294 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1889. 



Iii the fourth series were exhibited forty-five models,* illustrating the 

 development of the American rail and track. In addition to these 

 models several rail sections that had been in service prior to 1835 were 

 shown, attached by the original fastening to the stone blocks which 

 were used by early railway constructors. 



In selecting objects for the fifth series, devoted to the development 

 of the American steam-boat and modern steam-ship, many illustrations 

 of early attempts at invention, which may be regarded as chimerical, 

 were omitted. This series was intended to show the beginnings of ma- 

 rine steam engineering, together with a very few types of modern steam- 

 ships. 



The sixth series contained maps, showing the beginning and extension 

 of the American railway system from 1830 to 1888 ; and in the seventh, 

 palanquins, sledges, elephant howdahs, etc., illustrating methods of 

 transportation in foreign lauds, were assembled. 



The arrangement of objects in the alcove assigned to the Department 

 of Transportation and Engineering at Cincinnati was completed about 

 the last of July, when, upon returning to Washington, my attention 

 was directed to the rearrangement of the few objects which remained 

 upon the floor of the Museum. 



Late in November, 1888, many of the objects in the exhibit alluded 

 to above were returned from Cincinnati, requiring a rearrangement of 

 the exhibition series,. which was completed early in March. Since that 

 date the work of correspondence and the care of the objects which 

 have been added to the collection have engrossed as much of my atten- 

 tion and time as could be spared from other duties in the Department 

 of Property and Supplies, the present organization of which, I trust, 

 will permit me to devote more effort to the extension of the Section. 



At the annual convention of the American Society of Civil Engineers 

 held at Seabright, New Jersey, June 20-26, 1889, the following preamble 

 and resolutions were unanimously adopted : 



Whereas the authorities of the .Smithsonian Institution have established in the 

 National Museum at Washington a department devoted to the preservation of the 

 history of American Engineering science: 



Resolved, That the American Society of Civil Engineers herehy expresses its grati- 

 fication at the estahlishment hy the Smithsonian Institution, with the authority of 

 the General Government, of a department in the National Museum for the preserva- 

 tion of objects of interest hearing upon the history of American engineering, and 

 recommends that American engineers co-operate with the Smithsonian Institution in 

 furthering the ohjects for which the Department of Engineering has been established. 



Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to the Secretary of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, and to the Curator of the Engineering Department of the National Museum. 



John Bogakt, 

 Secretary American Society Civil Engineers. 



* Illustrations of these models may be found in the " Development of the American 

 Rail and Track," by J. Elfreth Watkins, read before the annual convention of the 

 American Society of Civil Engineers, Seabright, New Jersey, June 21, 1889. 



