Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Very satisfactory and consistent results were arrived at from the first. series. But in the second series, the cost of the apparatus, the many different circumstances which it was necessary to take into account, the consequent greater care and time required in the investigation, and a lack of money with which to pursue the inquiry to the proper point, prevented the establishment of trustworthy data.

The importance of deciding the questions which it is the specific object of these experiments to answer need not be urged. There is, how! ever, one interesting circumstance which, among others, was observed, and which may be of importance outside the principal question. This relates to the determination of the condition of the steam as regards its dryness when it entered the heating apparatus; and, as a small quantity of steam was occasionally allowed to escape after it had passed through the heater, (in order to carry off air,) it was also desirable to ascertain whether any very considerable amount of water, in the condition of mist, was carried away by this escaping steam.

Hirn's method was employed in these determinations. Although the apparatus for this purpose was crude, and for precise experiments would require to be much improved, the experiments seemed to indicate clearly that the steam was nearly if not quite as dry, after passing over the condensing surface of the heater, as before; that is to say, its "mistiness" was not increased by its passage over a large extent of condensing surface. These results, if fully verified by a longer series of experiments with better apparatus, would indicate that there is a fallacy in the generally-entertained idea that "wet steam" is supplied to an engine if the originally dry steam is led through a long pipe.

The records of the experiments are voluminous, and it is intended to tabulate them, and to represent the results by curves when the whole are completed.

Elevations. It has been mentioned in previous reports that the Institution has been at considerable expense in collecting the profiles of canal, railroad, and other surveys, in order to the construction of a topographical map of the United States. The charge of this work was given to Mr. Nicholson, topographer to the Post-Office Department, but, owing to the absorbing nature of his official duties, he has been unable up to this time to complete it. In the mean while Mr. Gardner, of the Hayden expedition, has rendered an important service to this investigation by settling, through critical comparison of various surveys, the actual height of several important places in the interior, which will hereafter serve as points of departure for other surveys.

Natural History and Ethnology.-Various researches have been made. in natural history and ethnology, the aetual expense of which has been defrayed by the Institution, without salary, however, to the person in charge of the work; an account of which will be given in a subsequent part of the report.

INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES.

The Smithsonian system of international exchange still continues to render an important service to the advance of civilization, and emphatically to carry out the second clause of the will of Smithson for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men—that is, mankind. It is the medium of exchange of literary and scientific materials between the United States and all foreign countries.

The effect of this system on the diffusion of knowledge can scarcely be too highly estimated. Thousands of works, containing the details of the latest inventions and discoveries, are through its means annually brought to this country, while a knowledge through the same medium is disseminated abroad of everything that is doing in the United States to promote a higher civilization.

As an evidence of the high estimation in which this part of the operations of the Institution is regarded, we may again mention that the Smithsonian packages are passed through all the custom-houses of the world free of duty and without examination, and, moreover, that they are transmitted free of cost by the principal transportation companies, namely:

Pacific Mail Steamship Company.
Panama Railroad Company.
Pacific Steam Navigation Com-
pany.

New York and Mexico Steamship

Company.

New York and Brazil Steamship
Company.

North German Lloyd Steamship
Company.

Hamburg American Packet Com-
pany.

French Transatlantic Company.
North Baltic Lloyd Steamship
Company.

Inman Steamship Company.
Cunard Steamship Company.
Anchor Steamship Company.

The special thanks of the Institution are again due to the above-mentioned companies for their enlightened liberality.

The following are the foreign centers of reception and distribution of the Smithsonian exchanges:

London-Agent, William Wesley, 28 Essex street, Strand.

Paris-G. Bossange, 16 rue du 4 Septembre.

Leipsic-Dr. Felix Flügel, 12 Sidonien Strasse.

St. Petersburg-L. Watkins & Co., 10 Admiralty Place.
Amsterdam-F. Müller.

Milan-U. Hoepli, 591 Galeria Cristoforia.

Harlem-Prof. Baumhauer.

Christiana-Royal University of Norway.

Stockholm-Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
Copenhagen-Royal Danish Society.

The following table exhibits the number of foreign establishments. with which the Institution is at present in correspondence, or, in other words, to which it sends publications and from which it receives others in return:

[blocks in formation]

The table in itself is interesting as indicating the relative attention given to literature and science at the present day in the different countries of the world.

During the past year 4,326 packages, each containing several articles, have been received from abroad for distribution to institutions and individuals in this country.

One hundred and forty-one boxes, averaging 7 cubic feet each, with a total weight of 29,600 pounds, were sent abroad by the Institution during the year, viz: To Germany, 40; England, 30; Sweden, 5; Norway, 3; Denmark and Iceland, 4; France, 11; Russia, 7; Holland, 5; Belgium, 5; Australia, 11; Italy, 3; Cuba, 2; Brazil, 3; Liberia, 1; Egypt, 1; Canada, 10.

The total number of separate parcels contained in these boxes was about 10,000.

