The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-18
Pennsylvania Commits
sion Created by Leg
islature Makes Its
First Report Of Work
SURVEY MADE OF
ALL MONUMENTS
Recommendations Also Made for the
Purchase of Others to Commemorate
Historic Deeds Recorded in the His
tory of the State

What has been accomplished and
what ii expects to do in the way Of
preserving historical sites in the State
is outlined in detail. in the first report
of the Pennsylvania Historical Commits
sion which was created by the 1918
Legislature. The members of this com
mission are Senator William c. Sproul,
Chester, chairman; George P. Donehoe,
Coudersport, secretary; William H..
Stevenson, Pittsburgh, treasurer; w. U.
Hensel, Lancaster; Hampton L. Carson,
Philadelphia; Thomas l. Montgomery,
Harrisburg, curator. Trustees, ex-officio
of the commission are the Governor,
Auditor General and State Treasurer.
The commission in the short time
it has been in existence has effected a
survey of the historic monuments erect
ed in whole or in part under State ap-
preparation and of such memorials as
had been erected by private benefac-
tion.
Franklin County Memorial
The commission contributed $500 as
a supplement to local subscriptions of
$500 for the Fort McCord memorial in
Franklin county. The memorial is seven
miles west of Ohambersburg and marks
the site where twenty-seven pioneer set
tiers were massacred by Indians or ear
ried into captivity in 1856.
The commission in its report recon-
mends that the first direct legislative
appropriation be made for the erection
OF monument at the scene of Bou-
quet's defeat of the Indians at Bushy
Run in 1853. to mark the conquest of
the Indian on Pennsylvania soil.
The commission states that il is i'm
pressed with the Importance of property
marking the site at the junction Of the
Allegheny and Monongahela rivers.
known to the Seneca Indians as
Diondega and translated by all of the
early explorers and traders as "the
forks.
Kept Within Appropriation
Although its original appropriation
of $4,000 was cut down to $4,000.
py executive veto, the commission has
expended scarcely fifth of the amount
at its command. Its duty is to pre-
serve the historic landmarks of Penn.
sylvania. The report says:
That the general scope of the com.
mission s work has already elected. or
will evoke, a spirit of public INQUIRY
leading to some enthusiasm for a rec.
ognition of Pennsylvania s place in
history is already manifest in the fact
that during the year the secretary has
answered many letters from societies
and individuals concerning the work of
the commission and the location of his.
toric sites.
Should See Pennsylvania First
THE people living near some of the
most historic spots in, the State have
never had their attention called to
them. There are many people who
have visited the historic localities of
Europe, but have never been to more
interesting localities at their very
doors. The young people and-the older
people of this State should see and
know Pennsylvania irst
The report enumerates many histor-
ical occurrences in Pennsylvania from
the early days down to Gettysburg
and says:
"Cut out of American history what
these events stand for. and the part
played in them by Pennsylvania and
one loses the real plot of the entire
drama on American history. Pennsyl-
vania historians have been too modest,
or too much fascinated by the mere
glitter Of the wonderful industrial de-
velopment of the State to gise just
credit to the tremendous moral force
which the State and its people have
exercised in the development of the
American nation. We must call atten.
tion to the facts in our history. We
must make known these facts by monu-
ments and markers, as well as by books
and essays.
"The commission would also recon.
mend that the General Assembly en-
courage the efforts. of the Daughters of
the American Revolution toward the
purchase Of a small tract of land at
the site of Fort Augusta, at Sunbury,
which now contains the powder maga-
zine of this most historic frontier fort.
This relic is the only existing remains
of any of these frontier forts of the en-
tire State and it should be preserved. "