Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-09-28
utsToeY or WTLMInGroM.
Its Scope aud Intention. and the Method
That viii he Employed In It's Cohstruc

Its Scope aud Intention. and the Methods
That viii he Employed In It's Construc- |
tion.
10 avoid any Misunderstanding the
citizens of Wilmington may have re-
garding the forthcoming history of this
city, now being compiled by EVERY
EVENING, we desire TO say word as to
its scope and intention; to call attention
to the methods which will be employed
in its construction, and the treatment of
the material il will contain. Hereto
fore historical works OF this kind have
been dealt with by two classes of
writers, viz; The historian who has
neither space nor opportunity to touch
upon anything outside of his legitimate
domain, and the hurrying, haruln-
scarum pamphleteer, who browses upon
the uncertain literary heritage of those
preceding him; his sole object to collect
what business there is to be had, at the
smallest outlay, fold his tent and steal
| quietly away.
Nor could the historian be expected
] to search the city in such manner as
to present its most favoring conditions,
and to set forth with figures and facts,
! the groundwork on which its hopes of
continued and future prosperity would
seem to rest. When he has told in gen.
eral terms what were its beginnings and
presented the various phases of its de-
velopement, his whole duty has been
done. The aim of the pamphleteer, on
the other hand, is to flatter, regardless
of fact, or even reason. He sets down
the population of city with simple
view Of pleasing those who do business
with him, and without regard to census
or Just computation; magnifying the
business Of the manufacturing COM
munity and charging its commerce be-
yond all reason. Besides being an Of
fence against truth, this results in posi-
tive injury. Such picture cannot be
maintained, aud, as will be Immediately
obvious, the very next census that may
be taken, by the general government or
the State, will not only show its falsity,
but, to the eyes of the uniformed, make
il appear that the city has been standing
! still for several years, or even going into
a decline. The makeup of his pamphlet
is as uncertain and shabby as his figures
and facts; its paper cover soon wears
away; its pages become dog cared, and
only the remembrance of his mistakes
transformation and Misrepresentation
remain
In the forthcoming History of Will
: mington compiled by EVERY EVENING
only such figures and facts as could be
had from authoritative sources will bt
used. 1t will be our aim to collect al
matter from first hands, where such il
G possible. Board of Trade, commercial
t statisticians, and those well informed
: and having the confidence of their fel
. ow.citizens, will be relied upon. More
i over their figures and facts carefully
Q compared and checked by similar figure
J. and facts taken from other sources
n Information and statistics concernin!
: the present condition and future pros
I. poets will be carefully cleaned; the ad
is vantages of this section will be studio,
d on the ground, by those of experienc
'r and accustomed to deal with such mat
tiers, and the truth as far as it is possibl
to get at it, will be told without fear c
favor. Such will be the History {
70 Wilmington as complied by EVER
+ EVENING.
~ The matter, like the illustrations, wi
q be original and specially prepared fe
~ this work, and on questions of histor
~ where words of any authority have bee
= taken, due credit will be given.
a a The History of Wilmington, vii
he therefore, be an original work; its col
r. tents will be gathered by CAREFUL
trained men, personally selected +.
as their fitness to the work. 1t will
IS issued in handsome quarto forr
n, printed on the finest enamelled pape
ris and after the highest known fashion
N. the printers art. No book in the libral
&c. of loyal Wilmingtonite can have
lg- more permanent interest; none ms
rs. with juster taste be placed on the libra
Pr or drawing-room table.