New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-12
BENNINGTON BATTLE MONUMENT.

| PREPAR1NG TO DEDICATE THE MAGNIFICENT
| STRUCTURE ON AUGUST 10.
| Remington, w. July (5pecap.-An affair OF Ma
tona importance will be tho dedication on August ~
NJ the Battle Monument at Bennington. The corner
,tone was laid with imposing ceremonies on August l''
1887 and the capstOne was put in place three year,
| later on November %, 1890 The clearing away Oh
tho rubbsh Incidental TO building such structure the
removal OF buildings so placed as TO detract from tc
appearance of tho shaft and the grading and improve
ment OF the grounds have occupied nearly ahothe'
| year An iron staircase OF easy ascent securely
fastened TO the inner walls and leading to the grau
lookout at the height OF 1873 feet is now being ereco
and will be completed before August TO- The memorS
bic August has passed into history as day OF I'M
usual interest In Bennington, scarcely year having
PASSED without some attempt at rcTvng Datte
memories but 1t falls this year on Sunday, August
10 has been selected as convenient alike for thoSe
on the ground and for guests arriving nom distance
| Bennington has enjoyed honored pre-eminence
among the towns OF the state for her ability 10 as
semble a multitude Of enthusiastic patriots Inc
centennial of the battle will long be remembered In TINS
| community when large crowds were entertained by
an array OF literary talent well as by military anu
civic display. Again. at the laying OF the cornerstone
it was estimated that 100000 persons were present.
and from the preparations already in progress IL IS
estimated that number even larger than this Will De
in attendance at the coming celebration. There Is
best and this spirit is every where noticeable
This is the highest battle monument in the world,
and with the exception Of the one at Washington the
highest OF any kind in this country. 1t rests on a
| foundation Of solid limestone twelve feet below
| the surface Of the ground and rises 10 q
height Of 3O1 feet above the cornerstone, where 1t
Is surmounted by O star feet inches in diameter
No little perpexty was encountered on the part Of
the projectors, first IN the selection Of proper slte
| and second in choosing a suitable design. That
monument whose purpose Is purely commemorative
Of an important Revolutionary struggle should be at
point six miles distant from where the battle actually
took place seems at first thought to require explana
ton; but when it is remembered that the Continental
| stotehouse IN old Bennington, and not any hill or
valley lin Hoosck, was the objective point toward
which Burgoyne directed his men, account Of the
supplies there stored 1t is readily admitted that
more appropriate site could be found than the one
selected, as near possible to the building (which
was destroyed by fire years ago. where the State
| arms were deposited To this 1t may be added that
the present site commands view almost unrivalled
for beauty in New England. 1t embraces a mag
nifcent sweep of landscape nearly forty miles in ex
| tent with Mount Anthony the south rising to
| height Of 1000 feet, and the Waloomsac valley
nearly 400 feet below the north. On the east is
| Bald Mountain, two miles away; on the west, rich
| meadows nterspersed with woods and pastures and
smiling homes OF industry and thrift stretch away 10
| the battlefield and the grand hills and
| mountains beyond. In the midst Of surround
| ings like these this shaft stands forth
| from the main range OF the Green Mountains as a
| mighty and suggestive sentinel. 1t is at once a
| challenge and announcement, even as were the
men whom Stark led to defy the invader and notify
Burgoyne of the final Split and purpose Of the Cont
mental patriots"
The question Of site once settled 1t not strange
that there should be diversity of opinion In regard to
the most appropriate design. One declared In favor
of allegorca emblems. symbolic of patriotism, wrought
| out by high art; unintegtbe, indeed to the COM
mon mind, but honor TO the Nation and an endur-
! ing compliment to its love OF art. Another having
In mind perhaps the graceful proportions Of SCOTS
monument in Edinburgh, favored an elegant structure
| with elaborate finish some might have been salts
fled with the Lion of Lucerne but unfortunately there
was no place to put 1t. Finally. the majority favored
| the plan drawn by the architect j. Phi Rim. OF Bos-
ton The tall shaft Of magnetism limestone, almost
severe I'm It's simplicity, seemed TO offer the only salts
factory solution of the problem by paraldng of the
grandeur Of the scenery by which it is surrounded
T. has been matter of becn regret the part OF
some that in the midst Of a landscape OF surprising
heauty there should not have been an aerial gallery
| nearer the summit commanding unobstrcted view
Of the surrounding country but tic architect bult TOT
| endurance and in a locality peculiarly liable to be
evept with the sherfshire." kind of violent wind
| from the northeast, such an open chamocr as lA-
| nishes the magnificent view from the monument OF
william Wallace might have endangered tho Stability
| Of the structure. Now that the monument has be-
come a. fact. there few attempts at criticism All
agreeing that IL answers well the purpose for which IL
| was designed. -,
| The only entrance IS through a large door on the
uost with bronze griIs and trimmings. above which IS
an enablature which it is intended that Tue he1S Vi
General stark, Warner and Allen shall be carved .o
memory Of whom is inscparably interviewer WIFI u'o
history Of Bennington.
4. coll which marks
not only the completion Of the monument but also
| ina admission OF Vermont into the Union. arc being
lroupht to completion. The impression that the ban
nt is to be for the benefit Of STATE officials ana lhFcd
Guests alone is erroneous. II IS proposed to pace the
urce Of tickets at low figure 50 aS to DO "itl ieach
Of all also to place these tickets on sale In every Town
in the state orders should bo sent in a. early as ps-
.rIe A. preparations WILL to some extent, be IN pro
! nortou TO the demand. Captain NadlelSh "a the rep
- crt.tive al the AmO,keaS Veterans, and the escort
- tovc-ncr Tuttlc, has been In town making arrange
| nsnts for their entertainments. Inc u-cSb"Oh VII
,e in tber own Pullman train, with sleeping and
S SVo ottaCT1ed and will Ae set oil a side track
near tho soldiers Home. They VIII also Dthg WIN
~ n, large ent and will thus be independent OF local
c.mmittees of entertainment. and sure o. a'oDnhout
lion in spite OF the crowded condition OF inc town
Wv The cnmmandant, General Greeneaf has arranged
that the procession shall leave the soldiers Home l0r
The monument promptly at 0cloch ana tlat II ,nda
,,it for mo one except the President OF the United
state N organizations not in readiness TO march
vii be left behind. military precision must be ne
t rue NAV ~ be- enjoyed without nnict confusion
The Montpelier Military Band OF forty pieces VIII be
rrsent AT the muster This Is the od-time regimenta
P,nd of This region. and IS expected TO mach ove the
mountains al the head Of two batteries with nylnS
| The grand. stand VIII be erected IN West Nan-st
where President Harrison f. j. Phelps eX Minister 70
,be Cont ~ st. James, the orator OF the OCCASION win
bcr invited guests under the escort OF the West Point
C,ete viii review the procession. \ covered terrace
- ats VIII occupy the entire front Of the St Francis
Ie sales Church. from which an excellent view OF the
Uboie display may he obtained single arch OF I'M
nal beauty and proportions viii be erected. IL VIII
! ,.o.ur, twenty seven feet from the ground 20 the
mUdcr part and forty seven feet to TIC upper pllt
I'm who're the Goddess Of Libe"X Is % stand. The
,"sd, span will be hfy-twO feet long and the ontsde
ln,,t,nlne feet. There will 10 two balconies, wheeOn
s In0 10 200 Young ladies will stand TO sing apprO
! rnrjats music rs the procession passes beneath.