 

 the United States and other American territory, and the distri- 

 bution of the aborigines being mapped from time to time. It 

 issues annual reports, which are well illustrated and commonly 

 accompanied by maps ; these are distributed chiefly by Congress. 



