Part 16 (1/2)
”Upon co an examination of the records in various places, I was ireat importance of the use of inks which should be perht prevent the further use of inks that for one reason or another were unfit for use upon records I found that, as a rule, the inks upon the most ancient records had preserved their color,blacker than when used, but that the later records lost the jet-black appearance of the older This, it is true, is not wholly due to the change of inks, for the use of quills, the soft surface of the old paper, the absence of blotting paper and the greater ti, were all conducive to a heavier deposit of ink; but evidence is ample that in comparatively recent years inks of poor quality caiven by an examination of the records in the state house Up to about 1850 it was the custom in the office of the Secretary of the Co the acts, inks made of a pohich was mixed in the office; and until that tirossed upon parch Fro indistinct, that upon an act in 1851, and upon two in 1855, having nearly disappeared Since 1860, acts showing different intensity of color are found, but whether this is their original color or not cannot be deter can be attributed to the parchnatures upon the same act a few have faded while others have not Upon an act approved January 4, 1845, the signature of the President of the Senate has nearly disappeared, that of the Speaker of the House is ure 4, which he evidently inserted, are jet black
”The indexes in the volumes of archives in the office of the secretary, which ritten about 1840, were evidently , and faded so badly that the important words had to be rewritten
”In the office of the State Treasurer the records to about 1867 are very black and distinct, but the ink used during a few years following has faded
”The records of births, istration volumes in the secretary's office, furnish an excellent illustration of the different qualities of the inks now used These records are original returns made by the city and town clerks, and from 1842 to 1889 show instances of the use of inks which are now alain the fault cannot be attributed to the paper, for endorsements made in the secretary's office upon the most faded returns at the time of their receipt are as black as when made
”The voluton, made in 1853, have faded until they are quite indistinct
”So their black color have, froh the paper as thoroughly as if the writing had been done with a sharp instrument In part of one old volu the paper or becoradually becoible upon the reverse, while the heavy paper has been impervious to the other inks used
To ascertain what kind of inks were in use by the town clerks, I exaistration volumes before referred to, and, as before stated, found many poor inks in use In a few cases blue inks were used, and in two violet, which is, as a rule, if not always, a fugitive color A number of the returns in these voluible, and three made in 1888 were nearly as indistinct
”The more I looked into the subject, the more I became convinced that the whole subject of ink was one upon which the persons using it were conorant Consultation with experts satisfiedinjured by i inks and of adding water to the the inks reported as in use upon the records there were many manufactured for commercial uses which should not be used upon records, and which the manufacturers would say were not intended for record inks I therefore sent to theofficers, and to so letter and inquiries:
” 'The fading of much of the ink used in records of comparatively recent date, while as a rule the records of two hundred years ago are as legible as ritten, establishes the fact that for permanent qualities much of the modern ink is inferior to the ancient, and that inks are used that are unfit fora record which should stand for all time
” 'I am led to believe that ood for commercial and other uses where there is no desire for a permanent record, but which they would not recommend for use where the important object was the perers to which our records are exposed can be obviated by the use of proper inks; and I desire to obtain the opinion of the leadingofficers of the State what are, and what are not, safe inks to use for records
” 'I shall esteem it a favor, therefore, if you will answer the enclosed questions, and return them at your convenience Your reply will be treated as confidential as far as names are concerned, except in the answer to question No 5, and that will not be printed if you so request Any general opinion which will aid the recording officers in their selection of ink or paper will be welcomed
” '1 Do you consider it safe to use for a permanent record aniline inks?
” '2 Do you consider it safe to use for a record logwood inks?
” '3 Do your consider nut-gall and iron inks absolutely safe for a permanent record?
” '4 Do you consider carbon ink the only permanent ink?
” '5 What inks of yourfor a perainst the inks known as writing fluids, when permanency is the first requisition?
” '7 Do youfluid?
” '8 Do you consider it safe to add water to ink intended for perrown thick by exposure to the air?
” '9 Do you believe that the obliteration of ink is ever due to the chemicals left in the paper?
(This question has been asked of the paper manufacturers also)
” '10 Do you consider it safe to roup the inks so ?'
”Replies were received from twenty-two h bearing the name of certain persons, were found to be manufactured for them by manufacturers who had already answered the questions
Their replies were, therefore, not considered