The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-02-20
ANCIENT PAPERS
COME TO LIGHT

PHILADELPHIA, February PA
pers throwing important light on the
history of the country were discov-
cred yesterday in the attic of the old
Congress Hall, at Sixth and Chestnut
streets, while workmen, under the di-
rection of the architects, were tearing
away some woodwork preparatory TO
inserting steel beams and adding mod
ern structural material, which is to
precede the work OF restoring the an
cient structure to its primitive appear
ance.
/ A great deal of secrecy is being
maintained by those who made the
/ find, but it is known that the papers
numbering about twenty pieces, bear
dates which show they were written
between the years 1882 and 1898. The
supervising architect was unwilling to
give much Information on the subject,
but admitted that the papers were of
the first Importance.
1t was learned that the papers are
of several kinds, and their true value
will be understood only after a proper
examination by historians. Probably
the most valuable of the papers found
will be the notes made by one of the
members of the Constitutional Con
vention of 1887. These notes com
prise extracts from the speeches made
during the secret sessions of that
body, for it will be recalled that, dur
, ing the long weeks while the conven-
= ton sat in the old State House, no
f word of what was passing behind the
S doors got abroad, The papers also
b include some of the clauses suggested
for that document, and in the package
r were found also some correspondence
a bearing on the convention.
y Several account books used by the
= Federal Government during its abode
s, here were also found. These bear the
y names of many prominent officers OF
s the Government, and have to do main
n ly with departmental expenses of vari
d Gus kinds. The expenses are usually
e those Of a minor sort, but the books
p are said to be of great value
l. Another bundle of papers is evi
IT IDENTITY made up of bills incurred by
d some Of the members of Congress
ID while they stayed in the city. Their,
e is among others a bill for drinks a
n the City Tavern, at that time one o
e the most popular hotels in the city
y being situated on South Second street
p- just above Walnut, where the Unite
o. States Stores now are located.
e. The papers almost without excel
e. ton are in excellent condition, OWN
le to the quality of the paper used i
u those days, and, after the finds hav
re been inspected they are to be divided
III The majority of the material is to b
5 deposited with the Historical Societ
- of Pennsylvania, and a few pieces wi
% be placed on view in the cases in tn
Museum of independence Hall.
~ Not the least interesting discover
made during the expedition throug
the building by the architect som
- wOrkmen and the curator of Indepent
ence Hall was the evidence of fir
that at one time, about fifty years ag
threatened the building In tearin
down one of the partitions there VIZ
exposed the charred wood. 1t VIZ
~. known that the building had been {
III fire three times, and, unless this eN
dence may be connected with one
these three known instances, the
must have been fourth fire. The
fires were: December 26, 1921, from
defective fiue; December 26, 1885,
when Harris building and the Shake
peare building, at Sixth and Chestn
'or streets, We're destroyed, and the h
to toric building was on fire sever
lb- times, and on December ~, 1SE
lat when a defective fue again endangC
of ed the structure. 1t is supposed, no
he ever, that the evidence discovered W
not due to one of these visitations
zly flame