Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-12

descended from Timothy Matlack, the fight
ing Quaker. who was member of the COM
mittee on safety in Pennsylvania, and sub
sequently a delegation to the Continental
Congress during the years 17S0 to 1871.
Young Watkins received his academic ed
ucation at fremont Seminary in Norris
town. Pa. and then entered Lafayette Col
lege. Easton. Pa. where he was graduated
in the scientific course in 1871 taking the
degrees of c. E. and NJ. S. For a year after
graduation he served the Delaware and
Hudson Canal Company as mining engineer
and then entered the employ of the Penn
sylvania railroad as assistant engineer of
construction, being stationed at Meadows
Shops. N. j.. where he remained until 1873,
when he was disabled for further field work
by an unfortunate accident that resulted in
the amputation Of his right leg. On his re-
covery he was assigned to the Amboy divi-
sion of the Pennsylvania road and served
In various capacities during the ten years
that followed. In 1873 he was appointed
chief clerk of the Camden and Atlantic
railroad. and year later was assigned to
a similar office on the Amboy division of
the PENNSYLVANIA railroad. which place he
then held until 1886.
Becomes Honorary Curator.
Meanwhile having become interested in
studying the history of the beginnings of
mechanical arts in the United States. he
was brought into close relations with the
late DR.. G. Brown Goode upon whose recon-
mendation the then secretary of the Smith
sonian Institution. recognizing his worth.
invited him to become honorary curator of
| transportation In the National Museum
which place he accepted in 1884 and at once
began TO develop that part of the museums
collections which are now so valuable. Two
years later he severed his connection en-
tirely with the Pennsylvania road in order
10 devote all OF his time to the museum
tor
knowledge which he had acquired with spe
clal reference to the early history of the
Pennsylvania railroad led to an invita- ton
which he could not refuse to return to the
service or that corpora ton. and to organize
the exhibits made by them at the worlds
Columbian exposition in Chicago. The ex-
h1blt was one of unusual interest including
as 1t did the original locomotive, John Bull
and many other historic objects and of
this he prepared a catalogue, which formed
a volume of nearly 200 pages, which was
published by the Pennsylvania railroad in
1893
At the close of the worlds fair in Chi
cago the Field Columbian Museum was or
ganiZed. and 1t was at once apparent that
the proper man for the dictatorship of the
Department of Industrial Arts was Dr.
Watkins. and he was Immediately called to
that place. where he remained for one year
organizing the department The ties which
bound him to the National Museum were
| too strong to be completely severed and
accordingly In 1895 he returned to Washing
| ton. resuming his office as curator of me-
chanical technology. which place he con-
| tinued to hold until his death as we'll as
| that of superintendent of buildings, which
| his early training as an engineer made him
| most competent to fill.
Engineering Topics.
! His interest In the history of transpor-
| tation led to his publishing numerous pa
pers on that subject. among which may
| he to
| ing" in 1888; THE Development of the
American Rail and Track" in 1889; The
| Log of the Savannah" in 1890; ''Transpor-
tation and Lifting of Heavy Bodies by the
| Ancients," in 1898, and also to his being
chosen to prepare the history of the Penn
| sylvania railroad. 1Si5-1S96, a series of
large quarto volumes descriptive of the
| first fifty years Of the railroad which is
| regarded beyond doubt the most COM
| plete history of the beginnings of railroad
| transportation in e United States.
| AS his reputation in these matters in
| creased he became more and more recog-
nized as the great American authority on
| the history of mechanical arts and In
| recognition of his work In this direction
the Stevens Institute of Technology in
| 1900 conferred upon him the degree soi
doctor of engineering.
DIR. Watkins was exceedingly loyal to
the city of his home and was the moving
spirit in the patent centennial exercises
that were held in Washington in 1891, and
| had much to do with the volume that was
| subsequently published. He also served
on various committees in connection with
| the inaugurations of the Presidents and
of the centennial celebration of the CAPT
tai. He was member of the Cosmos
Club. the American Society of Civil En-
gineers. the Society of Colonial Wars. In
| which he was an officer. the Society OF
Sons of the Revolution, the Society of the
| War of 1872, of which he was for some
| time treasurer, and the Washington Philo-
| sophical Society of which he was for some
| years secretary. He was called to serve
| as juror on his specially at the exposi-
tons of Atlanta, Omaha and Buffalo
His wife, two sons, the elder of whom
bears his own name, and three daughters
| survive him.
Tribute Of Respect.
A meeting of his colleagues and associates
at the National Museum was held today
at o'clock in the Office of the assistant
secretary for the purpose of taking action
on the death of DR.. Watkins The acting
secretary. Mr.. Rathbun. presided. and a
committee, consisting of DIR. Adler Mr.
| Holmes and Mr.. Rovenal, provided resolu-
| tons of sympathy and coincidence, which
| were adopted. The funeral will take place
| tomorrow afternoon from his late residence
| in s street.