New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-05
YORKTOWN'S ANNIVERSARY.
PROGRESS OF THE PREPARATIONS.

1.NDuARKs- HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS RAIL
WAY AND TELEGRAPH ENTERPMsE-wHo ARE
EXPECTED.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rnRUNEl
YopKTowN Va Oct A-"Od Yorktown" went
70 seed fifty wears ago. The first corners to survey
the land for the purpose of selecting the site ior 'e
proposed monument found a struggling. tumble
down village of dozen houses lninga sandy road
which led in one direction down the bluff to an old
wharf. and in the other away into the dreary pine
lands of the interior and sending out AZ an ACME
angle. n few rods from the water branch road
equally sandy toward the southeast.
All that was ancient was then, rs now, green ana
monldv with age The old Custom llouse-the 1rst
it Is said. and undoubtedly the highest structure for
the purpose ever erected on the contncnt-had long
stood tcnantlcss and adds one to the number OF
rcIics which are expected t. fire the enthusiasm OF
the visiting centennial antquary. Its owner mas
posted beside the old door a conspicuous " 10 Let
a printed card of unmstala oily modern ana tamil
lar appearance. Judging from the nature OF the
business to which the most of the neighborng Duild
inrs are to be devoted, the Custom House VIII soon
be TAKEN by some enerprising vender of intoxi-
cants and its venerable interior disguised by ro"Soi
bottles tumbers and decanters.
The Governor Nelson Mansion" the most pre-
tentious of the Old landmarks, is excellent IL
lustration of what a solid dwelling house becomes
when il is worn out Out of repair" does not htly
applv 10 the present state of the place. II Is worn
ont II NAV have been stately and tasteful, ac-
cordinr To the ideas of its time but falls far short OF
the reanirrments of modern culture 1t Is pToPoS'd
to fill the old shell with ugcd furniture ana
appliances of comfort and taste, and make IT me
ten,pororv home ofthe Nations French guests; for
winch purpose it will doubtless prove sufficient.
An AGED church. its outer walls covered with
plaster its door, and windows showing that many
a decade has passed since its interior knew the
sounds of worship, stands surrounded by hlgh-
grown weeds near the corner where the TWO FoA"S
part Near it, upon all side, are the t"mbS oil me
ancicnfs; some fallen into indi,tinguishable ruin
others still covered with the cracked slabs original
w placed there ~ the hand of affection, and bear
ing dccr-cut inscription. telling of the rmincncr
and worth of the departed. Similar old tombs are
found i'm several uncX pcccl place, IN the ne ehbor
hood the date, upon some of them disclosing the
fact that those IN who's" memory they were con-
structcd passed from the scenes Of their now for
gotten greatness more than century ana quarter
ago.
The new town. which il Identical in locality with,
but create. in extent than, tine old, II yet en-
bryonic II forms queer mixture oil the ancient
and modern, the permanent and the transient
There are hotels which in the aeg csatc promls 10
furnish food aud Judgement tr many thousand
quests They are both of wood aud canvas Some
are complete and bear their high-souuding names
upon canva, signs tackled upon their whitewaShcd
fronts. Others show ~ yet only their unclothcd
skeletons. but none the less have their signs dis
PLAYED usually upon posts beside them. Il can ue
slid that the accommodation, for the sale o. liquid
refreshments is ample Tor all The crowds that can
possibly gather
The arrangements for cooking and scrvng meals
also seem to be equal 10 any probable demand upon
them. whether the LODGING room and the noes
Sary furniture "a secure comfort IN Looping Wil be
a 1,uuatr dcpc Is wholly upon the number ot
strangers who shall come, without having made |
other arrangements An Opera House Of white
wa she'd pine displays full sized figure from ~"
ballet and an ounccy q grand opening prriurmauc"
for the night Of October II. Lafayette Hall l, q
board stru,ture ring large area, and J. in |
tended Tor the formal reception 81 distinguished |
visitors, for sPrc'hnakins ana Tor 9'h'hs; /
Is interior VIII be decorated with huIting and /
eycrlrcrns and may he made very attractive.
The Moore farm lies mule away from The village, |
toward the southeast II j. largely level plateau,
one boundary of which iSthc BLUM overlooking the !
Chesapeake. his Is 10 he the camping and parade /
ground at the troops, and /, well adapted {" Oh" |
purpose. The Moore house. within which Comwalls /
signed the articles Of Canltul ,uon; -, wooden /
shingcd and painted, and Is in appearance very /
comfortable cdI.cc II i doubtful # anything but
the form, and possibly the old chimney. remains Of .
the original binding. OF The Revolutionary Garth /
works and defence but Htilr remains The later |
war marAs-tho>c a. MagruLcr and McClcllau-arc
conspicuous on all hands.
The size of the Centennial monument IS n proicc-
tiou of the bluff near th" village, and conspicuous
from the water for long distance. The edge Of the
hun will furnish an excellent standing place FOR ~
many people a. can possibly br gathered from !
which 10 view the naval review il there be- one.
The Yor, River several miles wide 90 it, Inuu b. |
narroNs RAPIDLY, and opposite The village T. NOT IOTr
than half or thrcc-qu3rtcrs of mile in width II |
i within thi, tunncl-shIpcd area that the vessels
will find anchorage and viii manwuyrc.
far. 10. frIif bl. hsI tIu .ltt tt,r
walls along The road from the villag" to the Moore
farm The telegraph is already in operation.
two wires having been completed Ia Fort
rcss Monroe. The railroad pcOp'" promise
to have their track finished ~ Tor th' first
arriving visitors: but they have. for some days.
been yaiuly trying 10 find the bottom o. "a swamp. /
over which they must pass
One Thousand regular troops, 20, OOOutlitiI. GOOO |
Aia-ons a Il twenty-five Governor, oi "'at,, with
have been provided for them AT, ont not upon |
the ground. IL is expected ais" tha the Senate !
o. the United States viii come down /
and add its dignity to the coming event.
The indigenous white citizen has increased the !
pric. OF all his silabe commodities, bu takes /
tlle part in the more stirring events in progress.
lie waudcrs about H. stoId wonder. sit, upon nuoI-
Steps or lounges before the newly constructed bars
Of the place. lie has suspicious, not 10 say surly
and rcpccnt, air which may have IT, rise in natu.a, |
cXclusIvcncss in the cubit crmcntS Of the rebel
lion. The colorcd brother Is ever cordial conmlni
catiye, willing and very numerous.
Tn. road To- hampton. twcn' y-fouT miles distant. |
and Fortress Monroe. three miles beyond, is level |
and in fair condition. II passes through the |
battlclrlds Of Big and Little Bethel; nd doubtless |
an omnibus stage line will De- placed on IL for the
convenience Of visitors who care 10 brave the IA
tiguc FOR the sake of glimpse of primitive Virginia
and The scene OF the carly skirnishcs of the great
war