REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 11 



During the past year a vacancy in the advisory committee of the 

 Naples table was caused by the death of Dr. Harrison Allen, who rep- 

 resented the Association of American Anatomists. Dr. Theodore Gill, 

 of Washington, has been appointed to fill the vacancy, Dr. G. S. 

 Huntington, of New York, to be held as alternate. During the absence 

 in Europe of Dr. C. W. Stiles, the duties of Secretary of the Commit- 

 tee have been performed by Dr. Albert Hassall, of the Department of 

 Agriculture. 



The Secretary is under continued obligation to the committee for 

 valuable aid in the work of examining testimonials and recommending 

 action with regard to applications for the table. 



EXPLORATIONS. 



In the plan of organization of the Institution, among examples of 

 objects for which appropriations may be made, are cited: 



Explorations in descriptive natural history and geological, inagnet- 

 ical, and topographical surveys to collect materials for the formation of 

 a physical atlas of the United States. 



Ethnological researches, particularly with reference to the different 

 races of men in North America; also explorations and accurate surveys 

 of the mounds and other remains of the ancient people of our country. 1 



The first grant made by the Institution for scientific exploration and 

 field research was in 1848 to Spencer F. Baird, of Carlisle, for the 

 exploration of the bone caves and the local natural history of south- 

 eastern Pennsylvania; and during the half century that has elapsed 

 since the grant to that eminent man, who afterwards became the Sec- 

 retary of the Institution, every possible encouragement and support 

 has been given to natural history and ethnological explorations in 

 America and throughout the world. The income of the Institution has 

 not permitted the expenditure of large sums for this purpose, but valu- 

 able advice and instructions have been freely given to explorers con- 

 nected with Government and private expeditions, and agents of the 

 Institution have in very many cases participated in these explorations. 

 In recent years a vast amount of such work has been carried on by the 

 bureaus under direction of the Institution, a work made possible by 

 Congressional appropriations for this purpose. 



As soon as there seemed a possibility of acquiring new territories as 

 a result of the present Spanish- American war I began formulating plans 

 for exploring the possible new regions, and in my next estimates to be 

 sent to Congress I expect to ask definitely for appropriations under 

 which exploring parties may be sent to them. 



It is hardly necessary to recall the lasting impression that the French 

 Government made through the researches of the corps of savants sent 

 along with the expedition to Egypt. It would seem incumbent upon this 

 Government, not only for practical economic purposes, but as a contri- 



1 Smithsonian Report, 1846, pp. 6, 7. 



