STATE OF MARYLAND CENTRAL PURCHASING BUREAU ALBERT H. WEHR. TEMPORARY OFFICE PURCHASING AGENT. 221 N. LIBERTY STREET, BALTIMORE. ROBERT A.O ATKINSON. ASSISTANT PURCHASING AGENT Nov. 24th, 1920. BALTIMORE. Mr.C. K. Hill, Harriman, Tenn. Dear Mr.Hill: Yours of the 16th inst reached me in due time, but owing to great pressure of business incident to the reorganization of our office preparatory to being taken over by the State, I have had so much to do and think about I could not reply until now. I note what you have to say in your letter with interest. I think that Mrs. Landstreet should pay for the information we have worked hard and paid for. Anything you chose to give her is absolutely satisfactory with me, but if you furnish her with information that I gave you on the Lane genealogy, I think she should pay for it. They certainly value it more when they pay, and you had to pay Dr.Culver and I had to pay years ago when I got it up. It is not that I want to be stingy about it, but it is right. There are men and women in this City who make their living on just such things and they "do not give anything away", but charge by the hour for any data you may get them to help on. You may take this matter up with my aunt, and if she is agreeable to giving Mrs. Landstreet or Miss Hull copies of her papers, it will be quite all right with me, but Mrs. Schleicher has always kept the faith with me there and has always referred members of the connection to me and I have always charged them, except some few whom I either knew or knew to be genuinely interested in the matter. It is too hard to get together and too hard to dig up to give away to just any one for the asking. I think that $15.00 would be a fair price; that is what other have paid me. If she agrees to purchase the data, and I can help you any with any of it, will be glad to get out my papers and do so, but I am not disposed to do so unless there is more in it than just a "charity act", I really havent the time to do so. I am so glad you continue to be interested in these matters,and always read your letters with interest. I trust you will not think me a great big stingy grouch and will appreciate the way in which I mean all this and the stand I take in such matters. I have had such an experience in it, and I had to pay fore practically everything I ever got and it has made it more valuable to me on that account perhaps. If I can assist you in any way about any or the papers, do not hesitate to call on me, but I am not willing to give the information away. Sincerely, R. A. Atkinson ================================================== Transcription copyright © RoaneTNHistory.org 2005. All rights reserved. Archivist: Transcription and scan by G. Anne Sloan