CHAPTER VI. 
THE INDUSTRIAL SECTION. 
In the gallery of this section are represented specimens 
of commercial and industrial interest from all parts of India, 
chiefly belonging to the vegetable kingdom. The collection 
in its general character dates back to a period of forty years 
ago, when a provincial museum was opened in Calcutta the 
history of which it will be necessary fco recapitulate. The 
formation of the Bengal Economic Museum was commenced in 
Calcutta in 1872, under very favourable auspices. Sir George 
Campbell, Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, at the suggestion 
of Mr. Justice Phear instituted the forming of a complete 
collection of the commercial and industrial products of Bengal, 
and making it accessible to the public. The collection 
was to include seeds, grains, fibres, silk, oils, drugs, timbers 
and minerals. A strong central committee was formed with 
Mr. Justice Phear as Chairman and Mr. H. H. Locke as 
Secretary. A Local Committee was next form.ed in each 
district in Bengal and Assam and acted in communication 
with and under the direction of the Central Committee in 
sending in specimens and models. This machinery once set 
in working order produced an influx of products which the 
small staff registered, labelled and placed away in bottles. 
Tea companies of Assam and Darjeeling sent in samples 
of their teas. The managers of the Bengal collieries supplied 
samples of their coal. The jute mills donated samples of 
raw jutes, thread and finished bags and sacks. The Superin¬ 
tendent, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sibpur, sent a collection 
of “ cyclone woods,” or specimens cut from trees blown down 
in the gardens in the cyclone of 1864 and 1867. Lac, indigo, 
tobacco and oil seeds were contributed from various districts. 
In this way the museum began to grow in size and interest. 
Sir George Campbell at first proposed to locate the building at 
Alipore in the corner of the Belvedere grounds towards 
