NOTES AND NEWS.

PUBLICATION OF CONFEDERATE Rosters-As expected by all in any way acquainted with historical material in the South, a great obstacle has been found in the path of the method that the War Department chooses to follow with regard to Confederate rosters. Congress stipulated that only the U. S. "official records" "and such other records as may be obtained by loan from the various States and other official sources" should be used in the compilation of names. The War Department interpreted this to mean restriction "to the use of original records," though it seems a broader construction is perfectly reasonable under the language above. At any rate the South Carolina agent, Col. M. P. Tribble, it is reported, has declared that it will be impossible to get complete lists for that State unless secondary sources are used. Hon. A. D. Candler, speaking for Georgia, finds that after six months of serious effort, he could secure but six original rolls. He concludes that it will be impossible to make the Georgia roster "complete, as well as accurate, without the admission of evidence other than original documents."

So keenly have the commissioners of other Southern States felt the same trouble that at their July meeting, in Atlanta, they addressed the following letter, drawn up by the Hon. Thomas M. Owen, asking for a modification of the Secretary's resolution:

To the Hon. Elihu Root, Secretary of War:

Sir-Your memorialists, duly and regularly appointed to act for their respective States in the compilation of the rosters of the Union and Confederate armies, authorized by Act of Congress, February 25, 1903, respectively represent that immediately following their appointment they entered upon the duties required of them, and have diligently labored to render to the War Department all possible

assistance.

They had not proceeded far, however, in an effort to perform their part of the work before they realized, under the construction of

the statute governing the compilation, as interpreted by Gen. F. C. Ainsworth, the officer of your Department having the work immediately in charge, that so far as the Confederate troops were concerned anything like even an approximately complete or perfect roster could not be made.

The history of Confederate records is doubtless familiar to you. During the progress of hostilities, and since the close of the war, the official records of the Confederate States Government as well as the records of the several Southern States, were subjected to depredations, and in many cases destruction. Many of these records were captured during the war, and fortunately some of them so taken are preserved in your Department, but in other cases the most valuable records were burned. In other cases these records were concealed, and before being brought from their hiding places had suffered in many ways. The result is that no Southern State has a complete body of the records of its soldiers, and in no case are these records complete even where supplemented by the records on file in the War Department. Such being the condition of the Southern States with reference to their records, it is absolutely impossible under the rules laid down by General Ainsworth, above mentioned, to compile the rosters of Confederate soldiers with accuracy and fullness. Inevitably, therefore, grave injustice will be done the South, and the memory of many a gallant and meritorious soldier.

It is conceded that the best records only should be used in the proposed compilation, but it is urged in this connection that the best should have reference to such as are obtainable. In the event that no roster is found to be in existence in any given case it is insisted that a substitute should be allowed. In permitting this course, under appropriate restrictions, no new principle would be invoked, only the well established and universal doctrine that where a record or document has been lost it may be substituted in the proper way, or that the best obtainable evidence in a given case shall be admitted. Your memorialists are well aware that some abuses would occur, but it is believed that rules can be formulated whereby excellent and satisfactory results can be obtained.

It is further submitted that the Confederate pension records of the several States should be used in the compilation. So far from being secondary in point of evidence, these records are in fact a part of the former archives and records of each State, and as such import verity, they are not, therefore, to be classed as ordinary compiled record.

It is further found by your memorialists that their work progresses very slowly even when it is most persistently pushed, and notwithstanding they are using their utmost endeavor they are here unable to indicate how soon they can complete the work.

Realizing the very great importance of the work in hand, and to the end therefore, that a better, more perfect and complete record may be compiled, and in order that full and ample justice be done the several states of the South and the Confederate soldiers, as well as the Union soldiers and the descendants of the men in both armies, and that no criticism may be hereafter urged against the War Department, or against any one connected with the work of the compilation, we most earnestly and respectfully urge and pray :

First-That there should be no undue haste in publishing the proposed publication, but that all the time necessary be given the States to complete their rosters as far as possible before they are placed in permanent form.

Second-That prior to final publication, the representatives of the several States, be given an opportunity of examining the proof sheets of the compilation, for the purpose of correcting errors in names, dates and facts therein, and that they be also allowed to suggest corrections or alterations, to be embodied, either as foot notes or in some other appropriate way, in the roster when published. Third-That each State may be permitted to submit to your department its Confederate pension records for use in the said compilation.

