264 REPORT OF ISATIONAL MUP:rtUM, 1903. 



originally estimated. It is well known that at the close of the Centeiuiial Exjjosi- 

 tion a company was organized to take charge of a large portion of the collections 

 exhibited on that occasion, and with these and such additional articles as might 

 be obtained to establish what was known as the "Permanent Exhibition" in the 

 main Centennial building, which covers nearly 18 acres. This organization, after 

 struggling for existence for several years, finally became unable to continue the effort 

 and the collections in its charge were speedily scattered. Many of these had been 

 presented to the National Museum with the understanding that they were to be left 

 with the Permanent Exhibition Company for a period of at least a few years. ( )tliers, 

 however, including many of the most valuable series, were obtained for the National 

 Museum through the efforts of Mr. Thomas Donaldson. All these collections were 

 carefully packed under his charge and stored in a building erected by him adjacent 

 to the Centennial building. 



An appropriation was made by Congress to meet the cost of packing, shipping to 

 Washington, and storing the collections in question. About twenty cars were 

 required to transport them. They are now contained in a wooden Iniilding adjacent 

 to the armory, tliere being absolutely no space for them in the National Musi'um. 



In addition to this a cabinet of at least doul)le the magnitude, made by the Insti- 

 tute of Mining Engineers and deposited with the Pennsylvania Art Museum of I'hil- 

 adelphia, has been offered to the Government simply on the condition of transfer to 

 Washington and proper exhibition. This is an extremely important collection, illu- 

 strating the mining resources and metallurgy of the United States and foreign coun- 

 tries, and will constitute a most important addition to the means of instruction at the 

 conunand of the Government. An appropriation will be asked, and it is hoped 

 o])tained, for the purpose of transferring the collection to Washington; but some 

 measures must be taken for its ultimate display. 



An even greater mass of additional material to be provided for wiin)e found in the 

 industrial collections of the United States census of 1S80, and in the collections of tlie 

 LI. S. Geological Survey. The census collections embrace more particularly the 

 building stones of the country, the ores (especially of the precious metals), the com- 

 bustibles, such as coal, petroleum, etc., and the forest timber. 



All these collections are of great magnitude, representing as nearly as possible a 

 full series from all parts of the country. They ai'e carefully lal)eled and recorded, 

 and will be accompanied by full descriptions. 



The building-stone collection is especially valuable, consisting, as it does, of many 

 thousands of samples of marl)le, granite, sandstone, and other substances, for the 

 most part dressed in 4-inch cubes, each of the faces showing a different surfac and 

 treatment. 



It is not believed that any established quarry remains unrepresented in this series, 

 while many extremely valuable deposits of ornamental and building stones are pre- 

 sented therein for the first time. Preparations are in progress for testing the strength, 

 resistance to torsion and crushing force, and economical properties of all these sam- 

 l>les. The collection is now so far advanced that when a public l)uilding is to be 

 erected either by the States or the General Government it will be possi])le to show 

 specimens of all the best Imilding stones in the vicinity of the locality involved, and 

 to present all the necessary data as to availability, durability, cost of production, etc. 

 Much use has already been made of the collection by the commissioners of State caj)- 

 itals, county court-houses, etc., as well as by agents of the General Government. 



The collection of ores made by the census agencies is also very extensive, that of 

 iron l)eing particularly large. Nearly every iron mine of any prominence in the 

 United States has been visited and samples carefully selected by experts. These 

 have l)een analyzed undiT the direction of Professor Pumpelly, and reports presented 

 as to their chemical and metallurgical properties and economical value. All tiie 



