34 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1923 



Continued activities of Mr. Victor C. Heikes have resulted in the 

 acquisition of the most interesting of the recent additions to the 

 economic collections. 



The division of mineralogy has benefited largely through ex- 

 changes. A most important acquisition is a portion of a large 

 boulder of jade received from Col. W. B. Thompson, and an un- 

 usually fine specimen of crystallized descloizite from southwest 

 Africa, acquired through Ward's Natural Science Establishment. 

 Other exchanges resulted in adding upward of 60 pieces new to 

 the collection. Several cut gems of unusual quality and size were 

 purchased through the Chamberlain endowment fund. 



The continued acquisition of foreign paleontological material is 

 to be noted. Chief among the contributors are Dr. E. O. Ulrich, 

 who made collections in northern Europe; Mr. Stephen E. Capps, 

 in Palestine ; various oil companies and private collectors in Mexico, 

 Central and South America; Mr. Edwin A. Walford, of Banbury, 

 England : and various universities and institutions in Europe. 



Kesearch work has formed an important part of the department's 

 activities during the year, and assistance has been furnished to 

 numerous schools and students, chiefly through the distribution of 

 materials needed in their studies. The records show that 81 educa- 

 tional institutions, chiefly high schools and small colleges, have been 

 given such assistance. 



Textiles, wood technology, organic chemistry, foods, and medi- 

 cine. — The collections under the supervision of the curator of tex- 

 tiles, which, besides textiles, embrace wood technology, foods, organic 

 chemistry, and medicine, were increased by many gifts and by 

 transfer and loan of property from other Government bureaus, 

 amounting to over 2,000 objects. The most important of these are 

 as follows: 



A large series of specimens of pyralin, bakelite, condensite, and 

 cellulose acetate, showing the manufacture and use of these products 

 of modern chemical industry as substitutes for such natural raw 

 materials as ivory, bone, horn, tortoise shell, amber, etc., the sup- 

 plies of which are growing scarcer every year; and a set of pneu- 

 matic bicycle tires made in 1891 and believed to belong to one of 

 the earliest types used. There were added by gift beautiful speci- 

 mens of silks, woolen fabrics, and mohair upholstery textiles con- 

 tributed by American manufacturers to show the progress of textile 

 industries in this country. 



To the collections arranged to show the importance of wood and 

 the industries based upon the use of that raw material, there were 

 added wonderfully well preserved specimens of the ancient cypress 

 wood brought to the surface during the excavation for the founda- 

 tion and basement of the new Walker Hotel, Washington, and be- 



