REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 27 



Department of the luterior. These instrumeuts are supposed to have 

 been used in laying- the boundary bne between Florida and Georgia in 



1795; 



itlST* )KICAL COLtECtlONS. 



Mr. A. Howard Clark is in charge of these collections. The most 

 important accessions during the year are the original plaster model of 

 the Statite of Libertj' from wliich was <'ast the bronze statue surmount- 

 ing the dome of the Capitol, and a large collection of personal papers 

 and relics of George Washington, including the original will of John 

 Washington, Several historical objects have been submitted for an 

 expression of opinion as t(» their historical and intrinsic value. 



COLLECTION OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



The work of mounting typical specimens of domestic animals has ■ 

 been continued by Mr. Nelson R. Wood, 09 specimens being mounted 

 during the year. Nearly all the specimens were difficult subjects, re 

 quiring a great deal of time for their preparation. At the close of the 

 year covered by this report, 44 specimens of thoroughbred domestic 

 pigeons and fowls had been collected. 



TRANSPORTATION AND ENGINEERING. 



These collections, under the custody of Mr. J. E. Watkins, curator, 

 have been materially increased during the year, many valuable acces- 

 sions having been received. The collection of electrical apparatus has 

 been enriched by the receipt from Miss Mary Henry of the original 

 electro-magnetic engine designed by Prof. Joseph Henry. This machine 

 is one of the earliest applications of magneto-electricity to the jjroduc- 

 tion of power. Prof. Henry described its action as " reciprocating motion 

 produced by magnetic attraction and repulsion.'' Several drawings 

 and lithographs of the original telegrapb instrument invented by Mr. 

 Alfred Tail were deposited by his widow, together with two letters, 

 describing Mr. Yail's relations with Prof. Morse and the operations of 

 the lirst practical electro-magnetic telegraph machine. The Hinds 

 Ketcham Company of Brooklyn, N. Y., deposited a collection of in- 

 candescent lamps, switches, and other electric-light apparatus. One of 

 the original cylinders of the " Stourbridge Lion "has been deposited 

 in the Museum, by Lindsay and Early, of Carbondale, Pa. 



The ceremonies attending the celebration of the beginning of the 

 second century of the American patent system were held in Washing- 

 ton, on the 8th, 9th, and 10th of April, 1891. Mr. Watkins was ap- 

 pointed secretary ()f the organization and devoted considerable time to 

 the work of the Congress. During the Patent Centennial a loan col- 

 lection was installed in the Museum embracing machines of antique 

 design, models, and early patents. Many of the objects forming this 

 collection have found a permanent place in the Museum collections. 



