The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-11-14
ton. and from thence on their return TO Rich


! mond. a very important proportion whic
{ cannot be restored, disappeared. During tn
. late war the destruction in this city of th
= records of the General Court was loss which
} historical students can never cease TO deplore
but when we consider tho conflagrations snC
rulings which attended the march Of the
Northern armies through every portion oil
Virginia. it will be seen that this loss was
only part Of the damage which was inflicted
in the matter Of our historical records. both
public and private. in the great contest which
ended at Appomattox
IL has been repeatedly urged upon the at
tention OF our Legislature by our scholars and
pubic-spirlted citizens that an annual appro-
pration should be made TO put in printed
and accessible form all the ancient records
that are still to be found in clerks offices of
our Oldest court-houses The work that was
begun IN the publication Of the calendar Of
State papers should be continued on q more
enlarged scale. so as to include every public
document OF Importance which throws light on
the earlier history of the Commonwealth.
There is another step Of far greater impor-
lance which should be taken at the earliest
practicable moment. 1t is clearly recognized
by all who are familiar with the Capitol
building that il is very unsafe depository
for the great mass Of records of the very high
est value which it contains. The destruction
OF tins building by fire. 20 which, like any
other structure of the same size and the same
intammable material. it is constantly liable
would lntlct loss far more impossible D. re-
store than any similar loss that has ever oc-
cured in the history of the State in connec-
ton with our public documents. The de-
structlon Of the records of the General Court.
deplOraole as 1t was was an event which /
cou'd not be compared in importance with |
the destruction Of the noble statue of Washing
ton. the fine public library with its relics of
historical interest and association, the gallery
or portraits and the records of the yarious
public departments
II the Capitol building should be DESTROYED
by any cause whatever it would be a calamity
which the sons of Virginia would not cease to
regret 10 the remotest times. and this genera
uoh would very properly incur the deepest
odium In the estimation of posterity for hav-
Ing neglected 10 take those precautions for
the preservation of all these Invaluable me-
MORALS. relics, pictures, statues. books. man.
1scripts and public documents. which the
'ommonest prudence suggested.
An Appropriation should be made At the an
preaching session Of the Legislature for the
ERECTION OF fire-proof building in which all
hese various articles can be safely stored and
II perly arranged. No very expensive structure
needed for this purpose. A comparativelv
mall building might be erected at first which I
hould be capable of being enlarged from wear
year until all the objects TO be secured were :
coomplished The removal of the library f
nd the more important masses OF public e
comments to such a building would not only i
ecure their preservation, bu. also diminish
Re heavy weight which rests upon the SUD
orts Of the Capitol building. The safety OF d
lat structure would thus be very much pro s.
oted, matter Of Importance not ,nly TO all n
no are employed in its precincts throughout p
e year but also TO the members of the Leqis- tC
ture themselves, who occupy their chambers y
lily for a few months M