JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. XV 



paid, in 181)3, $1,500 for the use of such a Table for three years, the 

 subscription expiring during the present year. He showed a petition 

 signed by the leading naturalists of the eountry asking that the Table 

 be continued. It had been the means of bringing the Institution into 

 closer relationship with colleges and universities throughout the coun- 

 try, and he was favorably inclined to the action. It was mentioned 

 now, not as needing any additional sanction from the Regents, but to 

 recall a matter of some possible interest to them, as the Institution 

 stood in this case in the same position as that occupied abroad by the 

 governments of such countries as Germany and Italy. 



THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



The Secretary resumed: 



I do not think I have occasion to speak at length to the Regents about the inter- 

 ests of the different Government bureaus under their care, further than I have so 

 fully done in tbe report, but in regard to the need of larger quarters for the Museum, 

 and the dangerous character of the sheds used for storage purposes immediately 

 under the windows of the Smithsonian building, I ask the particular attention of 

 the Regents to the significant statement on page 5 of the report that no insurance 

 company will undertake to insure these shops, the property of the Institution, at 

 less than ten times the ordinary rate. They are under our walls, almost in contact 

 with them, and are a constant menace. 



The Secretary added : 



The complete remedy is to build the necessary quarters, but a partial remedy is 

 for Congress to give authority to lease Avarehouses in the vicinity for storage. The 

 present ones are choked with matter largely inflammable, and the condition can 

 hardly be worse or more dangerous than it is. 



Many valuable gifts have been received during the year. A considerable number 

 of important scientific memoirs have been published, and many more are in prepa- 

 ration. More money and room are urgently needed, and the lack of these prevents 

 the proper utilization of the national collections. 



Of the Bureau of Ethnology, I need only say that it has proceeded in its ordinary 

 path of usefulness under the efficient direction of Major Powell. I have myself, 

 however, used a certain unexpended balance in sending out an expedition under the 

 charge of Dr. .J. Walter Fewkes, which resulted in the exploration of a very inter- 

 est ing ruin near (he town of Moqui, the remains of a town which was destroyed by 

 hostile Indians before the lirst visit of the Spaniards. This is the first careful 

 exploration of a thoroughly pre-Columbian town site, and the collections obtained 

 throw much new light upon the customs of these ancient peoples. The collections, 

 it may be added, are of great intrinsic value, since the pottery is the linest that has 

 ever yet been exhumed, and the series obtained being monographic for a special 

 locality, is unequaled by any other of the kind in the world. 



I have also authorized another expedition to investigate the Seri Indians, which 

 baa been lately conducted to a successful issue by Mr. McGee. 



THE BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES. 



The Secretary continued : 



The Smithsonian numbers in the records of its Exchange Bureau about 24,000 cor- 

 respondents, scattered over the entire world. 



The appropriation for the service is $17,000, and in addition an average of about 

 $3,000 a year has been received from Government bureaus and others for transporta- 



