REPORT ON THE SECTION OF TRANSPORTATION AND ENGINEERING 

 IN THE U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1892. 



By .1. ELFRETH W ATKINS, Curator, 



During' the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891', the time of the curator 

 was largely taken up by assignment to other duties; hence little atten- 

 tion could be devoted to the section. 



Unfortunately for the student of the history of the American steam- 

 boat and railway, little thought was given in the early days to the 

 preservation of objects which would now be considered invaluable 

 relics of the early stages of the development of these appliances of 

 transportation upon water and land. 



So far as is known, the important relics now in existence, with very 

 few exceptions, have been deposited in the TJ. S. National Museum 

 through the cooperation of the officials of railway and steamboat com- 

 panies. The future additions to the transportation collection must, 

 therefore, necessarily consist of models and drawings of historic objects. 

 Since the appropriations by Congress did not permit of their construc- 

 tion or purchase, extension of the collection during the year has been 

 made by the acquisition of such objects relating to the development of 

 the mechanic arts as illustrate the evolution of the epoch-making inven- 

 tions. 



During the year the curator took part in the meetings* of the Ameri- 

 can Association for the Advancement of Science, at Washington; the 

 convention of the Old-Time Telegraphers' Association, at Washington, 

 and the ceremonies at the completion of the monument erected by the 

 Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Bordentown, N. J. 



The erection of this monument (Plate i) by the Pennsylvania Railroad 

 Company, to mark the tirst piece of iron railway track laid between 

 New York and Philadelphia in 1831, attracted the attention of officials 

 and employes of the railway companies throughout this country, and 

 the general public as well, and a description thereof found place in the 

 principal railroad journals of Europe and America. A description of 



*See Bibliography (Section iv.) 



127 



