davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-02

make suggestions as to ways and means
for its preservation. Accordingly, Pres!-
dent Agassiz, of the National Academy,
appointed a special committee, consisting
of John S. Billings. Ira Remsen and
Charles F. Chandler, to confer with Sec
rotary Hay on the subject. Eventually
this special committee was given an OPP
portunity to make a careful examination
of the precious instrument, with the as
sistance of Mr.. A. II. Allen, then serv-
ing as the chief of the Bureau Of Rolls
and Library of the State Department.
and also with the aid of DR.. Wilbur NJ.
Gray, of the Army Medical Museum.
1t was found that the document had
suffered very seriously from the very
harsh treatment to which ii was ex
posed during the earlier years of the re-
public. Folding and rolling have creased
and broken the parchment. The wet press
copying operation to which it was sub
jected about 1920 for the purpose Of pro-
ducing a facsimile copy removed
large portion of the ink. Subsequent ex-
posture to the action of light for more
than 80 years while the instrument was
placed on exhibition has resulted In the
fading of the ink, particularly in the sig
natures. The committee was pleased,
however, to find that no evidence OF
mold or other disintegrating agents could
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-02

State, and occupied what was believed to
be q freproof building. whereas, that
which then housed the Department Of
State was not regarded as affording any
surety against damage by fire. After the
Centennial however, the declaration was
transferred to the State Department
proper. that branch of the government
having in the meantime acquired an up
to-date building. Here it has remained
ever since in the library, which has spa
cious quarters on the fourth floor Of the
great granite building occupied by the
State, War and Navy Departments.
The present solicitude for the preser-
walton of the Declaration with all pos
sible care dates from n period somewhat
prior to the Worlds Columbian EXPOSE
ton in Chicago in 1893. 1t was proposed
to transfer the Declaration to Chicago
for exhibition, and steel safe, or pack
ing case" as X was then termed, was
specially constructed to serve as re-
pository for the document en- route and
during the period of the fair. While these
preparations were in progress the officials
of the State Department turned the mat
ter over in their minds, and eventually
came to the conclusion that it was risky
business to have the nations most hon
ored relic carted about the country, even
If the moving was done with all possible
care. The President took this view of the
matter also, and so it was decided not to
allow the Declaration to be transferred
10 Chicago.
About the opening of the year 1902
John Hay, who was then acting as secre-
tary of state, asked the National Acad-
envy of Sciences to carefully investigate
the condition of the document and to
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-02

private fagmakers to follow whatever de-
sign may be adopted by the fighting
services
There Is no rule Stipuiat;ng whether
the Navy Department or the War De-
partment shall take the initiative in pre-
viding q new design for the flag when
change becomes necessary. In the pres
ent Instance the Navy people got ahead
"f their military brethren in planning
for the transtorma ton of the Stars and
Stripes. No sooner had il become a GER
tainty that Oklahoma would be admitted
TO the Union than the l%atter of rear
ranging the flag was brought to the at
teuIion OF the head OF the Navy Depart
ment by Mr., a c. Wrenn. chief clerk OF
the Bureau of Equipment. This latter
office has. as part OF its work, the
provision OF the hags needed for al our
warShips and Mr.. Nrenn was particular
ly interested in the subject through
long-continued study OF the history OF
the flag aud it's evolution.
The powers that be in the Navy De
partment decided that, although there
was no immediate need for the new flag,
If would be an excellent idea TO perfect
necessary. Accordingly, Flag Architect
Wrenn was asked TO prepare several diff
terent destgns-that is several possible ar
ranGements OF the stars, for, of course. the
Is stripes representing the Is original states
remain unchanged. no matter row many
latter-day additions there may be TO
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-02

