DEPARTMENT OF METALLURGY AND ECONOMIC GEOLOGY. 415 



pig-iron at the Mtiirkirk Furnace, 14 miles from Washington. The 

 second was an examination of the nickel from Russell's Springs, Kan- 

 sas, undertaken at the request of the Hon. ,1. J. Lngalls. 



The total number of specimens in the department remains about the 

 same as at the end of last year, 51,000, the additions during the year 

 being counterbalanced by the removal of worthless material; 12,000 

 specimens are on exhibition ; 15,000 are duplicates, and 12,000 are in 

 the reserve series. The balance consists of unclassified material which 

 is at present considered as reserve material. 



One hundred and six accessions have been received during the year, 

 of which 69, containing 111 specimens, were for examination and 

 report. Five special reports were made in answer to questions sub- 

 mitted. 



In cataloguing the collection, 505 entries, covering 001 specimens, 



have been made; and 5,459 card catalogue cards have been written. 



First entry in July, 1888 51,540 59.465 66,432 68,493 



Last entry in June, 1889 51,662 59,601 66,584 68,5«4 



Forty-eight boxes of duplicate and reserve material have been placed 

 in general storage, and fifty-seven specimens have been sent out in ex- 

 change. 



During the year the Curator has published three articles. The first 

 entitled Pig Iron of Unusual Strength, in the Transactions of the Ameri- 

 can Institute of Mining Engineers,* gives the result of the research into 

 the operation of the Muirkirk Furnace. The second, relating to the 

 nickel ore of Russell's Springs, Logan County, Kansas, was a prelimi- 

 nary note on the subject, published in the Engineering and Mining 

 Journal,! and the third, on the same subject, published in the Trausac 

 tions of the American Institute of .Mining Engineers,!" gives the result 

 of the examination of this nickel ore. 



The clerical work of the department has been ably performed during 

 the year by Mr. W. H. Newkall, assisted during a portion of the time 

 by Mr. T. R. Turnbull. 



■ Vol. xvii, p. 460. 



t Vol. xlvi, p. 213, September 15, i 



; Vol. jcvii, p. 636. 



