Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 69.djvu/29

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
COLLECTION OF METEORITES
25

Colossal intruders from space, such as the Anighito, brought by Peary from Greenland and weighing (calculated) over forty tons, the Mexican Bacubirito of similar weight, and the large Chupaderos monster, weighing over fifteen tons, while easily distributed to collectors, will eventually weigh more significantly as unique features in their entireness in the museums destined to receive and install them.

It is desirable to call close attention to the admirable results of Professor Ward's labors, and to emphasize the preeminence the Ward-Coonley collection now takes in American cabinets.

Professor Ward has taken every possible pains to perfect and enlarge his collection. He has purchased and exchanged, and has traveled the world seeking almost inaccessible masses to obtain new examples. An instance of the latter was his exploit in reaching and

Willamette, Lower Surfaces showing Cavities due to Decomposition.

unearthing the Bacubirito iron in Mexico, and a more recent venture in studying the anomalous features of the Willamette iron in Oregon under severe meteorological drawbacks.

This collection has been signalized by the most striking compliments from original workers and directors of museums in Europe. Professor Carl Klein, the state counselor and director of the Royal Mineral Collection at Berlin, has referred to it as 'one of the finest and richest meteorite collections in the entire world'; and Dr. Brezina, the most famous student of these objects, writes: "Professor Ward has succeeded in reaching the highest number of localities now united in any collection. I count up to this day 689 localities described or