Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-11-07
England viii Preserve Its Histor-
ic Structures.
Commissioner Of Works to Prevent
the Destruction or Sale Of Relics
Will Thwart the Collectors
Of Ancient EdIfices.

London.-The session of parliament
which recently closed enacted one law
which meets with universal approval
1t is called the ancient monuments
act" and the credit for its passage In
due to Lord Beauchamp.
In the future, says the Times, there
Is no reason why such a building at
Tattershall castle should be despoiled
II the first commissioner of works,
with whom rests the power of putting
the new law in motion, acts with en-
ergy and promptitude. A simple order
Of the commissioners of works will
make any injury of such a place an Of
tense; time will then be given for de-
liberation on the future of the build
ing, and its fate will in the last resort
be determined by parliament
The late Lord Avebury led the way
In bringing the subject to the notice
Of parliament, and In 1882 Mr.. Shaw
Lefevre (now Lord Eversley), as first
commissioner Of works In Mr.. Glad
stones government, passed the first
ancient monuments act It extended
only to monolithic and other prehis-
toric remains, and was purely permits
sive In its character. The owner Of
such a monument might place 1t In
the guardianship Of the commissioner
of works, and it then became an Of
tense on the part of anyone Qncluding
the owner to injure or deface the
monument. In 1900 these provisions
were extended to any structure. cree
ton or monument of historic or archi-
tectural interest" with the exception
Of structure occupied otherwise
than for caretaking) as a dwelling
house, but the application Of the act
still depended upon the consent Of the
owners of monuments.
Lately the specter Of the wealthy
American prepared to give fabulous
sums for the power to tear down a
ruin and transport it across the Allan
tic has been conjured up In order to
raise the market for ancient monu-
ments, and a much more serious risk
has arisen In the shape Of persons
able details of old buildings. For the
purpose Of this trade the structure Ii
bought, and the artistic work that 1t
contains is torn out and sold for use
In modern buildings.
1t is obvious, says the Times. that
in relation to such trafic the mere
scheduling Of monuments or any other
arrangement devoid Of such machinery
fer arresting destruction merely at
tracts the destroyer. Hence the ex-
istence of the royal commissions.
which have been at work for the last
Eve years examining and scheduling
the places Of historic interest in Eng
land, Scotland and Wales, and which
have already made valuable reports, Is
an additional reason for protective leg
islation. At the same time the com
missions form q nucleus for an author
itative advisory body to share with
the commissioners of works the re-
sponsibility of restrictive action.
These considerations have been In
the minds of the trainers of the new
act, which not only amends but con-
solidates the existing law. In the first
place, 1t authorizes the purchase Of
monuments either by the commission
ers of works or by the council Of any
county or borough, or the common
council of the city of London. but
such a purchase can be carried out
only by agreement with the owner.
The gift or devise Of a monument to
the same bodies is also authorized.
The alternative machinery of guard
ianship is then provided, as in the
existing acts, and the effect of guard
ianship is explained.
BY constituting the commissioners
of works or the local authority guard
ians Of his monument the owner does
not divert himself Of any right of
property except that Of destruction,
active or passive; in other words. the
guardians Of the monument may re-