The Washington critic., 1890-04-09
TO REST AT ARLINGTON
WILL GRANT BE LAID BESIDE CROOK
AND SHERIDAN
Grand Army Veterans Favor the Lee
Estate Improvement Project-In-
teresting Talks with General Bur-
dett and Major Lacey.

Grand Army Veterans Favor the Lee
Estate Improvement Project-In-
teresting Talks with General bur
dett and Major Lacey.
To man and In every State and Ter.
ritory in the Union are the members
of the Grand Army of the Re-
public in hearty accord with THE
CMT1c in its efforts to secure the con.
stIuction of handsome am
pbitheatre in the national ceme-
terry on Arlington Heights and a
magnificent Memorial Bridge across the
Potomac leading thereto. This is not
IDLE gossip, but the statement Of Gen
eral S. S. Burdett, formerly commander
in-chief of the Grand Army of the en-
tire country; also commander of the
Department Of the Potomac.
The fact that the remains of fighting
General Crook, with his sheathed
sword, will be laid beside those Of gal.
liant Phil. Sheridan on old Arlington's s
green slopes, beneath the great sighing
trees, for which the cemetery is noted,
is bringing THE CRIT1c's proposi-
on to the extreme forefront in
Army and veteran circles. Added to
this is the probability that the old hero
of AppomattoX, General Grant, will be
removed from his neglected grave in
Riverside Park, New York, and rein
tered with Sheridan and Crook in that
great bivouac of the dead on the green
crested hills across the Potomac.
Referring to this question Major
Robert S. Lacey, who stands high in
Garnd Army circles, said to CRrTIC re-
ported to-day: "The fact is not gener-
ally known that the Grand Army
throughout the country has contributed
thousands of dollars to erect Grant
monument, but the matter is resting
in allegiance in the hope that
Mrs Grant will permit the General s
remains to be brought to Arlington so
we can erect our monument here.
The Grand Army has provided means
for noble monument for the old hero,
but 1t appears repugnant at present for
us to use this money in the
city of New York. All volunteer
soldiers, without exception, would
favor General Grants removal to Ar
lington. Everywhere they rebelled
against his interment at Riverside, and
this opposition was never waived until
Mrs. Grant decided upon the New
York site. Every consistent effort,
however, has been made since by the
Grand Army Of the Republic to secure
his removal. AS volunteer soldier
there appears no place so appropriate
as Arlington Cemetery. /, myself,
shall request TO be laid at rest there
when j die"
Speaking of the Arlington improve
ment project Major Lacey continued:
1--WE should not use the acres for one
governmental purpose alone, simply
because the grounds are large enough
for various uses The city of Washington
now has no extensive grounds for pa
rades and pageant purposes. and Ar
lipgton has room enough for everything.
BY all means use portion of 1t for the
purposes of the Agricultural De
partment, and let the balance
be used for exposition and
drill grounds. Connecting the city with
Arlington by means of bridge would
be virtually extending the Mall two
miles into the county of Alexandria
and would give over two square miles
lOl Clly anu pONClADuCAb pun ,OoCo'
OF this the cemetery now occupies
about $50 acres and Fort Myer, say so
leaving nearly 1000 acres for these
Government and city uses.
1.-THE beautiful plateau lying be
tween the historic Potomac and the
heights is capacious enough for every
thing needed; but, as starter, let the
Agricultural Department have por
tion of the ground for its uses
Major Lacey is also heartily in favor
of the Memorial bridge.
General S. S. Burdett, the former
commander-in-c chief of theGrand Army
and District commander. was found
in his cosy Office by a CRITIC re
porter. He said: II have noticed
the proposition being agitated
by THE CRITIC looking toward
the construction of o memoria
bridge, the erection of an amphitheatrt
in Arlington Cemetery and other pro
posed Improvements on the property
surrounding the old estate. / an
heartily in favor of these projects and
am certain that the great body
of the Grand Army membership
all over the country are equally in
terested and favorable. The Govern
ment has a plant at Arlington ovel
which it has absolute control, and which
without any further cost for purchase
money can be made so beautiful as tc
become a matter Of national pride.
am firmly of the opinion that, added tC
the number of great soldiers already
buried there, all those wht
yet survive will be gathered
there rs one by one they pass away,
am also still Of the opinions that, on sec
ond and better thought, the remains o
the great commander, General Ulysse
S. Grant, will also be buried in pictur
eeoue A rlinptOn -