be discovered upon the parchment by
careful microscopic examination. They
also reported against the proposition
which had been advanced to apply chem
icals with a view. to restoring the original
color of the ink. 1t was the opinion of
the experts that such applications could
be but partially successful, inasmuch as
a considerable portion of the original ink
was removed in making the copy of 1920,
and also because such application might
result In serious discoloration of the
parchment.
Finally the committee reported adverse
ly upon the suggestion that any solution
such as collodin, parafin, etc, be applied
with a view to strengthening the parch-
ment making it moisture proof But
the committee did urge that the docu-
ment be kept In the dark and as dry
as possible, and never placed on exhi-
bition. Ever since 1894 it had been
Theoretically sealed in frame and placed
in the steel case above mentioned, to-
gether with the original copy of the Con-
stitution of the United States. Then, il
1902, Secretary Hay issued the order in
accordance with which the huge square
steel box that holds the Declaration was
locked and sealed. 1t has been opened
once since that time In order that the
officials might ascertain the condition of
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-02
4 New Star for the
State OfOkIahOma.

- OURTH OF JULY will this year wit
- ness the formal introduction of a new
American flag. OF course, the ma
tion's emblem Is not TO undergo any rad
Ical change on the nations birthday. but
rather Is 1t TO be enlarged and i'm
proved" by the addition of new star for
the new State of Ok ahoma. The general
public has been wont to think of Okla
hOma as a full-Gedged member of the
aisterhood of states ever since action was
taken many mouths ago looking to her
admission to the Union, but as a matter
of fact she does not fully attain 10 the
dignity of her new relation until indie.
pendence Day, when Uncle Sam will un-
fur 46-star flag in her honor.
The new flag. which by mandate of the
United States government will henCeforth
constitute our national insignia, was de-
signed almost year ago, and for months
past the governmental and private flag
makers have been busy adding the new
star to each flag in stock aud manufac-
turing new flags with the revised
rangemeut of stars. This has been no
small task, for the government has
thousands upon thousands Of flags of one
size or another IN use in all parts OF
forehauded in this matter, however, Is
Rttested by the fact that some weeks
ago the officials of the House Of Repre-
sentativeS inadvertently violated the law
by raising 46star nag over the United
States Capitol. OF course. it was all
mistake. hut il proved that new flags
were in hand at the nations law fac
tory all ready for use weeks before they
were needed.
The United States Navy Department
and the War Department are Jointly the
custodiauS OF the American flag. Not
only DO they use more flags than any
body else. but they manufacture their
own flags. The hags for the ships and
stations OF the Navy are made by large
forces of expert hagmakers at the navy
yards at Brooklyn. n Y. and Mare
Island. Cal, whereas the red, white and
blue bunting comprising the Army flags
Is sewed together at one or another OF
the government arsenals. All the other
flags used by Uncle Sam, including those
which float from the public buildings
scattered throughout the land and the
branch Offices of the government IN
foreign parts, are manufactured by pri-
waite firms under contract with the gov
eminent. However, whenever il is nee
eSsary upon the admission Of a new
state TO rearrange the flag. as In the
present instance, the various federal de-
partments that make outside purchases
OF flags take their cue from the Navy
and War Departments and instruct the
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-02

expense of having specially prepared
small book on the red leather cover OF
which he bad impressed in gold ar
rangement of the stars placed in accord
ance with his ideas The leaves of the
little volume were given over to a writ
ten explanation of the advantages or the
plan.
However, the officials had passed upon
and approved the design submitted by
Mr.. Wrenn ere this avalanche of flag
correspondence descended upon the gov
ernmept offices. AS was perhaps to be
expected, quite a number of persons living
in widely separated sections of the coun-
try ultimately submitted plans almost
Identical with the one first presented by
Mr.. Wrenn. One man, former sailmaker
in the United States Navy, now residing
in Maine got his suggestion in only
few days after the acceptance OF the de-
sign originated in the Department and
this Maine man sent with his communi-
cation an American flag with the stars
arranged in the new form. This little
piece of bunting is now preserved in the
archives OF the Navy Department as the
first flag of the new type.
AS was perhaps to be expected, many
suggestions for the flag cams from
the State Of Oklahoma, ana sdst mere II
should be noted that especial II tefese at
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-02

