Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-16
SAVING Ur HISTORY.
A Plan TO Make a Historical C0llec.
lion in Washington, Pa,
In CONNECTION WITH THE SCHOOL.
Mr.. W, W. Smith at Work to Collect Money
10 Put Up an Iron Building.
HOW UNAVAILABLE FACTS ARE LOST
In CONNECTION WITH THE SCHOOL.
HOW MANY VALUABLE FACTS ARE LOST

When William Henry Smith, General
Manager of the Associated Press, was in
Pittsburg last week, he went to Washing
ton, Pa, to see w. w. Smith, a prominent
banker of that place and cousin OF General
Grant, to get some data TOR political his
tory he is writing of the war times. Dur
ing the conversation the newspaper man re-
marked that Western Pennsylvania had
figured prominently in the history OF the
country, and he felt confident there were a
number of old documents relics, ETC., lying
around loose that, if gathered together and
preserved, would make a very interesting
collection. He wanted to know why a hre
proc building was not erected somewhere
and such collection made.
Mr. Smith, of W Washington, has enter
tanned such a plan for quite while, but he
is anxious to have the building put up on
the Washington and Jefferson campus, and
to be conducted in connection with that In
stitution.
CAME TO TOWN FOR MONEY.
He is willing to contribute freely toward
the object, ard yesterday came to see Charles
j. Clarke and other Washington and Jetfer-
son men IL Pittsburg to broach the scheme
TO them.
Mr.. Smith Is very enthusiastic over the
project, and feels sure that II an iron build
ing was erected that the people would contrib
ne old letters, historical data, etc, concerning
West PENNSYLVANIA. He said it is surprising
now many valuable and interesting papers are
extanI about this part of the state
or the soEs wives, who do not realize their i'm
portance. Mr.. Smiths idea is to make col
lection OF relics. ancient accounts. diaries. the
correspondence Of public men and their opln-
ions on current topics of their times or any
thing else that would throw light on the his
tCry OF Western Pennsylvania.
Recently III tearing down old house in
Fayette county some valuable papers belong
inE to Albert Gallatin, one of the pioneers in
Western Pennsylvania and a prominent man
in his day. we're found between the walls.
How they got there IS MYSTERY.
PIONEER GALLATIN'S OPINIONS.
In the lot was a diary in which Mr. Gallatin
had expressed his opinions very fully about
the administrations of bis day and the forma-
tion Of the Constitution. There were also
some interesting papers with notations
on Jbe margin. made by the distinguished
pioneer. TIE chances are these old documents
Will be kicked around until they are lost, but
II such building Wer2 put up they could he
preserved. The present generation is in pos
session OF a variety of things that would throw
light On past times. These papers and relics
are handed down to tine children, and MIR.
Smi says that in this way much information
about the early history of Western Pennsyl-
vania has been lost. The sons and their wives
do not realize their importance. and, like the
the servant girl VINO found the manuscript of
CaTlysle's nrst volume of Frederick the Great
lying on the floor and burnt it, they deliver up
these old manuscripts and letters 10 the flames.
He expects that the graduates OF the Wash.
IDgtun and jefferson College will produce the
money 10 put up the iron building. He thinks
there VIII ne no trouble about making the col
lection Hope is expressed that the his oricai
society Will assist in the work. The object is
laudatnry, and Mr.. Smith is very much encour-
aged so far