American expedition was planned, and it will be unfortunate, indeed, if war conditions should long delay the carrying out of this work. POSSIBILITY OF FORECASTING FROM SOLAR OBSERVATIONS. As Dr. Clayton has shown that variations of the sun are followed a day or two later by correlated variations of temperature, it is of interest to inquire if the fluctuations of temperature thus caused are. large enough to be worth predicting. From Clayton's curves it seems to be shown that in 1913 and 1914 changes of solar radiation. of 1 per cent produced changes of maximum temperatures as follows: It may be supposed that the mean temperatures changed half as much, or +2.6°, +0.75°, and -3.15° corresponding to 1 per cent rise of solar radiation. Changes of 3 per cent or even 5 per cent in solar radiation within 10 days are not very uncommon. For instance, note the following values of "solar constant" observed on Mount Wilson in 1911: Date, Sept. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1.888 1.906 1.917 1.960 1.938 1.993 1.948 1.908 1.892 The observed range was 5.5 per cent in 8 days. Obviously, the subject presents possibilities that when sufficient observing stations are equipped in various cloudless regions to yield accurate "solar constant" values every day, it may be possible to forecast for one or two days in advance a very considerable part of the now outstanding temperature fluctuations. At present the two stations of the Smithsonian Institution in California and North Carolina are the only ones making the required solar observations, and not in half of the days in the year, especially in midwinter and midsummer, can observations be made on account of cloudiness. A bequest of $500,000 would enable the Institution to equip and maintain indefinitely the required observing stations. INTERNATIONAL CATALOGUE OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE. As the greater part of the countries supporting regional bureaus of the International Catalogue of Scientific Literature are now actually engaged in hostilities, a great deal of difficulty has been encountered in preparing and financing the Catalogue. The number of scientific papers being published has greatly decreased and it has been found practically impossible to obtain the necessary scientific and clerical assistance for the preparation of the Catalogue. However, the Central Bureau at London has succeeded in issuing four volumes, the twelfth annual issue of geology, and the thirteenth annual issue of chemistry, anatomy, and botany. This brings the total number of volumes published since the inception of the Catalogue in 1901, up to 216 volumes containing about three million references to current scientific periodicals. The organization as a whole is holding together very well under extremely adverse conditions, and when peace is declared it will be necessary only to resume, rather than reorganize the work. It is becoming more and more difficult to draw the line between pure science and applied science, and the present limitation of the Catalogue to pure science should be broadened to include at least some of the applied sciences which are advancing with such great strides. Although this would increase the size and cost of the Catalogue, yet its enhanced value would by increasing the demand for it and consequently its sale, offset any additional cost. Respectfully submitted. 25027-17-3 CHARLES D. WALCOTT, Secretary. APPENDIX 1. REPORT ON THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report on the operations of the United States National Museum for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1917: INTRODUCTORY. In the last report it was stated that Mr. Charles L. Freer had made arrangements for the immediate erection of the building to house the valuable collections of American and Oriental art which he has presented to the Nation through the Smithsonian Institution, and also that the preliminary plans had been approved, the site selected and the necessary funds, amounting to $1,000,000, transmitted by him to the Institution. It is exceedingly gratifying to announce that the detailed plans having been sufficiently advanced by that time the work of excavating was begun on October 2, 1916, and by the close of the fiscal year the foundations, including the concrete walls inclosing the subbasement, had been completed. This addition to the Smithsonian group of buildings, with a frontage of 228 feet, a depth of 185 feet, and a height of 46 feet, and containing an open central court about 65 feet square, will present an exterior of pink granite from quarries at Milford, Mass., a stone which has been employed with good effect for several prominent structures in Washington. Above the ground level it will consist only of a basement and main story, the former lighted by windows, the latter almost wholly by skylights, leaving the upper part of the walls essentially unpierced except for the entrances, of which that on the north front comprises three large arched openings. The location, at the corner of Twelfth and B Streets S. W., between the buildings of the Smithsonian Institution and the Department of Agriculture, seems to assure favorable surroundings for the future, as there is slight probability of intrusion by any high or otherwise objectionable constructions in that vicinity. Not only beautiful and effective in general design, but showing in interior plan a thorough adaptation to the requirements of the collections both as to space and to lighting, with such facilities as will make it practically an independent unit of the Smithsonian group, the character of the construction work so far as it has been carried leaves nothing to be desired in respect either to enduring quality or to interpretation of the architect's conception. The subbasement will contain the appliances connected with the heating, lighting, and ventilation of the building, but steam and electric current will be supplied from the central plant of the Museum. In the basement, which will be a well-lighted story, will be located large studios and rooms for the storage of such parts of the collections as are not on exhibition, a capacious lecture hall, an office for the curator, and work and comfort rooms, furnishing, in fact, all necessary conveniences for administration, for serious study, and for popular instruction. The main story will be entirely devoted to exhibition purposes and be divided into 19 rooms, each designed for a particular subject or class of objects, reached by wide corridors. The Whistler collection will occupy five of these rooms, in one of which the decorations of the famous Peacock Room will be installed. The central court, to contain a fountain, will be a special feature of this story, large. arched openings lighting the adjoining corridors and loggias. The entire available floor space of the main and basement stories will aggregate some 55,000 square feet, about equally divided between the two floors. It will be recalled that this building is designed to accommodate only the Freer collections and to provide for the study and appreciation of their varied contents which supply a vast amount of material for research work by specialists. As an integral part of this specific gift of art, the most important and valued donation which any individual has ever made, freely and unconditionally, to the Nation, it can not be otherwise employed. Its completion, an event anticipated for the fiscal year 1918-19, while insuring an incalculable gain for the Museum and the public, will not, therefore, satisfy any of the needs, set forth in the last report, in respect to additional space for the national collections of both the applied and the fine arts, as also of American history. The valuable materials in these departments, which have long since been seriously overcrowded, can at present be neither properly utilized nor appropriately brought to the attention of the public. In one branch especially, that of the industrial arts, it is unfortunate that such a condition should now exist, particularly as it is coupled with lack of means for securing an adequate staff of practical experts, as the collections are closely associated with many of the vital problems now confronting the country. With its limited facilities, however, an effort is being made to demonstrate the value of Museum work in time of crisis, and contributions made since the close of the year but in time to mention the fact of their publication here, have been recognized as of great national importance by those high in authority. |