62 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



and oruaineiital stoues of the United States, comprisijig 358 specimens, 

 an education^ series of rocks, containing 500 specimens, a very interest- 

 ing structural series of rocks, and a collection of rock-forming minerals. 

 In addition to all this work, 1,557 descriptive labels were printed and 

 200 thin sections of rock prepared. The collection as it now stands is 

 described by Mr. Merrill as follows : 



The total number of specimens in the reserve series is not less than 

 15,000, of which some 3,000 are now on exhibition. Of these, 4,24G are 

 building or ornamental stones, 1,658 of which are on exhibition. The 

 number of specimens in the duj)licate series will jjrobably increase the 

 total to 18,000. 



Department of Minerals. — Prof. F. W. Clarke, chief chemist of the Geo- 

 logical Survey, continues to act as curator, Mr. W. S. Yeates having the 

 collections in immediate charge. During the year, the growth of the col- 

 lections has been steady and encouraging, the work of installing the col- 

 lections has been definitely begun, and a system of exchanges has been 

 fairly inaugurated. Mr. Joseph Willcox has deposited his private col- 

 lection, consisting of some 1,400 specimens, which is, in some respects, 

 one of the finest in America. Mr. J. T. Abert has given the valuable col- 

 lection of his father, Col. J. J. Abert, containing 1,245 specimens. An 

 allotment of $2,500 from the New Orleans appropriation was devoted 

 to building ui) the collection of getns and ornamental stones. The 

 schedule adopted included all the gems proper, rock crystal, agates and 

 jaspers, malachite, lapis lazuli, &c., and every important gem or orna- 

 mental species was secured both in the rough and cut conditions. 

 About 1,000 specimens are on exhibition at New Orleans, of which 

 nearly one-third are cut and polished stones. A part of this collection 

 was exhibited at Cincinnati, where it was awarded a silver medal. In 

 connection with the New Orleans work, two important collecting trips 

 were made by Mr. Yeates, to Northern New York and the Ilot Springs 

 of Arkansas. The total number of specimens in the collection is esti- 

 mated at 15,288. 



Department of Metallurgy. — Owing to the absence of Mr. Dewey in 

 New Orleans, no report upon his work can be given. It may be stated, 

 however, that a large force has been at work during the entire year, 

 with very satisfactory results in the way of reducing to order the great 

 mass of material, the accumulation of many years. Since July, Mr. 

 Dewey and his staff have been preparing the New Orleans collection, 

 having an allotment of $5,000 wherewith to illustrate the metallic re- 

 sources of the country, and, by the aid of a number of volunteer assist- 

 ants in the field, the collection has received accessions of very great 

 value, which make it one of the most important metallurgical collections 

 in the world. 



Increase of the Museum. — The accessions are described in detail in the 

 reports of the Assistant Director and Curators of the Museum, and are 



