The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-23
ANrIETAM NArIONAL CEMETERY.
Report Of the Com mIss1Oners Sent TO
Examine the Graves of TPennsylvania's

Dead.
Colonel w. H. Blair, of Bellefonte, Centre county,
county who, we have already stated were sent bv
Governor Curtin TO inspect the condltIon OF the
graves of Pennsylvania soldiers buried in the
National Cemetery a. Antietam, have made
report, from winch we condense the following
tacts:-
The enclosure is not perfect square, although the
four walls are nearly the same en0th 600 eetl
g osing an area OF nearly hall million square feet.
The stones ior the wall are quaIred about quarter
of a mile IRON the Cemetery. IheY taken out in
large blocks, some Of them eight feet in length.
When dressed they present a smooth and beautiful
surface The grauIte for the coping or cap-Stones
of the'wall, obtained from quarry near Keedys-
vile, brought TO the ground ready dressed In
beautiful blocks varying from five to ten feet In
length. hese capstones are TWO feet III breadth,
eight inches in thickness, and bevelled one inch on
the upper side.
he wall facing to the north and east is finished.
Owing TO the grading this is BY far the highest and
side il is ten feet high. On the inside the wall is
unnorm heiPht OF tour feet rhe wall will be sur
mounted by an iron railing at the main entrance
1he plots allotted TO the several states have not
yet been laid Off ltls proposed TO al each State
70 ereet wnateVer heaostones OF monuments over
their dead they may choose Ii is hoped that IN tins
way q rivalry bet yeen the States will be promoted
and that they wI vie with each other in beautiyng
the resting places allotted 10 their 1allen heroes.
In prosecuting the WORK the Board of rfustees has
been governed entirely by the funds approprated
by the States. An effort has made to keep the
expenses within the appropriations, and the strict
est economy consistent with the dignity and I'M
portaLce of the work has been practlsed It is a
national monument intended to mark the scene OF
one OF the nations greatest trumphs, and to per-
petuate The names and memories OF her heroes, as
well as cemetery to hold their sacred ashes Its
walls and gates should, therefore, be strong,
sive, and enduring.
Aiter the estimate of the entire cost had been
made the amount was lev ed on each State IN pro-
portion to the number of its dead buried the field
and the appropriations asked Tor Thus far the work
Las teen prosecuted with $40 600. About $26 600
have tnus far been appropriated oniy Sl2 90 OF
which have as yet been expended
As soon the wall and grading are completed the
work of removing the dead Will be begun. There
exists a record Of all that be identfed-at the
time OF burial. Perhaps oue-halt OF the graves are
marked with the name, company, and regiment of
the deaO soldier; still larger number with the reg
ment alone; and ncary all with the State TO which
the regiment BELONGED
The ocation OF the Cemetery is the best that could
possibly have been selected. 1t overooks the battle
which the battle ragged most fercey are In tu view.
In the upper part OF the enclosure Is large rock on
which General Lee stood tor some time and watched
the progress OF the battle. There has been q der-
ence OF opinion among the gentlemen having control
OF the Cemetery, whether this rock should be allowed
TO remain. 1t has been decided not to disturb 1t.
Whatever IS calculated to perpetuate tine historic
associations OF the place should be preserved. AL
though this rock has been pressed bv traitor foot
steps, there Will be lew pilgrims to the spot now
made sacred by the ashes OF the nations soldiers
who will not stano upon 1t and recall the scene
which General Lee gszed upon that bright Septem-
Der morning
Itis proposed to dedicate the Cemetery on the
18th OF September next tOat day be Ing the aunver
most interesting occasion The Trustees will have
a meeting the 1st of August, after which the Dub-
Tic Will be duIy ADVISED or the arrangements made
tor the so lemn and Imooslno ceremonies.