SECTION OF STEAM TRANSPORTATION. 123 



On the 17th day of June, 1885, 1 attended the annual convention of the 

 Association of American Master Mechanics, at Willard's Hall, Washing- 

 ton, D. C. After the privileges of the floor had been granted me to ex- 

 plain the purposes for which the section had been established, the 

 following resolution was adopted, and the following correspondence 

 ensued : 



RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE AMERICAN MASTER MECHANICS' ASSOCIATION, IN AN- 

 NUAL CONVENTION ASSEMBLED, AT WASHINGTON, D. C, JUNE 17, 1885. 



Resolved, That the American Railway Master Mechanics' Association has learned with 

 great pleasure of the establishment by the Directory of the National Museum of the 

 department of steam transportation (both railway and steam-boat), for the purpose of 

 collecting and preserving materials which will illustrate the railway history aud its 

 development in this country. This association hereby heartily indorses the action 

 referred to, and recommends that the members, as far as they can, assist Mr. Watkins, 

 the curator in charge, in making such collections as will fulfill the purpose for which 

 the department has been established. 



reply from professor baird. 



United States National Museum, 



Washington, D. C, June 25, 1885. 

 Dear Sir : Mr. J. E. Watkins informs us that at the recent convention of the So- 

 ciety of Master Mechanics he was afforded by the officers of the society special facili- 

 ties for the purpose of explaining the plan of the National Museum for the develop- 

 ment of the collection illustrating the history of American railways. I desire through 

 you to extend the thanks of the Museum to the society for the facilities afforded Mr. 

 Watkins, and for the interest which was manifested in his work. I hope that through 

 the co-operation of the society Mr. Watkins may be enabled to do very much towards 

 developing this department, in which he and all of us are so greatly interested. 

 I have the honor to be, yours, very respectfully, 



Spencer F. Baird, 

 Secretary Smithsonian Institution and Director U. S. National Museum. 

 J. H. Setchel, Esq., 



Secretary American Railway Master Mechanics' Association. 



The following circular letter was distributed among the members of 

 the American Society of Civil Engineers, at their annual convention at 

 Deer Park, Md., June, 1885. They, too, allowed me to occupy the floor, 

 and after addressing them upon the subject much interest was mani- 

 fested by the members, and much individual aid was promised. 



United States National Museum, 

 Under the direction of the Smithsonian Institution, 



Washington, June 20, 1885. 



Mr. 



Member American Society of Civil Engineers : 

 My Dear Sir : I beg leave to call your attention to the following letter: 

 "To whom it may concern: Mr. J. E. Watkins, of Camden, N. J., has been ap- 

 pointed Honorary Curator of the Section of Steam Transportation (Railways and 

 Steam-boats) in the U. S. National Museum. 



"Mr. Watkins is authorized to treat in the interests of the National Museum with 

 any persons who may be willing to aid in the development of this section, and to add 



