New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-06
CHRONICLES OF THE BUILDERS
HUBERT HOWE BANCROFTS NEW ENTER
PRISE.


9vo PIP. xvii-643. san Francisco: The History
Company New-IOrk: ]. {. Derby, NO. l49
Churchst.
When Mr. Bancroft completed his greet and COM
prehensive historical undertaking it may have APP
peared to him for time that his lfewOrk was accom-
plished but IL became apparent that there re
maned In his hands a mass OF highly important
material which had not been utilized, and yet which
ought to be employed. Reflection gradually Impressed
upon the historian the conviction that in one respect
his labors had hitherto failed TO embrace phase of
the situation which demanded fuller recognition AS
he himself says in his preface to the present volume
"The fact gradually forced itself upon me that the
who had made the history were not receiving
sufficient attention. The narrative of events could
present in clear connected FORM but the artcers OF
those events was forced to leave too much in the
background Throughout this westernmOst America,
within a comparatively short period, great work MAD
been accomplished, the results OF which could give
but the men who had achieved those results could
not properly present without breaking the narrative
as to deprive il Of much Of its historical value IN
the history proper could accord the usual space and
attention; nay, more, could and did give fully and
freely biographical notices of greater or less extent
but this was not enough. They were not merely MS
torical characters in the ordinary sense, but something
more. They not alone factors or origlnaors OF
progress they authors Of actuatles creators OF
commonwealth having with their own hands fash
toned from materials the fabrics of destiny And
as such could not but feel that they were entitled
to passing notice"
Mr.. Bancroft, it must he borne in mind, had during
the progress Of his historical work, organized and car
ried out systematic and thorough inquest into the
lives OF the pioneers of the Far West. He had thus
accumulated such a magazine Of biographical material
as has never been eQualed whether for quantity OF
quality For in the planning OF this extensive inquiry
he had regard equally to the intelligence and hoehV
of the agents he employed and TO the rustWortmnes
Of the information elected. The statements OF the
pioneers themselves in every possible instance pro
cured and the confederation of their contemporaries
neighbors friends and relatives was further sought
Fun and exact narratives were thus obtained and in
number of cases fresh and important details were
CLEANED in regard TO historical events not previously
recorded with the accuracy to be desired In such mat
ters As general result, Mr.. Bancroft found himself
IN possession of store of historic biographical docu-
ments emnenty fitted to illustrate the development
of the West and at the time TO extend the pubhc
knowledge of the whose character and energy spe
cial apttudes, courage, perseverance ana ciedtVe
force, have had so much to do with the bulidihg OF
the commonwealth.
And indeed the era during which this work was
done was one OF the most remarkable In all human
nrooress As Mr. Bancroft writes: The year 1049
was the date of the gold discovery. Steam had then
been applied 10 locomotive engines scarcely twenty
wears Steam navigation both on inland waters ana
on the ocean, in crude condition. lndeeu elgho
years had scarcely elapsed since the rst ocean sted
been turned out OF tle New lOrh Sdius' anu
but one year since tile first United States mail steam
shin had been launched upon the ocean. The first
line of magnetic telegraph in the world, that from
New.York 10 Washington. had not been four wears IN
operation The first express line in the World 'hat
between New-York and Boston. had not been nine
wears running and still assumed only the most IN
significant proportions Throughout all this western
region there was scarcely wheeled conveyance eA-
cent a few emigrant wagons and the Mexican . car
reta. or solid wOodWheel cart there were no agIl
cultural or implements of civilization worthy OF
the name; few if any farms, and little or no farm
stock; there scarcely a wagon road except Ihe
natural prairie or the widened pack mule tran
SCARCELY postO0ce or any regular REORGANIZATION
anywhere by land or water. All was a primeVal
vilderness the faint sprinkng OF settlers In certain
parts, and the attempt at towns around the misSoh
establishments the seabOari south Of san Francisco
Bay hardly affecting the face of nature at all. Hot
air power electric lighting, telephone talking and like
miracles of science were as far beyond human an
ticipation as was the way in which Puck was to put
girdle around the earth in forty minutes nor was
this all Let it be recalled that one Of the greatest
Americans of the PERIOD and indeed OF all ume-Dafei
Webster-beieved the whole of the Far West to be so
utterly worthless that he opposed from his place In
the United States Senate, appropriation bill pro
vidng small amount for the establishment of tenta-
tive postal route in that region.
When men like Webster held such views OF the
region il is easy TO understand what the general
estimate of it was. In fact every step toward its
development which required Government aid had to be
fought for with expenditure of energy and brains
that would have sullced 10 build a new state, ana
the most potent influences in furthering the great
work of matchmaking were from fist to last in
divdual influences. This consideration Is In hSeli
sunicen Justification Of the work Mr.. Bancroft has
here begun a necessary supplement to MS historical
SERIES In no other way, certainly In no better way
could the versatility. persistence and capabilty OF
bav hopD
trated And what that way is il now becomes neces
sary TO state. Mr. Bancroft did not fall into the
Gbanal" error OF combining his efforts to the compla
ton of a new biographical dictionary That would
not have answered the purpose he had in View The
point TO be aimed at was the presentation OF such
combination OF history and biography would show
the men whose deeds TO be chrOnlcled, not le0
lated as in ordinary biography, but at work IN thel
environment among the conditions which actually
surrounded and Influenced them. To carry out sucl
a scheme obviously easier TO Mr.. Bancroft thar
10 any other man living. For the history upon
which these pioneers reacted had already been written
nv him. and he had given them their places and
sketched out their achievements. 1t remained only
70 reverse the prevof; arrangement and proportion
bv subordmating general to individual history; by
giving to men the prominence previously accOued tc
events; by bringing into relief the Human element a.
Illustrated by the of the most active, useful
successful and influential units. This was the plaI
finally determined upon for the series OF Chroni
cIes of the Builders of the Commonwealth"
According 10 Mr.. Bancrofts metnod each biography
In the series becomes much more than an account o.
the life and adventures of the subject. II Is that
course and highly interesting and stirring lives many
n not most of them will be found But their specia
value consists in their illustrative bearing upon var
Gus lines Of growth aud development The author ha'
thrown the lines iAto classes, which are as follows
Government Agriculture, Mines and Manufactures
Routes and Transportation. Commerce, and Society
81, ha1 Gub-d
end the most representative in every productive
and creative line should be well illustrated. The
general effect of the method is 10 give at once init
mate detailed and comprehensive views Of all kind'
of progressive and deveOpmenal work. II IS made
possible the most senderly informed reader to ap
prehend farreaching complex and perhaps apparently
confused processes and TO perceive the real direct
ness and steadiness which characterize such move
ments when rightly regarded. Mr.. Bancroft 1t MAJ
"a ance he Acknowledged is enthusiast upon tht