New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-17
BENNINGTON IN GALA DRESS.
PREPARING FOR THIS WEEKS CELEBRA
TION.
THE VERMONT MILITIA IN cAMp-A DEscR1p-
TION OF TIE MONUMENT

| bennington, VT, Aug. 16.-When the Legislature,
last fall, passed an act providing for the ceremonies
attending upon the dedication Of the Bennington Battle
Monument and the centennial celebration of the admis
sion to the Union of the State OF Vermont they prob
ably realized In small measure the great proportions
which the celebration would assume. To-day Ben
nngton Is decked from its eastern boundary the old
bennington on the hill and is complete wave OF
J bunting and flags. Midway in this panorama stands
the riumphal arch lighted tonight with more than 200
electric nights. This arch bears its eastern side the
motto "1701-The best legacy OF Vemont's first cen
fury is her sons and her daughters-i591.' on the
opposite side the following: "1777-You see the
red coats; they or Moue Stark sleeps widow
tonight; being the historic words uttered by General
stark as he rallied his men 10 fight on the field of
bennington. The other half of the same side of the
arch has these words Peace hath her Victories no
less renowned than war-1S91" These the notices
that were used the arch Of 1777 This is a living
arch, and will represent both sides the thirteen
original states by young women in costume. with ban
ners. The arch is built to represent the stone of
the monument in colorng and general appearance. As
the President under this arch in the great process
sion of August 49, choir Of 200 voices will sing Amcr
ica," Hail Columbia" "Star Spanglcd Banner" and
other patriotic songs. This is the only arch eroct-
cd by the Centennial Commission, and its cost.
decorated. Is than 81 900. 1t Is situated mid
! way the line Of march, which will be two miles
long.
Preparing for the great celebration, the Vermont
mlUUd are now III q camp ndlne1 vermont, III nOnOr
of the finish of the first century Of Statehood Yes
terday was marked by the arrival of Cushings Battery
Il, L. S. A., accompanying Fullers Battery OF the
Vermont National Guard. They made warlikc and
imposing appearance, and were greeted with cheers
along their line Of march, coming over the Green
Mountains from Brattleboro These all the troops
that will be here before next Tuesday. Prominent
guests OF the State are expected to begin 10 arrive
! tomorrow. Among them will be Colonel Wheelock
| &. Veazey and wife, Colonel Aldace " Walker and
wife, General Russell A. Alger and wife, General A.
S. Webb and son, B. b. Smalley and wife. and eN-
Governor Rice of Massachusetts all of whom are TO
be the guests of Frederick b. Jennings. of New York.
who has fine summer homo nj North Bennington
General ]. &. McCulOch entertans the Presidential
party, who will arrive Tuesday evening, as here
toforc announced. Ex-Minster E. J. Phelps, orator
of the day, and Mrs. Phelps are already in town.
the guests Of General McCulOch. Arriving at about
the same time Tuesday viii be Iloratio Loomis and
wife, John King OF the Erie Naway, his wife
and daughter, senator Morrill, OF Vermont, and Dr.
W. ). Webb of NewYOrk, president Of the
| National sons Of the American Revolution Secrc-
tary of War Proctor and several other prominent
gentlemen expected to arrive with the PIe'dtntit
party. Governor Page and stan arrived this morn
| ing and went into camp with the Vermont National
Guald 1t is expected that the guests Of the State
will number fully 800, and ample preparations nave
been made for their entertainment. The Centennial
Commission consisting of the state Committee and the
| local Committee oil tIllI no u tltT hhti hcc'"b ~
morrow evening. The Ions line which Will par
licipae in the procession grows daily, and a large
number of organizations have within the past few
days responded TO the invltailons sent them ana VIII
he present Vermont has never seen cecbration
arranged upon such grand and magnificent scale
IL will be a credit 10 the state and an honor TO the
men composing the Centenuial Commission.
This celebration the culninatiOn of long series
! of events covering a century. August lG, the ami
versuy of the battle Of Bennington, is 10 tho people
of southern Vermont what the Fourth of July Is TO
the Nation. For nearly fifty years there has been
more or less preparation for the buildng Of suitable
monument and the dedication If this will take place
! this week. The first organized eilort was
in 1853. The Legislature of Vermont in that year
| Appropriated $1,000. with the condition that the
cornerstone of the proposed memorial be lad on
August 16 following. and that the sum OF S'oOo DC
raised by private subscription While these conditions
were not fulfilled and the appropriation lapScd, the
agitation continued In 1S75'76 the Bennington HIS
Ohcal society and subsequently, the Bennington balle
J Monument Association were organized, the Iauer
chartered by the State of Vermont, with an appoprs
on of ST. 200, conditioned the raising Of 5000
| more The celebration of 1877 followed. These Incl
dents and the subsequent action by the states o1 New"
Hampshire and Massachusetts and the National Gov
ernment have caused the erection Of noble shai Oh
tbe Size OF the Continental SOrehousc, the objective
point of Colonel Baums expedition In 1177 The cost
Of the and site had been In round numbers
500 900 Massachusetts contributed $4,000, New
Hampshire So 500, the National Government S9O"oV'
aud Vermont 5000, and n supplemental appropila-
! ton for the site The balance has been raised by
| private subscriptions. The monument stands on
| commanding site 2s3 feet above the Waomsac River
This river flows through the the village Of Bennington
The foundation of the monument IS the sod ROCK Vi
the mountain. on the top OF which situated the
Bennington of the Revolution. The structure IS dill
| obcisk built of native stone and faced with SANDY
HiI dolomite The height from the base 10
| the ton of the capst0ne is 301 feet 10 IL
inches The monument at the base Is 81
feet inches by 81 feet inches running to point
at the top The walls are thick at the base Dut
decrease gradually to thickness Of two feet at the
apex The outside stone is laid with strcchers ana
headers" The inside walls rise to the height OF 2oo
feet after which the stones extend through the wall!
inside. the walls are left in the rongh ROCK OutsHc'
the stone is rough finish. Tie lookout room is 19o
feet above the foundation. and is reached by an IRON
staircase This room is marked OH the outside by two
entabatures encircliag the monument Ihese ouT
Il contrast to the rough face Of the balance OF tne
structure. From this lookout the battlefield is plainly
visible, sever miles away. The first room in the
monument contains four tablets three OF them IN
scribed respectively 70 the states Oh Ma,SnchpSeus'
Ncw-llampshire and Vermont. The foulh Is Dmhh.
The lookout contains historic glanite tablets
placed there by the Vermont Historical society l1c
Masonic Fraternity, which laid the cornerstone ln
the Order of odd Fellows. and the Grand Army OF the
Republic H., . o ,.
OF Monumentave ana the old First Cnurtl' mas f gen
erected the grandStand where the dedication services
win take place ms follows Introductory address, py
WbeelOck g. Veazey, president Of the day PRAYER D!
the Rev Charles Parkhurst chaplain Boston; address
OF welcome by Governor C. s. Page; address anu
transfer OF the 10 the state by Governor
| b. F. Prescott Of New Hampshire. president OF the
Bennington Battle Monument Association; address oi
NM =. oratIon by Edward ! Phelps OF Burlington
remarks by President Harrison music, benedlctioh'