III paper dispatches l4% fro aS' washington
Wv made mention Of the fact that a
descendant of one of the signers of the
Declaration Of Independence had applied
10 the President for permission to look
at the famous document the public re-
ceived it's FIRST hint Of the extraordinary
care exercised by Uncle Sam for the safe
Keeping Of what is, IN a way, the nations
most priced possession. Probably no relic
in the world is more carefully guarded
than this self-same piece Of parchment
with It's roster of significant autograph
signatures.
Every time an exposition is held any
where In the United States the projectors
conceive the idea of borrowing the Decla-
ration of Independence as their chief
drawing card in the way Of an historical
exhibit, but all hopes OF this kind are
doomed to disappointment. The Declare
tiOn was transferred to Philadelphia for
the Centennial in 1915, but never before,
nor since, has ii been out of its deposi-
tory at the national capital, and ii Is
pretty safe to predict that 1t will never
In future be disturbed.
During the past decade there has been
. redOubling of protective measures look
Ing to the safeguarding and preservation
of the invaluable document. Six years
ago the secretary Of state issued an order
that the Declaration should be hermeti-
Cally sealed in a light-tight, frep;oOf,
burglar proof safe aud that this safe
should not be opened except upon his
written order. How resOIute is the de-
termination of the officials to keep the
document In that secluslon that is be-
neved to be essential for its preservation
may be surmised from the fact that never
In the six years since the retirement
order was Issued has any person been
able to induce the Secretary of State to
Issue the necessary order to obtain a
peep at the important document.
The Declaration of Independence has
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-02

tacheS 10 the various ceremonies and ex-
ercises whereby the people of the new
born state will commemorate the ADVENT
OF the new flag, created especially for
their benefit. Particularly significant Will
be the exercises I'm the various Indian
schools maintained under governmental
or other auspices aud some OF which
schools are attended almost exclusively
by the boys and girls of the Usage tribe
of Indians-tbe richest children per cap
ita In the world.
The American Tag was adopted In the
summer Of l777 as the result OF the work
of a committee OF which Benz min Frank
lin member and came the sue
cessor of a varied and promiseHous lot OF
flags which had been il Use during the
earlier days Of the War for Independ
ence. Before Betsy Ross made the first
nationai emblem in accordance with the
plan followed 10 this day more than so
flags had been conceived. used and dis
carded So long as the country was COM
posed Of the - original states there were
Is stripes and Is stars arranged In a
circle. However, after Vermont became
a state, In 1871, AMI Kentucky entered
the family, In 1892, 1t was deemed ad-
visable TO place the stars in the form of
q constellation.
In 1872 Congress appointed a committee
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-02

the document. 1t appeared to be In ex-
actly the same state of preservation as
when placed in the case half dozen
years ago, and, indeed, Mr.. William Nc
Neir, chief of the Division of Rolls and
Library of the State Department-the
present custodian of the Declaration-ls
of the opinion that the deterioration, or
at least the fading, of the Declaration
has been almost completely arrested.
The interior of the steel safe which
comprises the final resting-place of the
Declaration contains four drawers. In one
of these reposes the Declaration-kept
perfectly fat between two pieces Of
heavy plate glass. The other four draw
ers are given over to the original copy
of the Constitution, similarly protected.
The Constitution. it may be added, is in
an excellent state of preservation. and
really does not need the extreme pro-
tective measures to which it is subjected.
because of being in company with the
Declaration.
Present-day visitors to the State De-
partment, although they may not see the
original Declaration of Independence, can
inspect something almost as interesting
namely, the original draft of the Decara-
ton in JeffersOn's handwriting, with
few interlineations made by Franklin and
Adams. This is displayed in a steel cab
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-02

