The Portland daily press., 1893-05-27

Stop the Vandalism.
WASHINGTON, May 26.-Although the
trolley road which is being pushed to
completion at Gettysburg has already
caused great damage to the historic bat
tlefeld, steps are being taken by the
War Department which may result in
the partial preservation of the lines of
battle, although the field can never again
be restored to the condition in which it
was found by the trolley vandals.
Secretary Lamont has issued this order:
ssCol. John P. Nicholson of Pennsylva-
MIA, Col. John B. Batchelder of Massa-
chusetts, and Gen. William FL. Forney of
Alabama are appointed a commission
under the authority given by act of Con-
gress approved March 8, 1898, and they
are directed to take such immediate
steps as the laws permit to preserve the
lines of battle at Gettysburg, Penn, and
to report to the Secretary of War on or
before July 20 next definite plan for
executing within the limits of the appro-
priatlon the further provisions of that
law relative to the Gettysburg battle
field.
AIll ObuOl WloO OlucICu bll6 COIlp6u-
sation of the commissioners isn fixed at
$40 day each, when actually employed,
and travelling expenses"
The bill referred to by Secretary La
mont appropriated $25, 900 to preserve
and mark the lines of battle at Gettys-
burg. A few days ago Major George W.
Davis of the Judge Advocate General s
Department, who has charge of the
publication of rebellion records, was
sent to Gettysburg by the secretary to
investigate the report that great dam<
age was being done to the battle field.
Major Davis has returned to Washington
and is now engaged in preparing his re-
port. 1t will be accompanied by charts
and sketches, so that Mr.. Lamont can
secure an idea of the destruction which
has been wrought.
Although Major Davis was unwilling
to make statement in advance of his
report, it was evident from his remarks
that he believes the damage is past rem
edy. He found that the railroad compa-
ny had employed extra help since the
first reports of it's vandalism were made
public, and had practically completed
the route.
The line is in the form of loop, and
runs close along the lines of battle. The
Excavations IOr Un0 rOdu-DeQ, winch Is
nearly completed, constitute the main
spoliation. The road is nearly nine
miles in length. and the ground has al
ready been opened for miles preparatory
to laying the foundations. The princi-
pal spoliation is along the front of Han
cocks position. Considerable changes
have resulted in the vicinity of DEVILS
Den, where so much fighting was done,
on those memorable days of July, 1868.
One photograph which appeared today
showed the ground in front of the
Bloody ANGLE The route of the rail
road runs directly in front of the famous
stone fence where Pickett's assaulting
column was repulsed, SO that if the road
is permitted to be finished the "High
Water Mark of the Rebellion will be a
line of rails
The monument of the Seyenty-second
Pennsylvania Regiment, which IS sur
mounted by the figure of asoldier with
a dubbed musket, is almost directly in
the pathway Of the road. In the rear Of
the DEVILS Den huge cut has been
made by blasting out the rocks, which
were distinctive feature of that part of
the field.