PREFATORY NOTE An act authorizing the Governor of this Commonwealth to appoint five persons to make inquiry and examine into and make report to the next session of this Legislature, at its next regular session, the advisability of erecting suitable tablets, marking the various forts erected as a defense against the Indians by the early settlers of this Commonwealth prior to the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three. Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That on and after thirty days from the passage of this act, the Governor of this Commonwealth is hereby authorized and required to appoint five persons to make inquiry in relation to the various forts erected by the early settlers of this Commonwealth prior to the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, as a defense against the Indians. Said five persons are hereby authorized to make inquiry and examination as to the number and location of said forts and the propriety of erecting tablets to mark said forts and do such things as they may deem best to carry out the provisions of this act, and make report to the next regular session of the Legislature of this Commonwealth within thirty days after it shall convene. : Section 2. The persons appointed to serve in making such examination and report shall be allowed no compensation for their services, only such actual expenses as they shall incur in making such examination and report and such railroad fare, not exceeding three cents per mile for each mile actually traveled thereon, and such other expenses of other conveyances as may be necessary in making such investigation and report. An itemized account and statement whereof shall be certified to by the Governor and attested by the Auditor General of the Commonwealth before paid by the Treasurer, which shall accompany the report to the Legislature. Approved-The 23d day of May, A. D. 1893. ROBT. E. PATTISON. In accordance with the provisions of the foregoing act, Governor Pattison appointed as Commissioners the following gentlemen : JOHN M. BUCKALEW, of Columbia county. SHELDON REYNOLDS, of Wilkes-Barre. HENRY M. M. RICHARDS, of Reading. JAY GILFILLAN WEISER, of Snyder county; GEORGE DALLAS ALBERT, of Westmoreland county. This Commission shortly after convened at Harrisburg, and nominated Captain Buckalew as their chairman, and at once proceeded to arrange a programme for carrying out the work as directed by law. It was then decided, on the ground of economy and expediting the work that Five Divisions be formed of those portions of the State where the Frontier Forts were erected, one of which should be confided to each member of the Commission. These were as follows: I. That section of the State lying between the North and West Branches of the Susquehanna river, with the addition of Fort Augusta at Sunbury, to John M. Buckalew. II. That section known in history as the Wyoming Valley Region, to Sheldon Reynolds. III. That section between the Delaware and the Susquehanna rivers, south of the Blue Mountains, except Fort Halifax and Fort Augusta, to Henry M. M. Richards. IV. That section comprising the Juniata and Cumberland Valleys, including Fort Halifax, east of the Susquehanna river, to Jay Gilfillan Weiser. V. That section lying west of the Allegheny mountains designated as Western Pennsylvania, to George Dallas Albert. Each member of the Commission visited nearly all of the localities in person, thus covering every section of the country, celebrated in the annals of Frontier warfare; and the reports made, which are here published, were presented to the Governor of the Commonwealth, at the opening of the Session of the Legislature of 1895, and by him transmitted to the Senate and House of Representatives. The Assembly at once the following resolution: In the Senate, January 10th, 1895. Resolved (if the House concur), That the State Printer be directed to print and bind in cloth, under the supervision of the State Librarian, five thousand (5,000) copies of the report of the Indian Forts Commission, filed with the Executive of the Commonwealth as required by act of Assembly, approved the 23d day of May, A. D. 1893; 2,500 copies being for the use of the present members of the House of Representatives, 1,000 copies for the use of the Senate, 500 for the Executive Department, 500 for the use of the State Librarian, and 100 for each of the five Commissioners who have made said report. E. W. SMILEY, Clerk of the Senate. The foregoing resolution concurred in January 23, 1895. A. D. FETTEROLF, Clerk of the House of Representatives. Approved-The 24th day of January, A. D. 1895. In obedience thereto, the report of that Commission is herewith submitted to the people of the Commonwealth. In most respects it is interesting and valuable. As a historical document the report of the Commission ,wiII compare favorably with any heretofore published by the State. There may be errors of opinion, and perchance, errors in facts, but this is to be expected when so little that is reliable has ever been published in regard to the Frontier Forts. Whether it be sentiment or historical pride, the General Assembly of Pennsylvania should take prompt action upon the recommendations of the Members of the Commission. They have done their duty well and faithfully. They have presented a report creditable to the Commonwealth, and invaluable as a contribution to the history of the State. The. issue remains with the authorities. Let them act promptly and efficiently; and generations to come will rise up and bless their memories. WILLIAM HENRY EGLE, M. D., State Librarian. _________________________________________________________________ Join the worlds largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com