voluntary suggestions began 10 pour into
Washington from all parts of the country.
The men and women who had ideas as
to how the flag should be arranged sent
their suggestions through various chan
nelS Dozens of such communications
came to the War and Navy Departments
direct, others were sent to senators and
representatives in Congress and num-
Der were transmitted to the White House
One man, resident Of Bloomville, o.,
took the trouble to come to Washington
and personally laid before President
Roosevelt a geometrical design in which
the 46 stars were made TO form a big
star with five points.
A massachusetts man wanted to have
the stars arranged in the order of the ad-
mission of the states to the Union, and
one designer proposed that the stars be
arranged TO conform to the radiating
spokes of a wheel Considering the fact
that the government had offered no prize
for a design-bad not even invited sug-
gestfons-the widespread interest was re-
ma-xable and one enthusiast went to the
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-02

to decide on q permanent design for the
flag. Several stripes had meanwhile been
added to the original IL, but 1t was fore
seen that this could not be continued IL
many more states were to be admitted
without danger OF making the flag mar
tlstic or unwieldy, and SO the congress
sionai committee discarded al the stripes
over and above the original number of III.
which it was decreed should be perma-
nent, with the stars In the form OF
square. so that new cues could be added
conveniently upon the admission Of new
states. This plan was formally adopted
by Congress IN 1918 and has ever since
been rigidly adhered to- This viii ex-
plain TO many persons who sent TO
Washington designs showing the stars
arranged in re form Of giant star,
q circle, or some other fancifu1 grouping
why such novelties cannot be considered.
The government custodians of the flag
are committed to the plan of placing the
stars In even lines, regularly arranged.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-02

Uncle Sans family. The flag experI
found that he had no easy task ahead of
him. Not only was it desirable to per
feet the most artistic possible arrange
ment of the stals, bat it was also neces-
sary TO constantly bear in mind that the
scheme Of Encouragement must be such
thSt a star could be added to each Of the
flags already on hand without marring
their appearance.
However, Mr. Wreun finally evolved
three different designs. each fulfilling all
requirements. One of these was chosen
by the officials of the Navy Department
and recommended 70 the Joint Army and
Navy Board, of which Admiral Dewey is
president. This body unheSitatingly
adopted the Endorsed design, and there
upon the Secretary of the Navy and the
Secretary of War issued general orders
calling for the adoption of the new flag.
The order Of Secretary Metcalf, which
embodies the official description of the
flag. Is as follows: ITO comply with
the provisions of Section 1852 of the Re
vised Statutes of the United States. the
union OF the national ensign and the
union jack used by the naval service
shall, and after July 4. 1908. contain
10 stars, arranged in SIX rows-the first,
third. fourth and sixth rows TO have eight
stars each, and the second and fifth
rows 10 have seven stars each"
No sooner had the newspap ers made
mention of the fact that the government
experts were wrestling with the problem
OF the Encouragement of the flag than
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-02

had most interesting history since il
came into existence on that memorable
Fourth Of July in Philadelphia one and
one-thiTd centuries ago. The penned
document that now reposes in the library
of the State Department at Washington
is the one and only official instrument.
So far as is known there was no dupU-
cate nor extra copy of the Declaration
made for printers copy" as would now
be done In the rase Of any important
document the contents Of which were to
he perpetuated 1t is believed that the
copy in the hands of Secretary Thomson
at the close Of the session on that first
Independence Day went to the Official
printer, John Dunlap. and was used by
him as copy. The next day in making up
the journal of the Continental Congress
the Secretary wafered in a blank space
left for this purpose a copy of the broad
side print.
Copies of the printed broadside were
also sent out, IN compliance with the reso-
luton Of Congress. to assemblies, con
veutons, councils of safety" etc. Other
editions differing somewhat In style were
printed by Dunlap to meet the demand
for the Declaration and a few copies
printed on vellum Meanwhile the
original document was most carefully
preserved. Under an act of Congress,
approved July %, 1889, the DecIara-
ton was deposited in what was then
known as the Department of Foreign
Affairs. few months later the name
of this branch of the government was
changed to Department of State and the
secretary of state was declared to have
charge and custody of the Declaration.
The Declaration has virtually been In
the custody of the State Department
continuously from that date to the
present time. To be sure it reposed
in the Patent Office at Washington
from 1S41 to 1877, but the Patent
Office, 1t may be recalled, was for
many years a part of the Department of
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-02

The most unique clock weight in Maine
is that of the Baptist Church at Cherry
field, an old smooth-bore cannon. The
old cannon was brought from Boston
around 1860.
1t was used to FIRE statutes. as the stir
ring days of the Civil War were Of hand
After announcing many victories during
the war, al the surrender of Lee, in 1865,
it was taken out for q final and great
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-02
WIRE FLASHES.

