26 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OP 





It is believed that this exposition of the subject will supply a deficiency 

 which has long been felt, and be of much service in advancing the 

 important cause to which it relates. 



Laboratory, Researches, dv. — The law of Congress incorporating 

 the Institution directed the establishment of a laboratory, and, in ac- 

 cordance with this, a commodious room has been fitted up with the 

 necessary ^appliances for original research in chemistry and other 

 branches of physical science. 



During the past, year a number of different researches have been- 

 prosecuted in this apartment. 



1. A continuation of those mentioned in the last report on building 

 material. 



2. A series relating to combustion, and some points on meteorology. 



3. On the flow of air through tubes of various forms. 



4. On the application of some newly-discovered substances to prac- 

 tical purposes in the arts. 



5. The examination of the minerals of the Pacific railroad and 

 other expeditions. 



Though the funds of the Institution will not permit the constant 

 employment of a practical chemist, yet we are enabled to do some- 

 thing towards the support of a person in this line, by referring to him 

 the articles of a commercial value which are submitted to us for ex- 

 amination, and for which the .cost of analysis is paid by the parties 

 seeking the information. 



A young chemist, who has spent three years in G-ermany, has now 

 the use of the laboratory, and is prepared to make any analyses which 

 may be required. For the facilities afforded him he is to keep the 

 apparatus in working order, and to make such examinations of speci- 

 mens as may not require much labor. 



In one of the previous reports it was mentioned that a set of instru- 

 ments for observing the several elements of terrestrial magnetism 

 was lent to Dr. Kane for use in his Arptic explorations, and I am hap- 

 py to inform the Board that these instruments have done good service 

 to the cause of science in the hands of this intrepid explorer and his 

 assistants, and that they have been returned in good condition. They 

 will be again intrusted to other persons for observations in different 

 parts of this country. 



Meteorology. — Since the last meeting of the Board an arrangement 

 has been made with the Commissioner of Patents by which the sys- 

 tem of meteorology, established under the direction of the Institution, 

 will be extended, and the results published more fully than the Smith- 

 sonian income would allow. A new set of blank forms has been pre- 

 pared by myself, and widely distributed under the frank of the Patent 

 Office. An appropriation has also been made for the purchase of a 

 large numbor of rain-gages, to be distributed to different parts of 

 the country, for the purpose of ascertaining more definitely with com- 

 pared instruments the actual amount of rain which falls in the dif- 

 ferent sections of our extended domain. A series of experiments has 

 been made with regard to the different form of gages, and a very 



