The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-11-22
MILITIA CAMP GROUND,
Report of the Commission In Favor Of
Essex Junction.


appointed two years ago on
he subj ct of a permanent camp ground
for the mil tia according t. the Herald,
is as follows:
The commission il unanimously OF
the opinion that a permanent camp
ground, rally located and conven-
lent Of &C less from all parts of the
State, sufficiently removed from any
large village and the home # any or
ganiz ,tion, will not only promote the
discipline and efficiency of the militia,
but will prove in the end more econum,
ical to the S ate than the present meth
cd of holding the annual encampments
in different localities.
The commission is also united in the
belief tina, where The qualify and guam
tIty of land, the water SUPPLY, railroad
facilities and economy of transportation
are equal, the question OF location
should be decided on strictly military
grounds.
Tenders have bt EN- made to the com
mission by the tru, tees of the Soldiers
Home at Bennington, of the grounds
with that Institution; by the
Hon. Redheld Proctor, of grounds on
the west side of East Greek, near the
House of Correction in Rutland; and by
citizens of Essex. of grounds near Es-
sex Junction. the proposition in each
case being that 10 charge would be
made IT, the State for the use of the land
tla nrRnnpH 10 O ~
Will the ground at BenningtIn is
well adapted for the purpose contem-
plated, the Commission is OF the opinion
hat the locati m 80 near the village
raises the question of the practibility OF
preserving proper discipline at encamp
ments; and it 10 not central enough for
prompt concentration of troops, or for
economy in their transportation.
The grounds offered at Rutland, while
more centrally loo ited consist of mead
ow some $50 feet IN breadth by 1000
feet long, which could be used for drills
and parades by locating the camp on
= de hill; the whole consisting OF about
% acres. This is not considered of suffi-
&, mt size To afford the room IT uuired
for drills, and as the adjoining lands are
he'd by several parties, it Is very doubt
full whel her satisfactory arrangement,
could be made by which ground of
IL could be procured.
The gro nd Off-' ed at Essex Junction
is nearly square IN shape and comprises
ab u 40 acres, 81 uated betw cen the
Central Vermont railway on the north
and the highway leading from WlnoOs-
XII to Hubbel's Falls on the south. The
soil is sandy loan with underlying
gravel, which would ensure good drain
age. The surface is very level and well
adapted for the u e proposed. A supply
of good water is gu tranreed.
A point at which troops can he
quo ky and economically modified,
your conn issiun b, lirves il superior to
either Of the III ices before mentioned,
while ills distance from any large llage
mikes It a very desirable location. As
n distributing point for troops in the
event of hostlities, its geographical 20
at on and railroad fa titles are believed
to be un, qualle1; making ii posi- ible to
transport men and material to any point
on the frontier with very little delay
The ground can be had for the pur-
pnsas of mn arnnnd from of rant nr
It may he purchased bv the State for the
.um of $500. The commission believes
that no better lucnt On for a camp
ground can be found for the use of the
militia, and would earnestly recommend
that the gu lrteT-masIer general be au-
thor I'D to purchase ard fit up the same
for military purposes.
EBENEzER j. ORMsBEE Governor,
W. l.. GREENLEAF, Brig. General,
T. S. PECK, A. and | General,
w. III. GILMORE, Q M q.
JULIUS j. ESTEY. COmmand'g R"g,t.,
LEVI X. FULLER, COmmd'g Battery.
The BANNER has mad few words IT,
say on this matter hire ofOre, and now
wi repeat part of them. The reader
can then see how the report reads b.
side cur collection of facts. In The
issue of Oct. n, we said In this
of the Legislature to three or four indis.
put able facts relating to this subject.
The grounds are far superior to any
others in the S ate because of their size.
the supply of pure water brought from
The mountains, the shade afforded by
he large naples and ma j'stic elms, no
part Of which can be SAID of either the |
or E1sex Junction 81 'es
Again, the lime often comes. as IN
the pres mt year, when visiting military
are entertained at these ANNUAL encamp
ments. Had it been at Bennington in
stead of Newport last August. there
would have existed no necessity OF 60
ing to another part OF the town for land
on which to encamp these VISITORS
= \ \ II
1Essex functions 40 acres has no trees
or buildings. Our Soldiers Home
grounds of 1885, acres Of level land
would accommodate an army and afford |
space for review purposes besides,
THE financial argument is certainly |
on the Bennington side. [ } The tx
pense Of barns o. Essex Junction is all
obviated here. the Home buildings
for stables, ttc..) are ready for occu. !
pancy. as is we'll known to those whose
horses were housed here in 1887. The |
interest on the money, as we'll as the
principal saved by the Bennington offer
should be considered. 10y Then, these
spacious barns are always filled with |
hay cut on these fertile meadows and
ready to lie sold to the Slate at a low |
figure. Contract this state of things
with the prohabl i'ie5 in another place
where farmers rut hay to sell and get
their prices, too. Indirectly the State
furnishes its own hay fer the horses, If
the encampnent located here.
'lr) The expenses of transportation
are lees at Bennington than anywhere
sse, except BrattIeboro, for this reason;
The greatest cost of transport alton
zones from the bat cry. In case Ben.
lington i chos' y as Q permanent loca:
lion the battery can come overland by
Easy stages, forty milAs, not only saving
Expense in transportation, but atTOrdiDg
he best sort of drill for both horses and
men. The battery boys will second us
n this remark. We do not believe the
passenger traffic OF masSinR the troops
will he Que cent more at p 'nnington
han at Els, X Junction.
THE locating Of the permanent ems
.ampment upon grounds as ample o.
hose Of the Soldiers HOma, with spa
iiou' barns and outbuildipgs, ready for
with oil the diversity OF
hade and the luxury OF bure water, the
& r railway running through ons
dye OF said ara in contrast with fifty
res Ut barren 60 I'd plJins at Essex
JUNCTION. IL seems to Us should not be a
nhtttT figuring muCn tune toVOhhluer'
The int.rest Of the money 6n the /
alone. all OF whi' h il saved at
Huntington, viii go gres ways toward
aging the yearly pxprnsrs Il the an-
ual enc mpments"
Closing out Sale. {
J. Ell. WaIbridge & Co. are selling out
10 their annual inventory, !;
unhrsrd Of price,. The Fl ures mark !
4 imam chamber eu'tt will aatnniah