The Washington times., 1901-10-27
THE NAVAL WAR RECORDS.
superintendent Ra,vson Reports Is
sue of Additional Volumes.

sue of Additional Volumes.
The annual report of E. X. Rawsou. Su-
| perintendent of the Naval War Records. =
has been made public. Superintendent
RawsOn says:
Since my last annual repC-t, the tenth
| and eleventh volumes of the 'Oficial Rec
| ords of the Union and Confederate Navles
| in the War of the Rebellion have been
distributed. the twelfth is in process of
| distribution. the thirteenth is being read
| In proof. land part of the fourteenth is in
| the hands of the printer. The contents
| of these volumes include the conclusion
| Of the operations of the North Atlantic
squadron and the operations of the South
Atlantic squadron from 1861 to near the
end of the year 1863
The maps covering the field of opera
lions have been carefully complied and
have been executed with skill. They con-
tam the most important places mentioned
Ia the text, and are of special value,
therefore, to those studying these records
sketches and drawings OF interest found
IN the original correspondence have been
reproduced. The illustrations of types OF
ships have been continued. The lapse of
many years since the close of the war
renders it very difficult to obtain photo
graphs or drawings even of some of the
prominent vessels. Every cIew, however,
to their discovery is followed up.
In this connection it may be stated that
the endeavor to collect official records
OF both the Union and Confederate nayies
from other than sources available at the
department has continued The agent
authorized by Congress for that purpose
has continued his enquiries, especially for
Confederate material Of which there is
little to be obtained. the greater mart of
the official documents having been de-
stroyed at the close of the war He has
interested many people to make search
for such papers as are pertinent for pub
lication. The amount for travelling ex-
penses appropriated for this purpose has
been reduced from year to year in the in
terest of economy but at present is suffi-
cient for all practical purposes
This Office has constantly received ap-
plications for sets of Naval War Records
but Congress has not, as yet, made any
authorization for printing other than the
n,0Oo sets. which are already being dis
tributed. AS l stated in my last annual
report. the annual sum of Sl,e0o. approx
mately, would supply the present mem
bers of Congress not entitled to receive
sets, and also many Confederate officers
and volunteer officers of the Union Navy
who served during the civil war.
II desire to renew my recommendation
of previous years with reference to the
salary of the chief clerk of this office,
which, 1t seems fitting, should be in
creased from 81 800 to sz,000. This salary
would put the position on a parity Of pay
with that of every other office in the
Navy Department. There seems to be no
good reason why this should not be done.
If the responsibilities of position, expe-
rience and service are measures OF value
as compensation, this office, with its two
fold lines of work in the library and
Naval War Records, assuredy de-
mands abilities winch call Tor compensa-
ton as large as given to all the chief
clerks holding similar positions
The recommendation is also made. as
heretofore, that one expert in6eXer and
proof-reSder. a clerk Of class 2, at SI.4o0,
should be appropriated for in order that
this office snouId be properly equipped
This clerk would be called upon 10 per
form the duties of reading proof and in
deXlng. essential duties in this office. Such
an employe is an Indispensable part or an
office. engaged in publication With that
vices of ore or two employees would be
available for preliminary necessary work
in examining material and preparing type
written manuscript and searching Tor
missing data.
''The record in the library accession
book gives the number of volumes added
to the library during the fiscal year as
!, ,1i5. OF this number about 392 are peri
odicals, bound pamphlets. etc, leaving
1853 as the number OF books added to the
library shelves through gift and purchase.
Printed catalogues OF accessions are COM
piled every six months. and card cata-
logueS of every accession are kept up to
date by author. title, and subject
The work of reclassifying the volumes
in the library for the expansive system,
their REMEMBERING and change OF cata-
logues, is large work which moves
steadily, but, as an extra task, meets
with delays, as the current work is neces-
sarily given preference Nevertheless
satisfactory progress is made.
The library has about 1,200 pictures.
large and small, whicn include photo
graphs, engravings. prints, water-color
Included in these are various types of
vessels of the United States and Con-
federate States naVles; great naval bat
ties. American. British, and others; dis
tinguished individuals of various nation
aliti5S especially officers of the armies !
and navies of the United States and Great |
Britain: Barrles elaborate work. The !
Army and Navy of the United States from /
ent Tine, also, CoZzens water-cOlor {
sketches of American yachts This feat /
ure of the library, while secondary to the I
purchase of books, is of considerable i'm /
Dortance and growing interest These il /
lustratiOns have all been recently listed (;
a ipha betically and made accessible by list /
and index.
The library has come into possession, !
thI ough purchase at auction at a moder- /
ate cost of collection of autOgraphic |
records. pertaining to the history and adj !
of the British navy during /
the years lIl9-1S49. Thsse are more |
than POO in number. Among these au- /
tographs are those of many distinguish |
ed naval heroes; also power Of attor- /
ney for prize money. appointments. etc. |
During the year the card catalogue |
has been made more useful by rear |
of subjects and more minute |
The guide cards of sub
jects will number S7l. and cross refer
ences S93 the total being 1,764 cards |
These can readily be added to when |
deemed necessary. The number of sub
jects is considered ample for a library !
such as this which confines itself to pro-
fessonal and technical books. and peri |
adicals. The value of this key to the |
treasures of the library cannot be over |
estimated.
"A special technical library containing |
only such volumes as are deemed nee |
assary for professional and Department |
Use is necessarily of slow growth in the |
number of volumes compared with
lther more general libraries. The effort.
however, is always made to acquire
without delay the most recent publica-
ions which come within its scope"
The Big Brother.
(From the st. Louis Globe-Democrat)