Minerals and Gems 65 



sources of increase that might be found in the activities of a 

 mineral or geological survey. Still, under such limitations, it 

 has, quite surely, increased in interest, in importance, and in 

 mineralogical celebrity and beauty. But the reflection is obvi- 

 ous that in all these years the collection has simply grown, and 

 the time may now be considered imminent when the Depart- 

 ment should be strengthened by progressive and original scien- 

 tific research. 



It seems imperative on this account to call attention to the 

 development that might be expected, might, let me add, be 

 required. The Curator has previously called attention to the 

 importance of providing, in the planned additions of the new 

 buildings, a chemical laboratory, in which should be provided 

 instruments for optical and physical observations. It is these 

 necessary adjuncts, with the provision of skilled workers, that 

 would enormously expand the influence of this superb collec- 

 tion, and gather to it the scientific exhilaration and distinction 

 which now it unfortunately lacks, and will lack, unless such 

 steps are contemplated. 



Problems of the most varied and interesting character in the 

 mineral world, associated too with practical, with utilitarian 

 questions, could receive attention, and immediately, in our 

 neighborhood, the still unsolved perplexities of zeolitic deposi- 

 tion, in the traps and pillow-lavas of New Jersey, the genesis 

 and mineral associations of the Pegmatites of Connecticut, the 

 constitution and precise reference of the Serpentines, and the 

 mineral make-up of the Cretaceous Marls would challenge de- 

 bate and study, while within the treasures of the collection 

 itself, remain, unsolicited, examples of rare crystallographic 

 novelty. 



More theoretical and abstract lines of interrogation into Na- 

 ture's mineral laws might ensue, with experiments in the realm 

 of the artificial production of minerals, in electric furnaces. 

 Supplementing these features would follow lectures, instruc- 

 tions, and a more responsive, profitable and enthusiastic invo- 

 lution of the energies of the New York Mineralogical Club, 

 with a wider suffrage and recognition among our citizens for 

 the collection and its aims. Of all this I feel confident. The 

 prospect enlarges with each review of its possibilities, but the 