Orders have been posted in the shops
Of the Pennsylvania Railway system pro-
hibiting swearing among the men while
at work. The penalty viii be an en-
forced vacation.
Countess ToIstoi is in Moscow super
vising the organization of a museum
In honor of her illustrious husband The
museum will contain a great mass Of
letters received by the Count, many Of
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-02

are enrolled from Fourth Of July celehra-
lions every year far exceeds the number
of casualties in all the battles OF the
Standardization War.
Remember that the sick and timid are
entitled TO just as much consideration on
July as on any other day in the year
and that & patriotic man is not neces-
sarily combination of 8 plumb fool and
daredevil.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-02

salute Robert L. Wiley, a soldier OF
the war. who was at home on furlouea,
was in charge of the cannon, and through
some mismanagement a premature dis
charge of the gun threw Mr.. Wiley high
IN the air, filed his face with powder
and tore one arm OF at the Shoulder.
The old gun was then spiked by the
angry citizens, and did no more salute
service. When the Second Baptist Church
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-02

building was built, in 1873. a weight be-
ing wanted for the clock, the old gun
was used. For go years it did clock
duty until 1903, when 1t once more re-
eeived a baptism of ere and fell IN the
ruins OF the church confagration that De
cember. When the new clo1k was in
stalled In the new church, In 1905, the
old cannon once more mounted the tower
TO do clock duty.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-02
lokePt

met that stands adjacent to the safe
containing the original Declaration. The
steel exhibition cabinet also holds one of
the facsimiles Of the engrossed copy of
the Declaration-one of those reproduc-
tons made by order of President Monroe.
in order TO secure 200 copies for the
signers of the Declaration and their heirs.
in q glass case in this same treasure
house OF historic mementoes is the small,
plain, unpublished mahogany desk, on
which Jefferson wrote the Declaration or
Independence. This interesting relic came
into the possession Of the government III
1850. The desk had been given by Thomas
Jefferson to Joseph Coolidge, Jr, upon
the occasion of the latter's marriage to
Jefferson's granddaughter, Miss Kan
dolph on the death of Mr.. Coondge'
whose wife had died a year or TWO pre-
viously, the desk became the property OF
their four children, and was by them
pressed wish of the donors ITO oner Is
presented to the nation. 1t was the ex-
to the United States that IT may have
place in the Department of State WIKI
the immortal instrument which was writ
ten upon 1t In 1916"
The desk bears an inscription In Jet-
ferson's handwriting, as follows: Thomas
Jefferson gives this writing desk to Jo-
seph Coolidge, Jr., as memorial OF MS
affection. Ii was made from drawing
Of his own by Ben Randall, cabinet
maker. of Philadelphia with whom he
first lodged on his arrival in that city,
in May, 1776, and Is the Identical one on
which he wrote the Declaration OF In
dependence. Politics as well as religion
has it's superstitions. These gaining
strength with time, may one day give
imaginary value to this relic for It's asso'
citation with the birth of the great char
ter of our independence. Monticello. No
vember 1S, 1925"
Although jefferson was nearly S3 years
of age when he presented the desk, his
donation inscription, above given, Is writ
ten in the same bold, clear and strong
handwriting in which he penned the De
claration of independence almost hat
century before, when young man.
little more than 30
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-02

them being from America.
The growth of public spirit in China Is
evidenced by the great number Of news
papers which have sprung up since the
close of the war with Japan.
Students who have graduated In Ger
many are being engaged for the Han.
yang (China) ironworks and arsenal to
improve the quality of the arms being
turned out there.