Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-08

study. The original shore lines OF the Poto-
mac and Eastern branch, the highest ele-
vations, and the low lands. and the over
flowed marshes within our boundaries, and
the water courses and early roads. fords
and ferries within the District, and all
other typographical features of this locality
deserve attention, and may be of present
substantial service in the determination of
sanitary drainage. and other questions of
Importance to the city. There are many
records lodged in the several offices of the
United States government of especial in
terest to our local and national history.
The files of Congress. the State and War
Departments are each particularly rich in
the records of the District, as are the
journals and files Of record by the early
Commissioners for laying out the city. and
OF the commissioner of public buildings
and grounds, also those Of the several
courts of the District. and the records in
the Cffice of the register of wills and the
Orphans Court and the files in the pension
Office. These and some of the other depart
ments of the national government abound
In choice material for an accurate history
of the development of the capital city of
the nation, and for writing the biography
OF the leading men of the United States
who assisted in founding the republic. and
for a time dwelt at the seat of government.
Documents, Public and Personal.
The listing of all the early maps and the
plats of division of the lands within the
city, and the various official documents re-
lating to the District known to exist,
whether owned by the society or not. with
reference to and indicating where they
are lodged, is deserving OF the immediate
attention of this society. l also assume
that ali letters by persons Of intelligence.
reflection, and of position, whether on per-
sonal matters or not, as well as those re-
lating to public acts and affairs, merit
preservation. Memorandum, diaries. jour-
nails, ledgers, deeds, wills, legal documents,
fn,0 81
tons, remonstrances and resolutions, etc.
all may be, at some time or other, of
special value, and are. at least, worthy of
examination. and. II not wholly common
place, deserve a lodSment in the archives
of historical society. 1t is not unusual
thing for those engaged in historical re-
search to learn that boxes and trunks of
old papers, long retained as heirlooms, but
In the mutation of families found to be in
convenient 10 keep. and finally deemed use
less, had at last, just to get them out of
the way. been destroyed or sent to the junk
dealer.
But there are still many valuable old
records in the possession OF families in the
District. who realize how difficult 1t is to
care for them, and are in constant dread
for their security in private hands. The or
ganization of this society may persuade
them to see the wisdom of giving their GUS
tody to permanent Institution like this,
devoted to the preservation Of records. hav-
ing hre-proof accommodat tons. 1t is certain
that 1t is not alone from the houses of the
opulent and well-to-de that interesting old
letters may be expected, nor from whom We
may receive family and business papers as
gift or as deposit for safe keeping in the
repository of this society. Unfortunately,
this class of papers. as well as the memories
and traditions Of the early days Of our CITY,
are growing fewer year by year and disap-
pearing forever. We invite donations from
every quarter of old manuscripts letters
early maps. pamphlets, newspaper broad
sides and books relating to America
We can all recognize the fact that much
or what is difficult now TO obtain viii be an
impossibflfty few years hence Much has
already been irretrievably lost. Let us be
earnest and diligent gatherers while we
may, and collect the perishing fragments OF
the records and traditions that remain. lest
they. too. be lost.
Knowledge Which History SuDplies.
Sketches Of our local history and a ref
erenee to the data upon which its state
rnents rest, with al recorSs of old District
institutions and organizations. now past
and gone. and any account of mans en-
deavor to defend his natural rights and to
improve his surroundings. are OF Importance
IN the study of progressive civilization, and
the betterment of mans civil and social
condition. II leaders Of thought and legis-
letors desire to be guided by the knowledge
which history supplies of the past they,
100, must consult veritable records.
The methods to be pursued by the society
10 encourage Its members to make comrcu-
nications may safely be left to the inspira-
ton or the hour. 1t, however, occurs to me
that 1t may be well for the society to exact
an annual address from the retiring presi-
dent, which shall in part be devoted to sug-
gestio2s as TO our needs and a reffew of
the !aoors OF the society for the year The
movement 10 unite the efforts of those c.
pa5.e and helptuliy inclined to collect. pre-
serve and disseminate a knowledge OF the
history OF the District of Columbia has met
WITH natte-ing encouragement. ard has
demonstrated the fact that Washington city
is the home OF q very large number OF per-
sons possessing the true historic spirit. and
quite number have expressed their readi-
ness 20 Cooperate In the work this day in
augdrate5 by the Columbia Historical So
c.ety.