The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1910-04-09

all hopes OF this kind doomed to disap
pointment The Declaration was transferred
Ia Philadelphia for the Centennial in 1876. but
never before nor since has 1t been out OF its
depository at the national capital and it is
pretty safe to predict that 1t will never In
future be disturbed
During the past decade there has been a
redoubling OF protective measures looking to
the Safeguarding and preservation of the In.
valuable document Some years ago the secre-
tary OF state issued an order that the Declare
ton should be hermetcally sealed in light
tight, nre.proof, burglarproof safe. and that
this safe should not be opened except upon his
written order How resoute Is The determine
tion of the officials to keep the document In
that seClusion that IS believed to be essential
for it's preservation may be surmised from the
fact that never In the seven 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 peep
at the important document
The Declaration of Independence has had
a most interesting history since It came into
existence on that memorable fourth of July
In Philadelphia and one-third centuries
ago. The penned document that now reposes
In the library OF the state department at
Washington is the one and only official In
strument So far as known, there was no
duplicate extra copy OF the declaration made
for printers copy" as would now be done in
the case OF any important document the con-
tents OF which were to be perpetuated. II Is
believed that the copy In the hands OF Secre-
tary 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 blank space left for this purpose
copy OF the broadside print.
Copies of the printed broadside were also
sent out in compliance with the resolution OF
congress to Assemblies. conventions coun.
ellis of safety" etc Other editions differing
somewhat In style were printed by Dunlap to
meet the demand for the Declaration and few
copies were printed vellum. Meanwhile
the original document was most carefully pre-
served Under an act of congress approved
JuIy o. 1888 the Declaration was deposited in
what was then known rs the department Of
foreign affairs a few months later the name
OF this branch Of the government was changed
10 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
,s,,re il reposed I'm the patent office AT Wash
fugton from 1871 TO 1877. but the patent office
II may be recalled, was for many years par
of the department of state and occupied wha
MAS believed TO be a treproof building
-,,nereas that which then housed the depart
xrsnt OF state not regarded as afordng
- surety against damage by fire. After the
g-aptaupial however. the Declaration was trans
-Tcrrad- 10 the state department proper, that
t,anch of the government having IN the mean
,,,ae ACQUIRED an uptodate building Here II