756 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



As is well known to the committee, the participants in the display were the War, 

 Navy, Treasury, Interior, Post-Office, and Agricultural Departments, the Smithsonian 

 Institution, and the United States Fish Commission, and it is especially with refer- 

 ence to the last two sections that I beg leave to address you. 



The exhibition made at the Centennial by the Smithsonian Institution, in connec- 

 tion with that of the United States Fish Commission, was intended to represent 

 especially the animal and mineral resources of the United States. The mineral dis- 

 play was designed to show the products of the United States as derived from its 

 mines, and embraced the largest collection of ores of gold, silver, and mercury from 

 the Pacific and Western States ever brought together. It included also excellent 

 series of the same objects from the more eastern portions of the country. This divi- 

 sion of the mineral exhibition amounts to over 25 tons in weight, and possesses 

 a bullion value of probably $30,000 or $40,000. A special exhibit of her ores of 

 great scientific and industrial value was made in the Government building by the 

 State of Nevada, afterwards presented to the United States. Similar displays and 

 donations of somewhat less magnitude were shown by Montana, Utah, Tennessee, etc. 



In addition to the representation of the precious metals, full series were shown by 

 the National Museum of the ores of iron, copper, lead, zinc, tin, nickel; while the 

 marbles and other ornamental stones, plain and polished, in very great variety, were 

 displayed in large masses. All the varieties of coals are included in the collection, 

 as also the earths and clays, with their applications in the way of brick, tile, terra 

 cotta, etc. 



The entire mineral display, as such, was closely crowded in a sp'ace of about 10,000 

 square feet, and would have been more conveniently exhibited in twice that area. 

 Notwithstanding the intrinsic value of much of the material exhibited, no money 

 was expended in actual purchases, the outlays consisting of the necessary expenses 

 incurred by the agents of the Institution in visiting the different mining regions of 

 the United States to collect the specimens, and their own compensation, the cost of 

 boxing, transportation, etc. 



The display of the animal resources of the United States was arranged under five 

 heads: First. All the animals bearing some definite relation to the wants or luxuries 

 of man, and shown either living, as stuffed specimens, or in plaster casts, photo- 

 graphs, or drawings. Second. The apparatus by which they are pursued and cap- 

 tured. Third. The manner in which they are utilized. Fourth. The results of such 

 utilization in the form of the raw material and their simpler applications. Fifth. 

 The means by which they are propagated and multiplied. About 6,600 feet were 

 occupied by these collections. 



The variety of subjects required for so extensive a programme was very great, not 

 less than 3,000 subdivisions being provided for in the classification, and represented, 

 for the most part, in more or less detail. 



The display included not only the means and appliances of civilized man, but also 

 those used by the Indian for the same purpose. Here, as with the minerals, a large 

 part of the exhibit was presented by persons interested in completing the display. 



The special exhibit of the fisheries included models or plaster casts of the various 

 whales, porpoises, seals, and true fishes; samples of the eatable and ornamental 

 shells, the sponges, corals, and the like; isinglass and other products; specimens or 

 models of the different kinds of nets, pounds, fish traps, hooks, lines, rods and reels, 

 boats of all patterns, models of ships, apparatus for the capture and utilization of 

 the whale, etc. This collection occupied a space of about 10,000 square feet, making 

 three divisions, or an aggregate of 26,600 feet of the mineral, animal, and fishery 

 sections. 



The Smithsonian Institution also prepared, in behalf of the Indian Bureau, a 

 representation of the manners and customs of the American aborigines, which was 

 extremely attractive to every one, especially to the foreigner. This collection, exhib- 