To facilitate the business of the exchanges, the following rules have been adopted:

1. Every package, without exception, must be enveloped in strong paper, and secured so as to bear separate transportation by express or otherwise.

2. The address of the institution or individual, for whom the package is intended, must be written legibly on the cover, and the name of the sender on one corner of the same.

3. No single package must exceed the half of a cubic foot in bulk. 4. A detailed list of addresses of all the parcels sent, with their contents, must accompany them.

5. No letter or other communication can be allowed in the parcel, excepting such as relates exclusively to the contents of the package. 6. All packages must be delivered in Washington free of freight and other expenses.

7. Every parcel should contain a blank acknowledgment, to be signed and returned, either through the agent of the Institution, or, what is still better, through the mail, to the sender. Should exchanges be desired for what is sent, the fact should be explicitly stated on the list of the contents of the package. Much disappointment is frequently expressed at the absence of any return in kind for transmissions; but un

less these are specifically asked for they will fail in many instances to be made. It will facilitate the labors of the Institution very greatly if the number corresponding to the several addresses in the Smithsonian printed catalogue* be marked on the face of each parcel; and for this purpose a copy of the catalogue will be forwarded to all who apply for it. Specimens of natural history will not be received for transmission unless with a previous understanding as to their character and bulk.

8. Unless all these conditions are complied with the parcels will not be forwarded from the Institution; and, on the failure to comply with the first and second conditions, will be returned to the sender for correction.

The operations of the system of exchange have increased from year to year, and notwithstanding the liberal assistance received from transportation companies, it now absorbs nearly a seventh part of the entire income of the establishment. In order to improve its efficiency and the frequency of transmission of packages, a larger proportion of the income will be required. In view of these facts, the Secretary at the last session of the Board of Regents was authorized to receive aid from societies and individuals in defraying the heavy expense of this part of the operations of the Institution.

Miss Jane Turner, sister of the late Prof. W. W. Turner, the wellknown philologist, continues to have charge of receiving and cataloguing the exchanges intended for the library of the Institution, and of distributing those for other parties.

The receiving, packing, and shipping of the packages from different parts of the United States intended for foreign countries, is under the charge of Mr. H. Diebitsch.

LIBRARY.

In 1866, the library of the Institution was incorporated with that of Congress. This arrangement is still continued, and is beneficial to both establishments. The Smithson fund is relieved from the maintenance of a separate library, while at the same time the Institution has the use not only of its own books but of those of the Library of Congress. On the other hand, the Library of Congress is enriched by an entire department, that of books relating to modern science.

The following is a statement of the books, maps, and charts received by exchange in 1874:

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Among the principal donations received in 1874, are the following: From the Company of Public Works of the Mediterranean: "Bassins de Radoub de Marseille. Notice sur l'exécution des travaux," with an atlas of 40 plates, (2 copies.)

From the Argentine Confederation: "Description géographique et statistique de la Confédération Argentine, par V. de Moussy," vols. i-iii, with folio atlas.

From the National Hungarian Museum, Buda-Pesth: "Monuments épigraphiques du Musée National Hongrois, dessinés par Ernest Desjardins," 1 vol., folio, Buda-Pesth, 1873.

From the Imperial Archæological Commission, St. Petersburg: "Compte-rendu de la Commission Impériale Archéologique," for 1870 and 1871, with folio atlas.

From the Icelandic Literary Society, "Reykjavik Skirnir," 1874: "Skyrsla um Forngripasafu Islands i Reykjavik,” vols. i, ii, 1863–1870. Copenhagen, 1868, 1874. "Fyettir fra Islandi," 1873. Reykjavik, 1874, 8vo.

[ocr errors]

From the Universities of Berlin, Bonn, Erlangen, Freiberg, Göttingen, Greifswald, Halle, Jena, Leipzig, Marburg, Rostock, Würzburg, Basel, Bern, and Zurich: Inaugural Dissertations for 1873.

From the Hydrographic Department of the Ministry of Marine, St. Petersburg; 23 charts, 10 volumes, and 6 pamphlets.

From the Veterinary School, Dorpat, 48 pamphlets.

From the British Museum, London, "Catalogue of Greek Coins, Italy," 1873, 8vo.; "Catalogue of Roman Coins in the British Museum, Roman Medallions," 1874, 4to.; "Catalogue of Prints and Drawings," Division I. "Political and Political Satires," vol. ii., 1869-1873, 8vo.; "Fac-similes of Ancient Characters," 1873, folio; "Catalogue of Birds," vol. i, 1874, 8vo.; " Hand-List of Seals, Morses, Sea-Lions, etc.," 1874, Svo.; "Hemiptera, Heteroptera," vol. viii, 1873, Svo.; and various guidebooks.

From the Board of Admiralty, London, 28 charts published by the Hydrographic Office, from January, 1873, to January, 1874; "The China Sea Directory," vol. iv; "The Mediterranean Pilot," vol. i; "Red Sea Pilot," 1873; "Tide-Tables," 1874; "Nautical Almanac for 1878;" and 10 lists of lights.

« AnteriorContinuar »