The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-04-05

MEMORIAL OF THE DIRECTORS Oh
THE BENNINGTON BATTLE MoNU
MENT ASSOCIATION, PRAYING Fol
AN APPROPRIATION OF TWENTY
TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS, TO COM
PLETE THE MONUMENT ERECTED
BY SAID ASSOCIATION
THE following from the Congressiona
files explains itself.-EDl
To the Senate and House of RepreSen
tdtireS in Congress dSSembled:-4ou
memorialists. Ebeneezer j. Ormsbee
Governor of Vermont; Oliver Ames
Governor of Massachusetts; Charles II
SAWYER, Governor of New Hampshire
directors er Oticio; and B. F, Prescott
II. G. Root, John V, Hall, Milo G, HUI
ing, Horace Fairbanks, A. b. Valentine
J, T. Shurtleff, Charles f, Dewey. J. K
Batchslder and j. G. Mccullough re
spectfully represent, that they are di'
rectOrs of the Bennington Battle Monu
ment Association. which association
was incorporated by the legislature o.
the State of Vermont November 81, 1876
FOR the purpose of erecting and main
tanning a suitable monument common.
orative Of the achievements of Genera
John Stark and the patriotic soldiers o
Vermont, New Hampshire and Massa-
chusetts, at the decisive battle of Ben
nington, fought on the 10th of August
1777.'
At the same time an appropriation o.
$4,000 was made in aid of the purposes
Of the association. Subsequently thu
legislature Of Massachusetts, contributed
$4,000, and the legislature of New
Hampshire contributed $4,000 for the
same purpose. This was supplemented
by an appropriation by Congress of $40,
900 TACT approved February s, 1881
There had been raised by private con,
tributions, principally by citizens o
Vermont, and interest on investments
about $40 600; so that al commencement
of building operations last summer tn,
association had, in round numbers, thu
sum of $50, 900 available for the erection
of.the monument.
The plan of the proposed structur,
had been approved by the Governors o
Vermont, Massachusetts, and New
Hampshire, and by the President of thu
United States as required by the variou
acts making appropriations therefor.
The legislature of Vermont at its las
bGbslOll Wv, OOO W DuIIllhb'
the ground upon which the monumen
was to be built. This generous act re
lieved the funds Of the association so a
to render it possible to carry out thu
original suggestions of the advisory
committe that
The proposed monument ought to b.
massive and lofty, to comport with thu
mountains surrounding the site; durable
and adequate, so as to be in harmony
with the great results of the battle o.
Bennington; plain and simple, so as t
agree in tone and character with the
embattled farmers and artisans whit
fought that August fight in their shir
sleeves and never thought of scene o.
fame; and impressing and imposing
seeking to tell no story of the battle, blu
aiming only to strike home at once tt
human hearts in all coming genera,
tions,
To this end the association were ablt
to contract for the erection of a monu
ment to be 300 feet in height, to be con,
structed of beautiful and durable blue
lime stone, under the careful supervis
ion of the architect and the constan
inspection Of an experienced practica
stone mason employed by the associa,
ton.
The association has contracted for tn,
completion of the monument at a cos
not to exceed the moneys in hand, anC
to make certain the fulfilment of thu
terms of the contract, bond in tn,
sum of $50, 900 was required, condition.
ed for the faithful fulfillment of tn,
contract. and the further sum of SIC. 00l
IS to be withheld from the amount due
the contractor until the final completion
and acceptance of the monument,
The erection of the structure is wei
under way, and the work will be pushed
to completion az rapidly as is consisten
with good workmanship.
Its foundation rests upon solid rock
which has been penetrated by the drill
to the depth of 20 feet without indica.
cations of shell or seam.
To bring the cost of the structur,
within the means of the association i
was necessary to contract for the cree.
ton of wooden stairway leading to thu
summit. Since the cOmbustlbe char.
acter and the perishable nature of sucl
a structure will require constant inspec-
ton and frequent repairs, 1t is eviden
that the stairway should be built Of some
material as permanent and durable a
the monument itself.
While the grounds surrounding tn,
monument have been presented by tn,
State Of Vermont, they are incumbereC
by several buildings which will obstTuc
the view and also seriously mar tn,
appearance of the monument by thei
presence. They must be removed. Tn,
monument stands upon commanding
eminence overlooking the village o
Bennington and the surrounding cOun
try, and from which iJ can be seen fo
miles in every direction. To give tn
structure suitable base lines and ap
proaches, extensive grading Of the hill
top upon which it stands will be n9ces
sary, Having put all its money int,
the monument itself, the association i
without means to pay for the final i'm
provements above alluded to, which
will cost, according to careful estimates
as follows:
For the difference between a suitable
iron stairway and the wooden one now
provided fOr,........... ............... Sl4,OO
For removal Of buildings and grading 500
-
Total ........... Recommendation. 22,OC
N,,i 10