

REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 83 



collections. A few systematic illustrations of metallurgical operations were shown. 

 It was thought best to treat a few subjects thoroughly rather than a large number 

 superficially. After suitable consideration, a few representative works were selected 

 for illustration, and were worked up as completely as possible. 



Beginning with the ore as mined, each step in its preparation for smelting was 

 shown, together with the by or waste products of such treatment. To illustrate the 

 smelting operation, the ores, the fuels, the fluxes, and every other material entering 

 the process, each product of each operation up to the final product of the works was 

 shown. To these were added, where practicable, illustrations of materials of con- 

 struction, such as fire-clays, sands, etc. The furnaces and tools were shown by 

 specimens, views, and descriptions. The interest and value of these collections did 

 not lay so much in the specimens themselves as in their being thoroughly connected, 

 and in the kiad and amount of information that was given in regard to them. 



The collections in metallurgy comprised collections illustrating the extraction of 

 gold and silver ; the manufacture of lead, steel, coke, sulphuric acid, and alloys ; the 

 smelting and refining of copper, iron, and zinc. There was also illustrated the prac- 

 tical application of the non-metallic ores by specimens showing the manufacture of 

 sand-paper, asbestus and its uses, abrading and polishing materials, and the utiliza- 

 tion of barytes. 



This collection, filling nineteen cases, occupied a floor space of nearly 

 2,300 square feet. Mr. Dewey visited the exposition and remained un- 

 til all of the collections in his department had been installed. 



The Smithsonian exhibit occupied more than a quarter of the entire 

 space assigned to the Government for exhibition purposes, and the at- 

 tention which the collection received from visitors to the exhibition 

 and from the press was very gratifying, the space being the center of 

 attraction for scientists from various parts of the country and for 

 students from different Southern colleges. 



At the close of the exposition several of the curators returned to 

 New Orleans to look after the exhibits belonging to their departments, 

 and a number of professional packers, under the direction of Mr. H. 

 Horan, were sent from Washington to assist in the packing and return- 

 ing of materials, many of the exhibits from their nature being very 

 fragile and requiring skillful handling. An additional force of laborers 

 was employed, and the work was pushed with all possible speed, so 

 that by the 10th of July the work of packing bad been completed and 

 the exhibits were on their way to Washington, Mr. Earll and party 

 leaving on the 14th. By the end of the month the last car-load of 

 materials had reached Washington. Yery little loss was sustained 

 from breakage, the exhibits upon arrival being, as a rule, in excellent 

 condition. 



