The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-09-04


G. lines, chief Of the division Of docu-
ments in the Interior Department He
commenced life as a minister OF the
Episcopal church. and was we'll known
in the State OF New York as minister
He is a newspaper and magazine writer
Of eminence and has written a great deal
for the Washington papers. He IS well
versed in the history of the Interior De
partment. and is one OF the authorities
Of the Office On matters Of date and
record.
Dr. Ames is nov engaged in the work
OF preparing . comprehensive ;n'.eT OF
the publications OF the United States
Government IN this index viii be found
a guide 10 all the publications made By
the Government and BY this means great
storehouses OF knowledge viii be IN
locked. The Government is an active
publisher, and has covered every sort OF
subject. The Interior Department has
been charged with the preparation OF
this enormous index. which viii be one
Of the biggest things ever attempted n
the publication line
Dr.. Ames first came to the department
il 1873. He has been at the head OF The
division OF documents for several years
He is s0n-in-law OF Secretary Dele1o,
who was Secretary OF the Interior many
years ago. The document section is
quite extensive, and in the course CT a
year the force OF employees under the
venerable and affable chief sent out a
large number of publications on many
subjects One Of the tasks OF the di-
vision is the sending out of the statues
OF the United States, which are printed
II a bulky volume.
The Government maintains one Per
petusl Light" Il shines in enc Of the
dreariest places in the world, out in
the Mississippi swamps. aud has not
failed to shine for many years II is
located between Lake BOrgne and the
Mississippi sound and is seldom neaTed
by any mariner or wayfarer. II stands
ont in the marsh and IS visible from
some of the railroads Without anv
cheerful prospects, overhung with mi
asmatic mist. comprised by filthy arms
o. the sea among matted weeds and
tank mud, the light goes on peTpetuaIlY.
The winds do not blow it out and II
never eXpiodes- Every three months
James Young Government employe,
goes out in a small boat and fights his
way TO the lighthouse and loads up the
lone sentinel with oil It's name IS
Perpetual Light
8Ir. Fred Hail, referee OF the proof
room Of the Government Printing Office,
has one Of the most delicate and resoo1-
sible jobs in the big Office. There are
aecezsarily differences Of opinion as 70
style IN so large q force OF proofread-
ers, and Mr. Hall has the settlement Of
these disputes He reviews The work OF
the proofreadeTs. He is an able and
Woodworking man, and has come TO he
an authority on the many questions
which arise in connection with the pub
lie printing. He is personally very pop
ular in the city. He is q native OF Phil
adelphia
Mr. a n. Coffee and other employees
OF the Interior Department have had
copies made Of the famous General
order No. s" the pathetic document
which ended the war between the States
This famous order was sent out by
Gen R E. Lee on the battlefield OF
Appomattox n April, 1865. disbanding
the army Of Northern Virginia L IS
short, but full OF meaning, and the
bopeiessness Of the further struggle,
the devotion 81 the soldiers and the
blessings Of peace are eloquently
sketched.
Mr. Coffee secured the privilege Of
copies circulated by Official order Mr..
1 y. Chapman. resident OF this city
and e former employe OF the Interior
Department, has one OF the first copies
Of the order and prizes Il above al his
worldly goods He was under General
Lee and was a witness TO the SAD
scenes Of ApPomattox, and from his
copy are made The ones now being cir
cuiated-
BIr. William Schwartz. Of Martins
burg, ". Va, is one Of the efficient
messengers Of the Interior Department
He is noted for faithfuiness and kind
ness, He came from the region Of Wes5
Virginia which has improved much in
late years and which has several notable
manufacturing establishments. There
are few parts OF the country which have
more natural beauty and better pros
poets than the MaTtinsburg section. II
is often visited BY Washington people
who have brie1 vacations.
Prof. James E. Benedict, an assistant
curator in the Smithsonian Institution
IS an enthusiastic collector OF the pelts
OF wild animals. He has for many years /
been getting together a collection Of
skins and Il embraces the hide OF every
kind OF Cladruped known IN North
America LEtr EfI4EfilfL has OItEEl LG4S
splendid collection 10 Union College, /
Schenectady. y. Y. and it has been ac- /
copied lie graduated there in 1890.
Mr. Frederick E Rittman, auditor for /
the War Department, is custodian OF /.
ere Of :he largest collections of records (
extant. There are nearly eleven miles /
OF shelves, and each shelf is piled high
with closely packed documents. These /
AL pertain 10 rhe doIugs OF our army in /
the civil and Spanish wars, settlements /
and records Of disbursing officers. con- /
misssries, settlements with SOL /
diers. medical of1cers. Fayrnasters OF the (
army. officers Of the Ordnance Depart +
ment. members OF The Engineer Corps /
and others OF the United States Army
They. are contoa1td in fno shabby build
II Is used for Cflces some distance from
the war Department though pertaining /
thereto. The papers were recently {
weighed ard measured by Auditor Ritz /
u1aa and kis assistants. and much TO 1
their surprise il vas discovered fha;
there are 240 tors OF the records. ard /
that they cover nearly eleven miles OF 1
shelving
s large force IS employed 11ending the /
muster rolls, and other documents. Hav-
ing been 50 long folded and racked. tb4
Ia per cracks in the folds and IS mend I
ed BY pastiug transparent veIIuzn OF . /
peculiarly thin, strong sort over the F..
cracks. The vellEta is cut into strips Of +