Fourth-That your department as soon as practicable supply to the duly appointed commissioner from each State, who may apply therefor, and upon the payment of lawful fees for transcription, a check list of the rosters or rolls of the commands from said State, in order that the said commissioners may more intelligently direct their labors towards supplying deficiencies. This list need show nothing except a mere statement of the regiments, battalions, or other commands, with the rolls and the date of each that may be on file. And, finally,

Fifth-That in the said compilation the detailed record of each soldier be given as far as possible.

Sixth-That in each and every case where no roster of a command is to be found, or where only an imperfect or incomplete roster is preserved, you will admit for the purpose of said compilation a compiled roster, certified by the Governor of the State, offering the same as carefully, accurately and correctly made up, and as being the only available record of said command discovered and known to him after diligent search on the part of the commissioner or other representative of the State charged with making search for the same.

Your memorialists, representing in an official way their several States, and after careful and mature deliberation and consultation together respectfully prefer the above petition. Early attention is asked, and you are requested to reply to the several commissioners to their addresses as indicated below. And your memorialists will ever pray, etc.

It has been suggested that Congress be petitioned to change the law, but a more liberal reading of the provision appears clearly within the power of the War Department. Historical students everywhere would certainly implore that the best be done, and if that best is not perfect, let it be as near perfect as possible with a plain statement to that effect. There will never be as good chance for doing this work as the present, because more and more losses will occur as the years roll by. Certainly secondary sources are not as good

as the original sources, but they are far better than none. Gen. F. C. Ainsworth, who has the immediate charge of the matter, can put history everlastingly in his debt by making the lists as complete as he can, if necessary using secondary, even tertiary, sources so long as reasonable inferences can be drawn that they are substantially safe guides.

SOUTHERN INDUSTRIAL HISTORY-"The South of to-day is not a new South but a revival of the old South" is the theme of two addresses in June before technical colleges in Alabama and Mississippi by Mr. R. H. Edmonds, editor of the Manufacturers' Record. In a masterly way and most unprejudiced spirit does he paint the energy and progressiveness of the ante-bellum South in material development. "There is scarcely an important railroad in the South today which was not outlined prior to 1860." Industrial conventions directed attention to projected lines "from New Orleans to Washington," from "Charleston to Cincinnati,” “to the Pacific coast," and "steamship lines to Europe." It carried many undertakings of this kind to success "and to-day we are but taking up the unfinished work of the Old South so rudely interrupted by the shock of war." As compared with the section northward the South in the decade following 1850 increased its railroad mileage by 400 per cent., while the Middle and New England States added only 100 per cent. Similar gratifying growth was observable in lumbering and iron and cotton manufacturing. Well he may say that "the new South is the child of the old South." How educative it would be to distribute his pamphlets so widely that we could no longer see great institutions endorsing ignorant talk about the "stagnation" and "shiftlessness" of the slavery South. (Tasks of Young Men of the South, delivered at Miss. Agri. and Mech. College, June 2, 1903, paper, pp. 12; The Old South and the New, delivered at Ala. Polytech. Inst., June 10, 1903, paper, pp. 11.)

GASTRONOMICS AND A SKILFUL SECRETARY-It is the feasting element that accounts for the rapid growth of the Pennsylvania Society, of New York. Organized four years ago, it now has more than 500 names on its list, with annual dues of $5.00 to resident members and $2.00 to non-resident ones. Headquarters are in New York City, and it means some interest in historical matters that the Secretary, Barr Ferree (7 Warren street), can use this social interest to aid, even slightly, in the cause of history. He is forming a “library of Pennsylvania books," to some exent by gifts, and he gets out a Year Book (8 vo., pp. 208, 1903, cloth, $2.00) with more than half the space given to record of current Pennsylvania events and to reviews of Pennsylvania literature, permanent and periodical. In thus summarizing the past and present of the State, Mr. Ferree is perhaps doing what is done nowhere else. There is a discriminating tone in the reviews, showing conception of scientific standard, though, naturally, the strain of eulogy is heard when we reach the books written by members. The Annual Dinner talks and annual sermon are printed. There are numerous illustrations.

THE FLORIDA HISTORICAL SOCIETY was organized November 26, 1902, in the office of the Times-Union and Citizen, Jacksonville, Fla. Major George R. Fairbanks was chosen President and George W. Williams, Jacksonville, Secretary. Annual dues are $5.00. The first article of the constitution states that "The object of this society shall be the collection and presentation of all material pertaining to the history of Florida." In the preliminary statement by the organization, this idea of a library and museum is expanded, but nothing is said about publishing. Presumably the aim is to arouse enough interest to induce the Legislature to establish a State department of history on the lines of the active one in Alabama alongside, which would be the best thing to do.