The Evening critic., 1881-09-03
YORKTOWN CENTENNIAL,
Laying Out the Grounds-Interest
ing Account OF Col. Craighill's
Oncrnti0ns.

Operations.
Col. VIM. p. Craigbill, United States en-
gineers, returned from Yorktown Va, to
Baltimore yesterday morning, where he has
been looking after the progress of arrange
ments for the centennial celebration at that
place. Col. Craighill was also named and
detailed by the Secretary of War for that
purpose, and also to superintend the con-
struction and erection of the monument
provided for Wy Congress- The site selected
for the monument is on bluff overlooking
the river, adjoining and below the village
boundary line, only deep ravinc extend
ing from the foot of the bluff and gradually
diminishing until 1t reaches the level
plain, distant few hundred feet,
intervening. Facing the river and
looking to the right castwardly, the
view Is unobstructed to the capes of
Virginia, distant about twenty eight miles
In front, northwardly, the view is directly
across the river to Gloucester Point. and
over Gloustcr County. To the left, west
wardly up the broad river, in direct line
to West Point, the junction of the Pamunksy
and Mattaponi Rivers, which form the
York. The other view, southwark, will
overlook the plains Of Yorktown. When
erected the monument will be distinctly
visible from all vessels passing up and down
Chesapeake Bay. The land purchased by the
government, for 81 900, embraces six acres,
and lies just within what were the British
lines. The foundation for the base of the
monument has been dug and filled in with
granite concrete. The cornerstone of
granite taken from the Richmond quarries
the same from which the State,
War and Navy Department building
at Washington has been constructed
is on the ground, ready to be
be lowered in position for Masonic cere-
monies. The encampment for United
States troops and military and Masonic So
cieties will be on the Temple farm, about
mile and a-halfdistant from the monument
site. 1t is an open field, nearly level, but
with sufficient undulation for proper drain.
age, and well adapted to any encampment.
In position tho regulars will occupy the
right of the field, and Gen. Hancock S
headquarters will be there. The same
ground was occupied by Washngton's line
one hundred years ago, and by Gen. Nc
Clellan's army in 1862. On this field from
], 200 to 1,500 tents. each sheltering fifteen
men and furnished by the War Department.,
will be erected. Fresh water in ample
quantity will be supplied from Wormley's
Creek. 1t will be raised into tanks by two
engines of thirty horsepower EACH
and distributed throughout the, camr,
pipe will be used. It is esti.
mated about $4,000 military and 5000
Masons will be in tents. For the accom-.
mediation of the executive officers of the
Government, members of the Cabinet, the
Congressional Commission and distinguished
guests, a reception building, 100 feet long
and go feet wide, is being built. 1t will
contain room for the Commission, one for
the Secretary of State, one for ladies' but
large part of the space will be taken up for
purposes of entertainment. This building
is only n few feet from the site. In addi-
tion the Commission have rented the old
Nelson House, which is undergoing thor
Ough repair, and said to be intended for the
French guests. Work is all going forward
under the personal superintendent of Mai.
L. G. Forsyth, of the Quartermaster's Dc.
partment, who has taken up his quarters at
Yorktown.
In addition to these preparations by the
Congressional Commission, the Yorktown
Centennial Association, composed of we'll
known citizens of the thirteen original
States, of which Hon. John Goode, of Vir.
ginia, Is chairman, and Col. Peyton, of New
Jersey. general superintendent, is also aid
ing the commission. AS heretofore an
nounced, they have purchased the Temple
farm and rendered its use for camping
ground. They have also renovated and re-
paired, from cellar to garnet, the Moore
House, which is on the Temple farm. 1t
will be handsomely carpeted and papered
by New York and Philadelphia merchants,
and rendered to the Congressional Commits
sion for use by its guests. 1t was in
this house the articles of capitu-
lation were considered and agreed to.
The association is also about erecting n
building, 260 by "a feet, for hotel purposes,
designed to accommodate 1000 persons in
the beds On the part of the people of
Yorktown absolutely no preparations are
being made. A little wooden shanty with
the words Opera house. over the en-
trance, and half dozen or more board huts
for dispensing "co0l lager" have been
nailed up, and seem to have exhausted the
enterprise of the natives. Engineers Brax-
ton and Webb, of the Chesapeake 4 Ohio
road, met Col. Craighill at Yorktown on
Wednesday, and went over the ground with
the view of locating the entrance of their
branch road.
Committees Appointed Here.
At the last meeting of the Yorktown cele-
bration committee the following chairmen
were chosen andsub. committees appointed
Finance Committee-E. G, Davis, chair.
man; Ed. Abner, Andrew Archer, NJ. ].
Adler, Horatio Browning, A. j. Beidler,
Thomas Broderick. Hon. Blanche X. Bruce,
ID. Connell, John +. Cook, G. b. Church, J.
G. Cooke, John W. Corson, w. L. Clark, l..
J. Davis, Thomas J. Fisher, j. s. Davis,
G. O. Duncanson, r. b. Ferguson, NJ w.
Gait, j. II. Gibbon, Edward Graves, G. w.
Handy, l.. G.. Hine, Thomas L. Hume,
John Il. Kelly, George II. Keen, George s.
Kraft, N. ID. Larner, Geo. w. Moss ]. c.
McKibbcn, T.. j. Mayer, George NJ. Oyster,
1T r n A ~