Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-08-28
THREE-MILLION DOLLAR BOOK
One of Uncle Sans Most Expensive
PubIications-Omcia History
of the Civil War.

George Z. Walsh. in the Congregationalist
The present war with Spain has stirred
up many an otherwise Indifferent boy or
girl to read the histories of our naval
conflicts and military campaigns on land.
and at all the libraries the demand Tor
such books is unique In the history OF the
institutions. There is one history, now
ever, which will not be accessible to the
average reader, but in the present crisis
some facts about this most expensive boon
in the world may be of general interest.
The book to which I refer is the official
history of the civil war. Before 1t Is final
ment about 100000. Probably other
book in the world ever cost one-tenth OF
this enormous sum- Rare EDITIONS OF OISk-
ems, Thackeray or aDnte cannot I4ueh 81 trms rn,s
that this history is composed Of IL volumes ne,
of massive proportions. but that does not
story-practically one book
This latest reminder to US OF the enor,
| NOUS expense Of war Is probably 1us,ineo
by the for for iss dstas Of ts
war according to the latest reports from
leading participants on both sides. and II
will tend to settle definitely disputed points
| of that great historical drama. Inc OF
| fetal history will be complete and autnori,
tative. and all future writer's must appear
(, to it as a final resort. The atlas which ac
| Illustrating the important forts. campaigns
and battlehelds. These pictures are nearly
| all taken from photographs. and are not
| the ideal conceptions Of an artist Tnere-
\ fore they have the value of accuracy.
| The printing and binding OF this expen-
sive book has cost the government over
| million dollars up to date, while more tnan
another million has been spent IN salaries:
rent and stationery. for the purchase or
| photographs and private papers OF inuivlu-
uals. The work is net yet hnIshed. put IN d
wear or two a copy of the great undertak-
ing NAV be looked for in all of the leading
libraries. Less than 100000 copies Will be
printed at first for It is not expected that
the demand for It will be enormous w nile
! the book will be authoritative, 1t Will con-
tain much that is very dry and uninterest.
ing to the average reader, and hence VIII
| In one consecutive history may be found
| ali the war material and reports OF corn,
| manders of armies. corps, brigades an1
REGIMENTS deposited In both the Fsosrai inu y
Confederate state archives. As ootn sloes
| oS the Struggle will hayet free representa-,
| fion in the work, the history cannot De saia
| fo he impartial. South as well as Noltn
tells its own story. AS the joint proouct1on
| NJ the two great sides in that war, II VIII
| make for a better understanding petWeer
, these two sections of our country. ~ VII
, | he a hook that a whole-one and indiVisloie
: nation can contemplate with pride anC
D honor. Even though il cost $3o0o,OOo lt WI
| more than repay the seemingly enormous
| outlay for 1t will leave for future genera
t;ons a Complete impartial account OF oul
, greatest national struggle, tnereoy pIeVent
4 ing biased opinions and pre1udices from De
4 | ing handed down.