REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 57 



rnust remain in abeyance. Negotiations are now pending, through the intervention 

 of the United States minister to Greece, for the reopening of exchange relations with 

 the National Library at Athens, which have now been suspended for several years, 

 and it is anticipated that satisfactory arrangements will soon be completed. 



With the exceptions mentioned above and the interruption of intercourse with 

 Spain and her colonies on account of the war, exchange relations throughout the 

 world are more completely established than ever before, and it is believed that 

 the few connections still remaining to perfect the system will be made at no distant 

 time. 



For many years all exchanges for Austria-Hungary, Switzerland, and the Balkan 

 countries have been forwarded, in conjunction with German exchanges, through the 

 agency of the Institution at Leipzig. This indirect system of transmission was 

 inaugurated at a time when the total amount of the shipments to those countries 

 was relatively small and the practice has been allowed to continue in view of the 

 zealous and efficient manner in which Dr. Felix Fliigel has performed his duties 

 as agent. The rapid increase in recent years in the amount of work at this agency 

 has made the burden too heavy, however, especially when taking into considera- 

 tion the formalities necessary for clearing and transporting packages between Ger- 

 many and the other countries that participate in this arrangement, and rendered it 

 necessary to provide for more direct means of communication. Thus it was found 

 desirable, as suggested in my last report, to establish agencies in Austria and Hun- 

 gary, to which shipments could be made direct. With this end in view the chief 

 clerk of the international exchanges was instructed to visit those countries late 

 in the summer of 1897, and upon his return to recommend the designation of suit- 

 able agents. As a result Dr. Joseph von Korosy, director of the Statistical Bureau 

 of Budapest, and the Imperial Royal Central Statistical Commission of Vienna 

 were appointed agents of the service, thus eliminating the entire territory of 

 Austria-Hungary from the jurisdiction of the overburdened agency at Leipzig. In 

 addition to securing these new agents, the representatives of the exchange service 

 at Leipzig, Brussels, Paris, and London were visited and much valuable information 

 obtained, which has already been productive of many improvements in the service. 



Messrs. William Wesley & Son and Dr. Felix Fliigel, the agents of the exchange 

 service at London and Leipzig, respectively, have been so long identified with the 

 Institution that no comment as to their efficiency or faithful service is necessary. 

 Great credit is due the clerical force of the exchange service. While the work is at 

 times burdensome and requires extraordinary effort, the force has always been found 

 equal to any emergency. 



The following list represents the names of companies and other mediums of trans- 

 portation that have aided the Institution during the past year in the transmission 

 and distribution of exchanges, either without compensation or at minimum rates, 

 some of which have extended equal courtesies to the Institution for many years: 



American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, Boston, Mass. 



Amundsen, L. O. G., acting consul of Denmark, New York. 



Atlas Line of Mail Steamers (Pirn, Forwood & Kellock, agents), New York. 



Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church, New York. 



Calderon, Climaco, consul-general of Colombia, New York. 



Compagnie Generale Transatlantique, New York. 



Cunard Steamship Company (Vernon H. Brown & Co., agents), New York. 



Eddy, Thomas A., consul of Uruguay, New York. 



Grace, W. R., & Co., New York. 



Hamburg-American Line, New York. 



Hensel, Bruckmann & Lorbacher, New York. 



Holland-America Line, New York. 



Mediterranean and New York Steamship Company (Phelps Bros. & Co., agents), New 



York. 

 Murguiondo, Prudencio dc, consul-general of Uruguay, Baltimore, Md. 



