Evening star., 1914-02-11
MORE MONEY NEEDED
FOR HISTORICAL WORK
Compiling of Revolutionary War
Records Proving a
Costly Job.
Congress Is Asked to Vote on Ad-
ditiona1 Appropriation
of $25, 900.

Systematic efforts arc being made by
the War and Navy departments for the
compilation of the scattered military rec
ords of the revolutionary war. Capt II.
c. Clark Z. 5. n, retired, has been
placed in charge of the work and Is
being assisted by Charles w Stewart,
librarian of the Navy Department, and
the following named representatives of
the American Historical Society: MAJ.
John Bigelow, L. :. A, retired. Freder-
ick Bancroft and ]. +. Jameson Of
Washington, D. c. Rear Admiral +, +.
Chadwick, T. s y, retired, and Prof.
Justin Fl. Smith of Boston, constituting
advisory board which has been hold
ing daily sessions at the War Depart
rnent outlining plans for the prosecution
OF the work. They have had frequent
consultations with Assistant Secretary
Breckenridge of the War Department and
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt of the
Navy Department
Congress has been asked to make an
additional appropriation OF $4,000 to meet
the expenses OF copying and classifying
the revolutionary records In a letter.
explsinin the necessity for additional
funds, Assistant Secretary Brcck.nridSe
says:
Costly Work Ahead.
In accordance with the provisions Of
=,
1913, the work of collecting and classify
ing. with view 10 publication the scat
tered military records of the revolutionary
war has already begun. OF the appropria-
ton of $1,000 made for collecting the mill
tary records, sSl4.91 has been expended,
and the liabilities, actual and prospective,
within the next few months amount to
s2S.4110S. AS tho work progresses the
amount available will rapidly diminish
and the work must come TO stop unless
provision is made in ample time TO con-
tinue ii without interruption.
1t is found that the number of revoiu-
tionary records 10 be Investigated is so
great that the process cannot possibly be
completed in merely a few months, nor
with the appropriation now available.
The archives OF thirteen states and the
collections of their historical societies
have all TO be searched and extensive ef-
forts made TO obtain additional docu-
ments of Importance from descendants of
revolutionary soldiers and other private
possessors. Moreover the total mass is
so great that it will be impracticahte to
publish all and therefore the process will
be one OF selection.
This means that several experienced
investigators of unusual intellieence and
historical training must be employed in
numerous places. but it is obviously good
economy that they should be emp ed
continuously until their respective tasks
are completed After they have selected
led by use of the photostat a photo
graphic process recognized as the most
economic method of copying and of
course. perfect in point of accuracy. Cop
les will then be shipped to Washington. 1t
wi readily be seen that the cost of enl-
ployment of searchers and photograp piers
and the cost of Photographic material
ana transportation, especially if the work
proceeds in number of places stimuli
taneously. Will soon exhaust the present
small appropriation. y large amount of
preliminary investigation and location of
records has already been accomplished.
Busy in Three States.
The work of examining. selecting and
copying records is under way in three
states, namely, Massachusetts. Virginia
and North Carolina. and public interest
in the undertaking appears TO be so
great that a vigorous prosecution of the
work is demanded.
The patriotic societies. Ike the Society
OF the Cincinnati, Sons OF the Revolution,
sons OF the American Revolution Dauzi-
ters of the Revolution and Daughters of
the American Revolution. are urging the
continuation OF the work and assisting
by furnishing information as to the
whereabouts of records. The Importance
OF the project from the historical point
OF view is indicated by the keen interest
manifested by the American Historical
Association, which is the recognized cen
ter OF historical learning in this country
This association. both as a body and
individually, is assisting the director by
expert advice and information.
In view of the amount already ex-
pended and the present liabilities, il is
thought the present appropriation will
be exhausted by September; and in order
that the work may not be INTERRUPTED
from lack OF funds it is considered neces-
sary 10 submit this estimate to Congress
this time for an additional appropri-
alton of S25..so The actual work of
collecting the military records not
having been undertaken until after
October 10. 1919, it was impossible to
foresee the necessity for an additional
appropriation III time TO include an item
therefor in the regular annual estimates
- the War Department for the fiscal
Oar 1915"