88 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1895. 



show tlie details of machinery, and from one-twentieth to one-fiftieth 

 where only form and general proportions need to be considered, as in 

 the case of buildings, ships, etc. Scale drawings, photographs, or 

 other representations of objects illustrating the earlier steps in the 

 epoch-making arts, would be desirable. From them small models can 

 be made. These, accompanied by labels containing sketches iu outline, 

 explaining graphically such details as are precluded by the limitations 

 of a small model, may be made the means of illustrating the history of 

 the beginnings of the more important American industrial arts. Such 

 a scheme might at first be thought to duplicate to a certain extent the 

 work of the Patent Office in that direction. It will be remembered, 

 however, that the records of that ofiice contain only such documents 

 and models as have been presented for examination and adjudication 

 by j)ersons mainly interested in drawing up claims. This would not 

 interfere with a presentation of the most important epoch-making 

 inventions, such as Henry's electromagnetic sound telegraph. 



The curator will endeavor to extend the series illustrating the begin- 

 nings of the steamboat. By the addition of a few models to the pres- 

 ent collection, the Museum would have a very satisfactory exhibit. He 

 also has in view the preparation of a case containing models illustrat- 

 ing presses and machinery relating to the early steps in the art of 

 printing and paper making. 



During the present fiscal year few objects of special importance were 

 received. Among the most interesting were several pieces of appara- 

 tus used by Prof. Joseph Henry in his investigations of electromaguet- 

 isiu, which led to the invention of the magnetic telegraph. These had 

 for many years been preserved in the Smithsonian building, but have 

 now been placed on exhibition with other pieces of apparatus used by 

 Professor Henry and deposited in the Museum by his daughters. A 

 special case is devoted to peri)eruating the history of the imi)ortaut 

 discoveries in electricity which he made. A model of his first electro- 

 magnetic sound telegraph apparatus, made by John Schultzbach, of 

 Washington, under Mr. Watkins's supervision, has been added to the 

 collection, and other models, prepared for exhibition at the Atlanta 

 Exposition, will be installed in the Museum at its close. The curator 

 has not yet had an opportunity to rearrange the collection of models of 

 vessels. Oapt. J. W. Collins, who was formerly in charge of this col- 

 lection, has, since his resignation, been employed by the ]\Iuseum to 

 prepare a full descriptive catalogue which will serve as a history of 

 naval architecture as illustrated by the models and other objects in the 

 Museum. This work was commenced on April 1. With a view to 

 maturing plans for a systematic rearrangement, a model of the exhibi- 

 tion hall devoted to naval architecture has been made, and also rough 

 models of all the boats suspended from the roof. The work of rear- 

 rangement will be advanced as soon as the necessary sup[)orts are iu 

 l)lace. Many of the boats were taken down, cleaned, and measured 



