From: "Tony Sidaway" minorityreport@bluebottle.com
If I see a reference in an encyclopedia I expect it to have been verified by the author of the article, or else the author should state if he has attempted to verify it and been unsuccessful. This is important information about the quality of the citation and must not be omitted.
Your expectations are not in line with reality. Encyclopedia articles use secondary references all the time, and do not insist that the author of the article check every primary reference. Historians, scientists, etc. are quoted all the time.
Jay.