The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-04


 wishes of the Board to Governor w D. Jelks. member of the Board from | the Thrd District:
 Resolved. by the Board of Trustees | Of the Department of Archives and History. that the Director be requested to convey to our associate and CO., worker, Hon. William D. Jeiks, now
 absent in distant State for his health
 the sympathetic expressions of regard
 and good wishes of this Board, with
 the earnest hope that the reports cur
 rently received in reference to his
 health are true and that he may at an early day return to our midst"
 The Auditing Committee, through Dr. J. H. Johnson, Chairman, reported on l the financial operation of the Depart ment for the past year which was sup plemented by a report of Assistant , State Examiner G. F. Sedberry. The books of Director Owens were found correctly kept and the Auditing Com mittee reported favorably on the ad- | ministration.
 was received at the meeting and dis cussed exhaustively. It was ordered received and filed by pr. Johnson. The report reviews at length the work of the Department for the past year since October 1. 1903.
 Dr. owen, In the past year. has pro- cured transcripts from the Archives of Great Britain, which was authorized at the last Board meeting. These con- signments were received largely through the cooperation of Peter J. Hamilton.
 Transcripts of letters from Gen Andrew Jackson have been received this year. These manuscripts are in ha al at uya ht ton.
 One of the most important acquisi- ticns of the Department since 1t was created was the presentation of Q ma- jor portion of the library of the late Dr. J. l.. M Curry, which includes 150 volumes of. pamphlets and a large col- lection of his works on Southern his- tory. education and the negro. This collection was presented by Dr. Curry's son and Mrs. Alice Thomas Connolly, representative of the estate of her sis ter, Mrs. Curry
 Another valuable addition in the past year is an unfinished History of Ala bama,' by the late Alexander B. Meek, who died in 1865. F.
 Dr. owens also encourages the im- provement of surroundings of the Iber- vile monument. He also makes a plea for the erection of more monuments in Alabama to commemorate historical spots in the State.
 The history of Alabama since the clcse of the Civil War by John W. Du- Bose Is nearly complete. It may be in the hands of the publishers by Jan uary 1, 1905.
 The full report of Dr. Owens is as follows:
 Ofice of the Director of the Depart ment of Archives and History. Montgomery, Ala. Sept. 30, 1904. Gentlemen--I have the honor to sub- init herewith my annual report as re- quired by Sub division Five (5) of Sec tion Three (O of the act of the Gen eral Assembly, establishing this depart ment. It covers my work as Director from Oct. 1, 1903, to Sept. 30. 1904, in- elusive, the end of the current fiscal year:
 Organization and Administrnt tion-Gen- eral Observations. The year just closed has witnessed a remarkable growth in all of the activ- ities committed to the Department Without a single exception of any con- sequence, 1t has been free from criti- cism. and has had the cordial co-opera- tion and sympathy of the public. have several hundred testimonials to the wisdom of our plan of administra- tlon anu IO our uSeIu LO the peO- pie. The press has without exception been our friends. The American His torical Association and the Alabama State Bar Association have publicly commended our work. Other States | have already adopted our plan of his | torical. or are preparing to do so. Examination of the Departments Ac- counts.
 As indicating the high stand taken by the department in the conduct of its affairs, it Is proper to state that the books, accounts and vouchers of the department were examined by Capt. George F. Sedberry, under the direction promptly placed at his disposal. and his l report thereon is as follows: Ofice of State Examiners of Public Ac- counts. Alabama.
 Montgomery. August goth. 1904. Hon. R. M. Cunningham, Lieutenant and Acting Governor, Montgomery, l Ala:
 Dear sir-In obedience to instructions received from the Chief Executive Off, flee, I have examined the books. ac- counts and vouchers of Hon. Thos. M. Owen, Director Department of Ar chives and History from March End, 1901, the date of creation of the De- partment, up to and including August 1 18th, 1904, and beg leave to submit the | following report:
 l I have made very careful examina- tion and find that for each and every item of expense a proper voucher Is on | Ale and has been compared and checked 1 by me.
 | The books are plain and simple and nicely kept. the systematic manner in which all the vouchers have been ar- ranged, evidences great care and atten- | ton to details of the Department by the Director. Colonel Owen. | Respectfully submitted. c. F. Sedberry. Assistant Examiner, etc. 1 Sworn to and subscribed before me, August 20th, 1904 Mamie Onutt,
 N. P, Montgomery Co.. Ala | CapitoI Extension and Improvement | In June last, the Alabama Capitoi Building Commission organized and nroceeded to the performance of its | duties. While 1t is not definitely de- cided, the impression prevails that a | senarate Judiciary building will be | erected. This will remove the Supreme | Court. all of its officials. and the state Library and Supreme Court thus leav- | ing annie room for the offices. depart
 ments and boards which remain in the present Capitol buildings. Publications. 1 As projected in previous reports, the general publications of the Department are the Report of the Director. and an "Of1cial and Statistical Register" Other implications are in preparation as follows. viz: State Papers. Narra- | five Histories or Historical Sketches of | Alabama Commands in the War Be- tween the States an Alabama Local l History Collection. and occasional bull | 1etins and circulars, devoted to special