14 Twenty-fourth Report on the State Museum. 



Few additions have been made to that portion of the Economic 

 collection displayed in the hall, the space devoted to it being so 

 occupied as not to v^arrant the solicitation of additional contributions. 

 Through some changes recently introduced in the hall, some addi- 

 tional shelving has been provided for the specimens, permitting 

 of a partial rearrangement of the collection. The marbles have been 

 brought together and the limestones have been placed in the order of 

 their formations. Each block in the collection has been permanently 

 marked with a number in red, referring to the list in the Director's 

 Eeport on Building Stones, published in 1868, and to a supplementary 

 list hereafter to be kept of subsequent additions. The numbers 

 at present extend to one hundred and sixteen ; but as a few are indi- 

 cated by letters, the entire number is one hundred and twenty-three, 

 exclusive of several rough blocks which have not been enumerated. 



A portion of the collection of the late Prof. Pickett, of Rochester, 

 has been unpacked, examined and ticketed as the " piokett coll." 

 Some of the fossil corals have been labeled and placed in their appro- 

 priate cases. 



I have, in the preceding annual reports on the condition of the 

 Museum, called your attention to the necessity of additional cases for 

 the proper arrangement and display of collections which lie packed 

 in boxes or drawers. Some of these are donations from the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, others from individuals, and a large part derived 

 from the collections of the Director and Assistants, or by purchases 

 made by the authority of the Regents or of the Legislature. The 

 institution and the persons connected therewith are sufferers by the 

 continuation of this state of things, and it has become quite impossible 

 to show the evidences of work actually done in the several depart- 

 ments. On the present occasion, I propose to make a separate com- 

 munication in reference to the cases now actually required for the 

 arrangement and preservation of the collections. - 



In conclusion, I would say that the collections in all the depart- 

 ments are in a good condition and systematically arranged, and I 

 would ask that the Regents, in a body or by a committee, should 

 visit the Museum and make a critical examination. In the state- 

 ment above made of work done, there are many things which cannot 

 be enumerated, and much time of the Director and Assistants is taken 

 up in replying to the questions of visitors or giving information to 

 persons interested in mines or minerals. I believe, however, that 

 with the means at our disposal, as much work has been accomplished 



