The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-20
2 PLANS PROPOSED
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE GEoR-
GA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
S NEEDS DISCUSSED.
wR. WOOD AND MIR. AsHMoRE TAKE
DIFFERENT VIEWS.

Pronerty should BE Part of the
school system, and should Receive
AuprOpriatiOns From the Board of
ur. AshmOre Thinks That Would
Wake 1t a Free Library and Mem
lions some Objections to the Plan.
The reports read at the annual meeting
~ the Georgia Historical Society were
a. far from being encouraging that the
future Of the society has been giving
many of it's members deep concern, and
,bsv have in consequence been giving Sc
,ious thought to several plans, that, if
,ut in operation, might be of benefit to
the institution.
Mr.. c. S. Wood, one of the committee
on membership and who is deeply inter-
ested in the society. said yesterday:
at seems strange that with regard to
this society, conditions are such as your
question indicates. During its existence
Il, has gathered some of the most valu-
able historical data of any similar or
sanitation south of Richmond. The lack
Of interest in institutions of this kind
may be accepted ordinarily as a precursor
Of literary and social decline. l do not
mink however. we are degenerating-
We are only a little peculiar The work
Of maintaining the Georgia Historical So
Getty is public enterprise. The institu-
ton is also a distinctive point of interest
for the city's visitors and guests 1t
should, therefore. be recognized by the
city executive and Councilmen.
1t is largely educational in it's purposes
and should properly attach to our public
school system. / know of no hindranta
to a committee from the directors of the
society inviting a conference with other
committees from City Council and the
BOARD OF Education, and asking for, and
obtaining appropriations from both
There need be no triarchal government
established for the society on this ac-
count. Children from the High School
or even the grammar schools, by the pay
ment of a nominal tuition, could be grant
ed permission to apply for membership
under che society's rules. Congenial men,
bership from the school children should
he given certain reading privileges and in
my opinion, ere long, the desire OF the
children to take books home with them,
cessty of becoming a regular member.
People orc generally moved by either
motive of necessity or what they conceive
10 be pleasure, and if at present the pub
lie Goes not find pleasure and profit in
accepting the privileges of this institute,
let it be shown a necessity / do not
count much on trying to shame people in
@ supporting it. | believe
the cooperation and patronage
al -aIxr
and in some way could be arranged with
out much delay
Nj. Otis Ashmore. superintendent of
public schools and corresponding secre.
tary of the society. was asked what
his views are in regard to the outlook
and his opinion as to the practicability
and value of the plan as outlined by Mr..
Wood.
"As to this plan" he said, while at
first sight it appears feasible and that it
might be of help to the financial. needs
of the society. yet a more careful con-
sideration of the circumstances that sur
round the affairs of the society and the
consequences, that, though not a part of
the plan itself would inevitably follow
its execution, would, / think, make it i'm
practicable.
For instance, should the society re-
ceve an appropriation from public
moneys, which are secured by taxation,
each and every person thus taxed would
have a right to demand that ne share in
the benefits to be derived from the eX-
penditure of such moneys, and. therefore,
would have right in the government OF
the society, and it's other affairs. that
we could not with equity deny. Leav-
ing out the question of the desirability of
the merging of the present society into a
public library which such condition of
affairs sas l hace mentioned virtually
w0pd make it, l am not at all sure that
under the terms of the several requests
to the society such a change could legal
ly be made.
Again. the object 9th Georgia His
torcal Society, as is/set forth in it's con-
stitution, is to collect, preserve, and dis
seminate the history of Georgia and of
the United States and to create library
for its members. To merge it into pub
lie library would interfere seriously with
this work. Then there are other objec-
tions: Should the library be a public one
there would necessarily be a great deal
more work incident to the transaction of
even its routine business, with a conse-
quent increase of the number of employees,
and. of course. the expenses; so that. pro-
portlonstely, the income and expenditures
would be about the same as now.
The solution of the problem of putting
the society on a broad and sound finan-
cial basis, must be found in the reawak-
enng of an interest in it among the citi-
zens. The people ought to appreciate the
society more. The benefits to be derived
from 1t are of such a character as ought
10 inspire the greatest efforts of the peo-
PIE OF Savannah to sustain. 1t is a most
useful institution as may readily be seen
Wnen 1t Is known that there is hardly a
history of the state now in existence for
which the materials were not secured
from records, the property of. and in the
possession of the society. But for the eff
FORTS of this society much of the early
history of the state would irretrevably
nave been lost.
There is now in the hands of tbs
printer the Proceedings of the Council
OF safety" a record of the Revolution
winch is being printed by the Daughters
VI the American Revolution, from a MS
tIat is owned by the Georgia Historical
society and one that has never before
oeen printed in full, though it is a most
valuable historic document. There are
many other MSS. of equal value in the
possession OF the Society, which have moi
eeh printed owing to financial needs
.Iat should be printed and inasmuch as
tHey are not only of local interest but
concern also the whole state l am heart
ny IN favor of asking the state for ar
u"ual Appropriation for the express pur'
Use OF printing these documents.
o get back TO Mr.. Woods plan, espe-
"'y so far as the school children are
,o"eerned, there is a real and crying nee(