Bisbee daily review., 1909-05-09
W|NS0R WILL GATHER DATA
 FOR HISTORY Of ARIZONA
izonas Historian Outlines the Scope of His Work and Tells of the Fruitful Field for Interesting Story of Tragedies m vatons and Determination Which Preceded the ndus- trial and Intellectual Development of Arizona

l the peril of treacherous native foes, almost untraversed waterless wastes, should live in the hearts and minds of the succeeding generations to which their efforts and sacrifices brought modern comforts and commercial
 prosperity.
 These old-timers are rapidly pass ing away; many of them have already gone before. The need for securing an authentic record of their deeds. and of the valorous incidents within their knowledge, is urgent. If this
 priceless record is to be secured at
 all it must be secured at once. be- lieye that this consideration, as much If not more than any other. moved the legislature to make provision for
 historian. And this part at least of the great assignment I have been
 given, will be more like a pleasure than a task.
 But pleasant as the assignment
 may be. it is by no means barren of it's difficulties.
 Tn inaugurating the gathering and compiling of the data which will go to make up an authentic and enter taining History of Arizona, I realize that l have entered upon work, the intensity and importance of which can hardly be oveTestimated. Its proper discharge involves not only the ex- ercise of enthusiasm and energy on my own part, but the hearty cooper ation of the rress and public of the territory.
 Tn the institution of all enterprises, literary no less than commercial. the first requirement is organization. In organizing for a work of this charac- ter it is necessary to discover the sources of information to be drawn upon. Many of these are, of course, known to me. but I have no doubt that for each one that am familiar or even partically acquainted with. there are fifty of which I have no knowl- edge. The gathering of this data the gaining of information as to where this or that particular item of historical import may be secured must antedate the no more serious, but more apparent labor for which the office of Arizona Historian was created.
 'To this end I hope that everyone will enter into the spirit of the occa- sion, as it were, and flood me with in formation of any and every character relating to early events in the terri tory. whether the incidents may seem Of great importance or not; post me as to the names and addresses of the pioneers and descendants of pioneers in the different localities; tell of the existence of historical documents. rec ords, diaries and private papers-of everything, in short, which will as sist in perfec:ing such an organiza- tion as l have outlined.
 Later l shall personally visit every section of the territory leisurely and methodically. Interviewing and col. lecting as 1 go Points of interest that I may now be familiar with will be visited, in order that such chapters of Arizona history as they form q part of may be dealt with comprehen- sively and accurately. Where there is information to be gained, there will l go, to remain until the desired information Is obtained.
 As rapidly as practicable this data will be placed in readable shape, carefully classified and preserved, al though much of it may not be found useful for the work to be ultimately written. In fact, I have 10 doubt that the records of my office will con tain hundreds of times more historical and biographical data than could prof itably or properly be made use of in the History of Arizona.
 "As to the length of time that will be required in which to complete the rI- rr-hs oh I gE I canot say. When I think of the mass of detail to be gone through-the thousands upon thousands of official documents and store upon store of early territorial records to be search ed, I hesitate to venture a prediction. Many boxes of these forgotten. un- classified records. telling in formal phrase of Arizona's trials and prog ress, are hidden. in the territory's vaults. To search them may not prove as entertaiing as some of the other features of the work I have mentioned, but it is very necessary. and will call for the burning of much midnight oil Dozens of other details of my duties, the searching of records and private manuscripts in many places, each involving much labor. will help to make me busy man for some time before it will be possible to begin the actual writing of the History of Arizona.
 But in the end, if shall prove worthy of the great task assigned me. there will be adequate compensation for whatever of effort, study or ex- pense may be involved. A history which for romance, human interest and heroic recountal will have few equals will be the result If strength and capacity be granted me to com. plete it shall ask no greater honor"