Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-11-17

brary. consisting OF $4,000 priceless
manuscripts and nearly 1900 books;
For many OF these manuscripts and
books he paid high figures At times
he has given more than $4,000 for one
manuscript.
Realizing that Il would be impossible
for one man 10 put 20 good use all tho
material he had collected Bancroft en-
ployed a large force Of assistants, his
pay roll averaging for many years about
$4,000 per month for literary assistance
alone.
His writer's. guided by Bancroft, have
produced many books treating the fol-
lowing subjects "The Native Races.
Central America" Mexico" Cali
fornia." "The Northwest Coast" alas
ka, " oregon" and British Columbia
Each volume consists Of about 500
pages o. clo9aly printed matter.
After the type was set up for the vol
umes plates We're made. and, on print
ing OF a few sets Of the books. these
plates We're stored away carefully In
especially prepared boxes. The boxes
We're then deposited IN the basement Of
the building belonging 20 the Bancroft
History company, In San Francisco.
Recently Mr. Bancroft decided 20
publish a larger number Of complete
sets Of his works He gave orders for
the printing Of 10000 sets. Each set
would sch for more than $500. IL was
an enormous publishing order involving
something more than S30000O0,
The plates We're brought up from the
basement OF the Market street building
and preparations were made for start
ing the printing.
And then starting discovery was
made.
Complete sets Of plates for certain OF
the volumes were missing This meant
that the $4,000, 900 order could not be eX-
ecuted.
Mr. Bancroft received in this dscov-
cry one Of the shocks Of his life. Though
a man OF indomitable courage, who had
beet through many a severe business
trial, II was almost more than he could
bear 20 think that one of the favorite
projects OF his life could never be real
lied II would take years to prepare
new plates and print new books.
He abandoned his project
An Investigation was Immediately set
on foot To discover what had become Of
the plates
At length the mystery was cleared.
a young teamster connected with one
Of the Bancroft delivery wagons had
purloined the plates. For many months
previous 10 the discovery he had been
In the habit Of taking from the Bancroft
building boxes OF metal plates These
he carried 20 the nearest Junk shop and
sold for few dollars as "old metal"
He disposed Of about nine boxes Of
plates IN this way, each containing the
complete sets for a volume
The historian has ever been a man OF
decision. lie az once determined upon
his course Of action. No more sets OF
his books would be brought out for
thirty three years-the period which
his copyrights still have 60 run. At the
end % that time he would have no need
for plates personally. unless his life
were prolonged 20 the term 0f l02 years.
The author has now retired 20 his
farm lands In the vicinity ~ San Diego.
Cal, and has resolved 10 abstain from
further labor during his lifetime.
As the library which he spent Years
In gathering ls now ~ no direct use 90
him, he has concluded 20 dispose OF sc
10 the highest bidder. lnstructlng his
agents. however. 10 accept nothing lees
than s3oQ000, Those acquainted with !
The collection state that this figure does |
not stand for one-fourth Of Its value.