108 EEPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1888. 



which the machines and structures devised by the modern engineer to 

 accelerate locomotion and facilitate conveyance are the culmination. 



It is believed that in museum administration no similar attempt has 

 previously been made to preserve by monuments the history of the 

 development of the appliances that man's genius has contributed to- 

 wards the creation of the grand chains of intercommunication, the ex- 

 tension of which, link by link, has exercised so potent an influence in 

 accelerating our national growth, increasing our prosperity, and devel- 

 oping our civilization. 



A number of objects which had previously been under the charge of 

 the curator of the Department of Ethnology were transferred to this 

 section early in the year. Among these are: Eskimo skin carrying 

 bags ; Indian carrying baskets and meat cases ; square cane-seat carry- 

 ing chair; a Madagascar carrying chair or "filanzana" and a Chinese 

 palanquin made of bamboo ; several Indian saddles covered with raw- 

 hide; two elegant saddles which formerly belonged to the King of 

 Siam, with bridle and reins ; fine saddle presented to the President of 

 the United States by the Tycoon oT Japan, 1861, and an elephant sad- 

 dle (howdah) from India; several dog sledges used by the Eskimo and 

 other northern Indians; sledges from Alaska; a reindeer, sled, and 

 mounted life-size figure of Laplander, from the University of Christi- 

 ania, Norway ; the Eed Elver cart ; cart from Siam ; caretta or ox- 

 wagon from New Mexico; specimens of harness, lassoes, and lariats 

 made by the Eskimos and other Indians of various tribes, together 

 with fine drosky harness from Russia, harness from Portugal, Mexico, 

 and South America, whips from Hayti, and saddle-bags from Daghis- 

 tan ; snow-shoes of many types ; sledges and toboggans. 



Among the more important accessions of the year are : A model 

 (full size) of the locomotive "Stourbridge Lion," a gift from the Dela- 

 ware and Hudson Canal Company. This model of the first locomotive 

 that turned a driving-wheel (August, 1829) on a railroad constructed 

 for traffic on the Western Continent has additional historical value 

 from the fact that it was an important object in the Constitutional 

 Centennial Celebration at Philadelphia in September, 1887, in the series 

 illustrating the progress in the art of transportation during the first 

 century of the nation's existence under the Constitution. 



In addition to this valuable model, the Delaware and Hudson Canal 

 Company have also donated four of the original driving-wheel tires, 

 three crank centers, and one of the walking-beams which belonged to 

 the " Stourbridge Lion." It is the intention to place these in proper 

 position on the model as soon as practicable. 



Another valuable accession is the original multi-tubular locomotive 

 boiler, constructed by John Stevens, 1825, for his experimental locomo- 

 tive, which ran for several years (1825-'27) on a circular experimental 

 track at Hoboken, New Jersey, deposited by the authorities of the 

 Stevens Institute, Hoboken, New Jersey. 



