252 REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1886. 



show the beginning and end very profusely, but leave a tremendous void 

 in the middle. The collections gathered for the New Orleans Exposi- 

 tion were mainly designed to fill this gap, and a great deal was accom- 

 plished, but much more remains to be done. The same difficulties as 

 to volunteer collections are encountered here as in the case of the ores, 

 but in a greater degree, although there are one or two exceptions to 

 the general rule, and in a few cases very complete and valuable collec- 

 tions have been sent by practicing metallurgists. 



The success of the department in employing special collectors for the 

 New Orleans Exposition was such as to convince the curator that a very 

 small outlay, to be expended in making a few collections each year, 

 would yield an enormous return to the Museum. It is earnestly hoped 

 that arrangements can soon be made whereby a small sum may be an- 

 nually available for the purpose of increasing the collections made at 

 that time. There are young men graduating every year from our tech- 

 nical schools, who, for the sake of visiting mines and works under the 

 auspices of the Smithsonian Institution, would be only too willing to 

 devote a portion or all of their summer vacations to this purpose, the 

 Museum being- called on to pay only the actual expenses. This was 

 the plan followed in making the New Orleans Exposition collections, 

 and much very valuable material was gathered. 



The clerical work of the department has been ably performed during 

 the whole year by Mr. W. II. Newhall. 



