Report from Mississippi State Librarian F. A. Whiting to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; February 6, 1865

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Report from Mississippi State Librarian F. A. Whiting to Mississippi Governor Charles Clark; February 6, 1865

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People

Clark, Charles, 1811-1877 Whiting, F. A.

Events

Crime Crime--Arson Crime--Destruction of property Military Events--Raid

Military Units

United States. Army

Organizations

Libraries Mississippi--High Court of Errors and Appeals Mississippi--Legislature Mississippi--State Library

Occupations

Librarians

Places

Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson Mississippi--Noxubee County. Macon

Page 1

State Librarians Office
Jackson Febry 6^th 1865

Gov. Charles Clark
Macon Miss

Dear Sir

According to Instructions Please find herewith a catalogue of the books in the State Library=Containing 10.912 Vols. Say in Library No 1 4303 Vols in Library No 2 6609 Total 10.912 Volumes. There is Some 150 books damaged by the leaks in library No 2 not mentioned in the Catalogue the damage being done during the last three years=they are however books of not much importance as there are many duplicates in the library.

The principal damage to the books by the Enemy in their vicious raids on this place has been amongst the Literary works and maps, of the former they have carried away all of the most valuable works and of the latter they have carried away Some and Mutilated the most important of those remaining.

Relative to the Capitol its Condition repairs &c=I would beg leave to State=that Since I have been in office as Keeper, there has been Ninety five Dollars expended in wood work on the rotunda=I have also contracted to have the roof and gutters repaired for the Sum of Two Thousand Dollars, which I consider a fair and reasonable charge=The work is in progress, and will Soon be completed=all the Principal leaks from the roof have been Stopped=In relation to the furniture, a great many of the chairs and Desks and tables have been broken and doors and locks broken and Destroyed and this constituted the chief Damage in the interior of

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the State House=The arsenal houses have both been burnt, and the remaining outhouses nearly entirely destroyed=the walls being alone left Standing=

The fence has been very greatly Dam-aged, a great deal of it being in a greatly damaged condition.

In order to put the Capitol in a condition to prevent further damage, there will be needed anchoring for the North wall, the repairing of the furniture doors Locks etc, for doing which properly there will be acquired in my estimation the Sum of from $8000 to $10.000 over and above the $2000 already Contracted to be paid for repairing the roof.

The Carpeting in the Governor Office has been entirely Destroyed and in the Supreme court room and in the Library rooms has been greatly damaged and is heavely worn out=I have made no estimate as to the cost of furnishing new Carpeting, as it cannot now be obtained=

I consider it of the utmost importance that the repairs to the furniture, locks doors &c Should be immediately made=otherwise much injury will be Sustained by wanton Depredations in the various rooms by reckless persons who cannot now be Kept out.

I have made no estimate for other repairs, as in the present condition of affairs, it would be inadvisable to incur the expense of Making them.

Respectfully Submitted

F. A. Whiting
Keeper of the Capitol &
State Librarian

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Report of Keeper of Capitol Feby 6. 1865—

Enclosing Catalogue of State—Library—