10 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1923. 



mineral resources was immediately put into effect and is meeting 

 with very great success. 



One of the results of this, coupled with the earlier work of Mr. 

 Wyer in connection with the natural gas industry, was the call for 

 help from the city of Erie, Pa., in solving its natural gas problem. 

 As a result of the wasteful methods in using natural gas throughout 

 the gas-using towns of the United States, the supply is rapidly 

 dwindling, that of the city of Erie being no exception to the rule. 

 To cope with the situation the fuel committee of the local Chamber 

 of Commerce decided that an intensive local natural gas educational 

 campaign was the only solution to the problem and, knowing of the 

 work being done by members of the staff of the division of mineral 

 technology of the Museum, it was but natural that it should call 

 upon the division for assistance in directing such a campaign. This 

 was done by Mr. Wyer during the latter part of April and May, 1923. 



In substance, the campaign included the reprinting and distribut- 

 ing of 1,000 copies of " The Smithsonian Institution's Study of 

 Natural Resources Applied to Pennsylvania's Eesources " ; in coop- 

 eration with Miss Erna Grassmuck, State Director of Geography, 

 there was prepared an outline of the educational material on the fuel 

 situation for Erie's homes; before 571 public school teachers Mr. 

 Wyer gave a lecture on the fuel situation in the home; posters were 

 prepared and distributed throughout the city dealing with natural 

 gas conservation ; and during the course of the campaign Mr. Wyer 

 addressed, in his capacity as associate in mineral technology, groups 

 of people, in the aggregate about 10,000. Among these were the 

 Women's Civic Club, the Rotary Club, Retail Merchants' Board, 

 twelve parent-teachers' associations, various schools, employees of 

 three manufacturing plants and the School Teachers' Institute. 

 Finally, in connection with the regular school work in geography, 

 civics, home economics, and general science in both public and 

 parochial schools, the Erie pupils were given examination questions 

 relating to the gas conservation material that had been furnished. 

 The campaign closed with definite recommendations to the fuel com- 

 mittee by Mr. Wyer as to the steps which should be taken to solve 

 Erie's gas problem. 



An innovation this year was the preparation of two traveling ex- 

 hibits, of about 100 specimens each, illustrating somewhat technically 

 the principal processes of the graphic arts, installed in 12 frames 

 without glass 28 by 44 inches, ready to be hung. These are available 

 for loan for two weeks to a month, the only expense being for ex- 

 pressage. The first of these sets to be prepared was shown at the 

 following places: Richmond Printers Association, Richmond, Va., 

 October 11-18, 1922; Art Association, Newport, R. I., during Feb- 

 ruary, 1923 ; Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass., during March, 1923 ; 

 Free Public Library, New Bedford, Mass., April 1-15, 1923; Art 



