EEPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 83 



Smithsonian Institution, U. S. National Museum, 



WasMngton, June 1, 1837. 

 Sir: In addition to your regular duties, you will take charge of the Smithsonian 

 and Museum part of the Minneapolis Exposition, and represent me in all transactions 

 with the hoard of management, as may be necessary under joint resolution of Con- 

 gress (No. 18). You will confer with me only upon questions of general policy, re- 

 lieving rae entirely of all matters of detail. 



As representative to the exposition, it will be necessary for you, at its conclusion, 

 to submit a report on same. 

 Very respectfully, 



G. Brown Goode, 

 Assistant- Sccrctari/ Smithsonian Institution, 



in charge of U. S. National Museum. 

 Mr. W. V. Cox, 



- Chief Cleric National Museum. 



Mr. Fred. Brackett, Washington agent of tbe exposition, was as- 

 signed to the duty of collecting and forwarding to Minneapolis the 

 exhibits from the various Departaients of the United States Govern- 

 ment, and of receiving these exhibits on their arrival at their destina- 

 tion. To Mr. Brackett's efficient discharge of these services, both in 

 Washington and Minneapolis, much of the success which attended the 

 Government display at the exposition is due. 



Before the Government exhibit left Washington tbe board of man- 

 agers of the exposition gave bond in. the sum of |5,000 for its safe- 

 keeping whde it should be in their charge, and, in addition, allotted 

 $850 to cover the expense of preparation, packing, and repacking the 

 exhibit, and for freight charges both ways. The car-load of cases and 

 exhibits left Washington for Minneapolis August 22, but did not reach 

 its destination till August 26. By hard work, however, nearly the 

 entire exhibit — 20,157 pounds — was in order and ready for exhibition 

 on the morning of August 31, the day of the opening of the exposi- 

 tion. 



The immense building, 336 by 356 feet in size, with floor space of 7^ 

 acres, provided for the exhibition, proved insufficient for the general 

 display, and the managers found it necessary to assign smaller space to 

 the Government exhibits than had at first been allotted. A part of the 

 ladies' reception-room was, however, finally partitioned oft' as an annex 

 to the space for the display of the Smithsonian Institution and the Na- 

 tional Museum, which may be briefly enumerated as follows : 



I. Ethnological exhibit, including prehistoric relics of America, casts, lay iigures, 



models, etc. An extensive series of casts of Indian faces, Zuni objects, etc. 

 II. Textiles and fabrics. 

 III. Display in the department of metallurgy. 

 IV. Deer autlers and horns. 

 V. Casts of fishes of North America. 

 VI. Photographs of Government buildings. 

 VII. Articles illustrating the composition of the human body. 



The ethnological display inclnded relics of the prehistoric tribes of 

 America, together with a largo collection of Eskimo and Indian cos- 

 tumes, carved dishes, spoons, children's toys, and a collection of the 



