The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1917-04-03
UNCLE SAM BIG
film PRODUCER
Has More Than a Hundred Miles
Of Good Motion Pictures
Stored Away.
NO MONEY TO EXHIBIT Them
Various Departments Of Government
Are Awaiting Appropriation by
Congress to Enable Them to
Display Reels.

Display Reels.
Recognizing the fact that the motion
picture is destined TO be one of the
big educational and recreational
forces of the future, Uncle Sam has
taken up the subject Of illuminating
CHI a big scale, and has already stored
away more than 100 miles of pictures,
To be released" to the public when
ever congress makes an appropriation
sufliciest to cover the cost Of their ex-
hibition.
With but one eXception-the depart
ment of justice-every branch of the
government service has entered the
moving-picture field, either through
reels taken by their own agents or by
private individuals with the sanction
Of the government. The enthusiasm
which has everywhere greeted the
showing Of thes pictures is evidence
Of the great interest felt by the pub
nc In the machinery of its governing
bodies.
The greatest effort made by Uncle
an exhibitor occurred at the Panama
Pacific and the San Diego expositions,
st each one of which the government
maintained motion-picture theater
with Il barker TO announce the at
fractions and complete show every
hour from eleven o'clock in the morn
Ing until midnight. At practically
everyone of these performances the
theater was crowded, and scOcas Of
people stood in line to view the ami
mated illustrations Of how the gov
eminent conducts its manifold indus
tries.
Films Stored Away.
The films shown have been returned
TO Washington, where, owing to lack
Of sufficient appropriations TO permit
of their being given Il nationwide
showing, they remain, for the most
part, in the government vaults. Some
day, the officials of the various depart
ments hope, congress will awaken TO
a realization of the importance of the
screen as an educational factor, and
set aside Sufficient money to permit
these films 10 be exhibited broadcast.
But this day has not yet arrived, so
Uncle Sam, who is really a firm be-
lever in preparedness, intends to go
on storing up miles of films against
the time when he will be able to enter
the field as an exhibitor as well as a
cameraman.
The first division of the government
TO recognize the value of the moving
picture as an educational factor was
the reclamation service, Il branch Of
The interior department. 1t was here
that G. j. Blanchard, statistician of
the service and former newspaper
man, first brought to the attention of
ihefgovernment the fact that perma-
nent /and interesting record ought to
be kept of the various activities in the
Interest of the people-records which
would be of interest not only during
the life of these activities, but also
Tor many years to come.
The motion picture appeared to be
the most logical method of preserving
these records, and Mr.. Blanchard at
once went to work to secure films Illus
ftrative of the great work being accom-
plished by the reclamation service in
the West. Since that time his division
has secured large number Of highly
entertaining and, in a number Of cases,
unique films, showing the various
phases Of the work of the department
Of the interior.
Recently one of the operators In the
employ Of the reclamation service re-
turned to Washington with 100 reels
nearly twenty miles-of pictures taken
in the West. Among thees was a re-
markable film showing the various
ceremonial dances of the Hopl Indians
rites which are rapidly being discon-
tnued, but Of which the government
intends to preserve a visible record
for coming generations.
Canada Plans Campaign.
It was during the discussion OF the
motion-picture work of the reclama-
ton service that Mr.. Blanchard
brought up the question of what other
nations are doing with respect to the
movies"
II am informed" said the statisti-
clan Of the reclamation, service, shat
the Canadian government has set
aside considerable sum Of money
In the neighborhood of a quarter Of a
million dollars-to be expended on a
concerted and well-planned motion
picture campaign for the advertising
Of the dominion.
ITO date, the United States govern
ment has not taken the motion-picrure
question seriously at all. Nearly every
branch Of the government has taken
pictures, 1t is true. but there has been
40 direct appropriation for this pur-
pose nor has 1t been possible to show
these films as they should have been
shown-in every portion of the coun-
Try. Now that Canada has taken the
initiative In this matter, 1t is to be
hoped that our government will not
be far behind, for 1t may prove neces-
sary to Offset the Canadian publicity
campaign with similar one on our