The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-10-11
THE MILITIA EMCAMPuENT.

Our types last week made us give the
area OF the grounds offered by the Trus-
tees of the Soldiers Home, to be one
hundred acres less than than is the fact
The land offered is in exact figures one
hundred and ninety-eight and one half
acres. instead of ninety seven as we
stated.
In this connection we wish to call the
attention of the Legislature TO three or
four indsputable facts RELAXING to this
subject, The grounds are far superior
to any other in the State because OF
their siza, the supply Of pure water
brought from the mountains, the shade
afforded by large naples and majestic
elms, no part Of which can be i'll of
either the Rutland or Essex Junction
sites.
Again, the time often comes. as in the
present year, when visiting military are
entertained at these annual encamp-
ments. Had it been at Bennington in
stead of Newport last Augu,t there
would haYe existed no necessity of 60
ing to another part of the town for land
on which toiencamp these visitors. The
Rutland grounds would hardly accom-
modate our own Regiment, and the E.
sex junction fifty acres is no better un.
less the swale is used, and neither have
any shade trees. Our Soldiers Home
grounds OF 1887 acres of level land
would accommodate an army, and af-
ford space for review purposes besides.
The financial argument is certainly on
the Bennington side. (a) The expense
OF barns at either Rutland, or Essex
Junction is all obvlated here. The
Home buildings Ter st4bles, etc. y are
ready for occupancy, as is well known
to those whose horses were housed here
in 1887. The interest on the money, as
we'll as the principal saved by the Ben
nington offer should lie considered. (b)
Then, these spacious barns are always
filled with hay cut on these fertile
meadows. and ready to be sold to the
State at low figure. Contrast this
state of things with the probabilities in
another place where farmers cut hay to
sell. and get their prices, too. Indirect
| " the State furnishes it's own hay for
their horses, il the encampment is loca-
ted here.
(c) The expenses of transportation are
less at Bennington than anywhere else,
except Brattleboro, for this reason: The
great st cost of transportation comes
from the battery. In case Bennington
Is chosen as permanent location the
battery can come overland, by easy
stages, forty miles, not only saving ex-
pense in transportation, but affording
the best sort of drill for both horses and
men. The battery boy1 will second us
in this remark. We do not believe the
pa senger traffic of massng the troops
will be one cent more at Bennington
than al Essex Junction or Rutland.
The locating of the permanent en-
campment upon grounds as ample as
those of the Soldiers Home, with spa
ciouS barns and outhuildings, ready for
occupancy, with all the diversity of
shade and the luxury of pure water, the
b: q h. railway running through one
edge Of the said area, in contrast with
nine acres of clayey grounds at Rutland
situated away ilom the railroad, or fifty
acres OF barren sand plains at Essex
junction, it seems to us should not be a
matter requiring much time to consid-
or. The interest of the money on the
buildings alone, all of which is saved at
Bennington, will go great ways
towards paying the yearly expenses Of
the annual encampments.