82 REPOBT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1913. 



been partly covered by the collections of applied geology and min- 

 eralogy organized as branches of the department of geology. The 

 most important work to be immediately undertaken relates to the 

 processes of mining and manufactiu-e. 



The division of mineral technology, which had been nominally 

 recognized since 1904, with Dr. Charles D. Walcott as honorary 

 ciu-ator, was last year given a definite status with a paid curatorship. 

 Mr. Chester G. Gilbert, previously assistant curator of systematic and 

 applied geology, was appointed to this position but as the change did 

 not take place until in June, there is essentially no progress to report 

 in this connection. The extensive collections received from exhibit- 

 ors at the St. Louis Exposition of 1904, consistmg of various models 

 and of many examples of crude and finished mining products, will 

 first be gone over, and as much of the material as is of permanent 

 value will be put in shape as rapidly as possible. Attention will also 

 at once be given to the formulation of plans covering at least the more 

 important features to be illustrated in the pubHc halls, in order that 

 steps may be taken without delay to acquire the necessary additional 

 exhibits. The work of preparing and installing the models, some of 

 which are large and complicated, involves considerable thought and 

 labor, and must, therefore, proceed somewhat slowly, but the several 

 rooms will be successively opened to the public as they are placed in 

 presentable condition. The exhibition as a whole promises to be 

 especially notable and quite in advance of anything of the kind here- 

 tofore attempted. 



The reestablishment of the division of textiles was effected some- 

 what over a year earher, or on March 1, 1912, with the appointment 

 as curator of Mr. Frederick L. Lewton, who was also given charge 

 of such other economic plant and animal products as are not other- 

 wise specifically provided for. The last four months of the fiscal 

 year 1912 were mainly occupied in unpacking and overhauling the 

 collections formerly exliibited, but long in storage, a work which 

 continued into the early part of last year. Much of the material was 

 found to have seriously deteriorated, though the greater part remained 

 in condition to be utihzed, and, having been mostly assembled over 

 25 years ago, it is especially valuable for its bearing on the history 

 and development of the subjects represented. Notwithstanding the 

 late period of the year when this work was started, a very considerable 

 exhibition of a provisional nature, based entirely on these collections, 

 had also been installed by the end of June, 1912. In 37 cases on the 

 gallery of the south hall in the older building were arranged a series 

 of the raw materials and of the successive stages of manufacture of all 

 the important textile and cordage fibers, comprising silk, cotton and 

 other seed hairs, flax, hemp, jute and other bast fibers, palm, grass, 

 leaf and other structural fibers, wools and hairs, felt, knit goods, 



