New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-05-10

center under the rotunda or lantern, crossing the
intersection. The principal area Of the cross con-
ssts Of three asles which have side lights beneath
the caves, the central aisle rising above the side
ai,les and having ventiat0rs at the comb. The
transept has a single aisle. Each of the depart
mens has drawn upon It's own stores for articles to
exhibit, the objects having in many cases great his
torc interest apperaniug to the aboriginal inhab-
tants Of the country, the settlement, the reyou
tiouary struggle the later wars, the peaceful arts
progress, surveys inventions, scientific eXped-
lions aud res arches, and natural Resources. the
latter including metals and other minerals, animal
and vegetable productions, and manufactured AZ
tcles. Limited in a certain degree, the collection
vet has some features descriptive Of the whole
of the country's prosperity and glory.
To begin with the Smithsonian Tnstitutior-as
that which reaches the furhest back 10 the subjects
of its research-the chronological and archaeological
collection is something marvellous; not only lar
greater than any previous year could have shown,
but more complete than but few years ago any of
our Swans ever dreamed of being able to display.
The last tive years have done much Ia unfold the life
Of those semi-ciylzed races which possessed
large a tract of country and excelled in several
branches of the mechanic arts, weaving and pottery
especially The much decreased area occupied by
these Indians due 70 the nroad- of the brutal tribes
surrounding them. has far isolated them that we
have bat lately 20 know them by their remains.
very full exhibits Of which embraced in tie col
lection: thes. later exhibits were Obtained by Mr..
Schumacher aud Major Powell.
The wariike and domestic implements and cloth
ing Of the more familiar type of Ialians are also
shown i'm ample form. The geological and botanical
coll .ctions are carefully disposed The fooi-flshes
collection which has been in the hands Of Prof.
spencer F. Baird and his assistants, is very prom
/ q .lgl
how many millions Of pounds Of wholesome food,
annually added To the resources Of this country
we indebted 20 This corp, of men " Prof. Baird
has the conduct of the Smithsonian eXh hit m n
| eral: Prof VIM. L. Blake Is Superintendent on the
spot Thomas Donaldson of ldaho has been Tor some
wears making th- collection of precious metals and
ore, in the Far West and on the Pacific siop' ms
section also embraces the IRON Ores hiuuIdctllrd
IRON and coal collected from 80 mines m the vicinity
of Chattanooga by Gen. J. T. Wilder of that city.
! The collection weighs 30 TONS and was brought In
! this city by gen. Wilder M his own expense.
The ii lest form Of work l. illustrated IN she Agci
| cultural Department, bur m fashion which w0uli
| be very strange "a the oldest inhabitants of this
/ land. whether mOuud-budsr- or Aztecs, or To the
cIyp-i WellerS and lakc-meu II tie lands whence re
came. Tins section Will also bear a more cTl 'ai
/ examination atter VINE, Whrh may nave 10
speak not alone of It's methods on WORK, ana %. col
/ Letting c0lltuE, and Distributing Information, but
a 80 OF the special predictions tine Introduction OF
eXoiic~ and the ON the parasites and destroVcrs
/ of the farmers cattle ANA crops. Mt William Naun-
! ders has char &c Of the Agricultural Department IN
| SIN peaceably inclined and resery1g the clash OF
arms and the of guns for the last, one finds the
Interior Department on tue south SIDE Of the nave,
| west Of the Agricultural Department.. The Patent
! Ohic, sh US 1000 models arranged IN classes,
80 900 patent, b0uhd in series 4 central office of
administration in viii IA the workings Of Americas
! favorte bureau Is illustrated strangely enough,
one finds the Patent Office section OF the Interior
| Department IN the possession OF the original Decla-
ration of Independence, ana the Commission 81 ten
! Washington from the Continental Congress also,
the relics of Washington. his clothes, camp equipagr,
! puncl-bowl aud furniture. Inc National Museum
| once sought a nrr-proot place oI depl,lt IN WASH
| iugtou. aud - did some branches Of The Govern
ment. The Pateut Nhice-auOut 0nc-siXth OF the
r.--ut huI-d.ug was ectcd a. a safe place. This
! vas about $50. and now tine Bureau and Depart
mcut are rcware by ia" proud opportunity 90 dis
plav wiat they have so long and 50 carefully kept
| aad 81, .diuu,ly guarded.
Gen John Eaton, its Commissioner. who Is also the
representative If the Interior Department. 1t APP
pears hy 10, methods Of teaching and school ilrilsh
ing The Bureaus of Land, Census, and Pensions
appear los maps and charts az great beauty and c0M-
bitterness giving in geographic and tabular form the
great figure, ol Ame lean prugIcas; tie rare ol - lie
mrut of public lands by decades tie centurion OIL thr
country n to health II cracy nationality, sanity and
what not aud the distribution audarea Of the pension
appncie, and districts of the country. The Indian
iurrau l. so closely allied 10 the chronological Sec
uon Of the Smithsonian Institution that they will
be fused. Happy he who can study tue sulJcct-I
study IL he mUst-pcacccby among civilians and al
hi, leisure, thou any II the trotter accessories
Al the extreme western end o. the Interior Depart
neut Is the space assigned o the maps, Transparent
els and models OF the hayde and " ueeler eApe-
ditiOns.
nc post-Office Department, under the organiza-
mon of Mr.. Falrman. appears To be at home IN ltS
snug corner IL has nothing mary elous 10 snow eX-
cepr the perfection Of its excellent method, IL has
ali the ace, ,sQries of general delivery boxes
stamps postal cards, money orders, ana the othcr
features of the administration winch more IMAM az
vt perhaps typIhes the modern ideas OF elNllAcd
Ius rreasury-wil they pay out silver therei
PRO ,1hly not bat still those most artlstC OF all
rr,uis..5 To paw have some comfort IN their tIces
In no land uidrr the moon u So rch "A specimen Oi
skill afforded IN lieu OF the genuine hihy lucie.
Thanks to the great American inventor rrklua, and
fhr administration OF q. W. Casllear of the reas-
nrv We have some comfort left; We arr not put OIL
with "A shabby pIeso Of prhtlhg on coarse paper
The pappr tor the continental money was made only
q few mile, hence at the - Ivy Mills and tie mil
Is running yet and Ia the hands Of descendant OF
it, old proprietor but when me NTl'rr visited u
some time ago, was making "A nasty KIND
| of thick wrapping paper of straw and old ropes.
| Franklin used 10 ct his paper there. Even II the
old mill has been burned down once or twice, N is
more certainly than the boys old Jlcllknie which
! la hid five new blades and four new handle,thc
| sane uiil and 10 ought Ia drop tine straw aud junk
| and make some more hand-maue wnier-uara, linen
/ stock paper with some Of old BuiaWns shrywd adj
! vice printed ON II ~ o!d-flsnl0l"t type.
We now come 10 the War and Navy Departments.
but il would be- a breach of decoulin. and contrary
/ 10 the Articles of War Ia lump them together. The
War Department Ia. an admirable collection of rifle
ball and cartridge shell machines rom The Springfield
Arsenal. By means of shaltns aud belts. the power
| being derived from two Baxter engines IN an annex
these machines are put Ia work, making an exhibit
worth travelling many hundred mules 10 see. There