New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-17
GETTYSBURG DISSERTATION.
PRELIMINARY REPORT FROM THE BATTLE
FIELD COMMISSION.


IREEPARABLE INJURY l. BEIN; DONE TO THE
HISTORIC GROUND-PEOMPT ACTION URGED
Washington, juno 16.-The secretary II War has
received preliminary report from Mr. BatclelfcT
Of the Gettysburg Battlefield Commission, In which
he says
" In view Of the pressing emergency which seems
to require the prompt action OF the Government I'll
tho secretary Of War Is to preserve the lines oil
battle cttysburg). and in The absence Of my col
lcacuc> the commission. hasten to make pre-
llminary report Of the present condition OF Affairs
AZ thai place.
81 have ju-t com" from Gettysburg. Before left
there Mr. Hopper president Of the electric ralroa1
entered no an agreement with me TO suspend opcr'-
lions that portion Of the line In front oil the
second Army Corps and TO turn his road oil that
line to the Emmittsburg road. Having made that
arrangement, | started for home in Ma iSachrs"ls.
but noticing in today'S paper, that IA" had resumed
operations that line, AMI realizing the enormous
damage that he Is doing the field. and at the
earnest request OF General >Icklcs. have deemed
It wise 10 turn back from Newlork and report Mt
and In person 10 the So re'ary. Wheh l'it
Geriy sburg workm.n engaged In blasting ont a
group Of powders covering space Of 10 by - feet.
which formed portion Of the deeGces In front OF the
left of the Third Army Corps during the second
days battle.
This seemed a wanton destruction OF m impor-
tant landmark OF the field. variation OF dozen
feet In the line which there was ample chance to
make wbnld have cleared those powders, but IL wa,
evident that they were being blasted for materla'
from which =, make filling for the road. which Is
swampy at that point. The powders which covered
the combatants In the desperate engagement between
the 4th Maine and 10th Ncw-Y0rk of the Union Army.
and the 44ih Alabama and the right OF Iriihne ;
brigade ID the Confederate Army. are already blas'eu
and the fragments broken under tb" hammer are
covered with earth To form roadbed. And IL Is
this locality which has been turned Into PARK. 70
which ch.ap excursions are TO be from Baliinhrr
and othe: cities.
This is In. most wild and picturesque section Of
the field For the distance Of over one mile befor"
aching this locality the road cuts rIthlcs, through
. scene Of som" OF the most desperate enc 'nh'r'
Of the battle in when d. Trobrand'. lhtoh =
swcifscr's Zoo.,. Kclly's. Cross and Wards Union
bricad,, and kci,haws. -cmmrss. WOhorfs ana
Auder,ons and Robertson, Conedrrat" brleadeS con-
tended Tor hours. The railway cuts straight through
lines If battle forest trees evelled, bowld"i' and
ledge. ar. bIastd streams brldg"d, ana IN"
whole character Of the field Is changed ana every
hour the work Of devastation goes on.
After leaving the Devils Den and the valley
of Death Tia. road will clint around the western
and northern face Of Little Round Top, di'hsnrihg
H., SLOPES by cuts and Ill, Of from eight TO ten 'e'
Reaching I'll. summit. II Will descend III" eastern
slam. ,o The dance house. This entire rou" through
he
Dem up through the Valley Of Death. distance Of
about Two miles NAV b. avoided by IA cutou oil
n,,oui half mile over the Wheat Field road and II
a right OF way Of hfty rudS can bc secured iI"i" '"'
land syndicate. the cut over Littl" Round Top may
b- avoided. Work l. about to be- c"mm'hc'u o'
Little Round Top. From the dance house III" eiec'r'c
road follow, the route Of the Reading branch railroad
toward Hancock station. where 1t turns 10 the
right acroS, the line Of BATH" Of Summaries Vermont
brignde over the marked position Of Wers battery
&C. Iinh T. : Artillery Ia Hancock ave. iminediat'N
In front OF tn" second Army Corps, nlcns which T"
ras,rs over the advanced position, oi thirty
Confederate regiments which comprised Longsreets
assault, oh the Third day. and buries beneath us
track the spot where General Gariett was killed.
spent several DAYS with Mr.. Hopper and his
friends negotiating with him to abandon this second
Corn, line Ton which he contempates the erection OF
a station forty feet long In front "i ia" second
CJrps position for the branch railroad ana tmh''N
burg road But Ia. has since r"pudiat'd his agree
mcnt and resumed operations on that nont From
the right o. the Second Corp, the route turns bi'h
to the Tar.ytovn read. down winch IL runs TO TUE
southwest corner Of the National cemetery. whrr'
turning into the field To the left. II passes around
Inc cemetery to the baltimore turnpike. on which II
returns Town. passing III" cemetery gate -
The damage alrauy committed 10y lh. electro
road l. very great. and can never J." repaired pu, ,
the present d's"cration l. but III" COMMENCEMENT
Of what may hc done If this company = allowed 10
invnd. other sections Of IA" battlefield. l. II not
practicable To stop thi, wanon destruction "i "' ol
The most important historical spots III lll, ronn,rN
until the to"ernmrnt eau d'cd" itS duty ana H.
powers, Every hour the most nagr!nt d'pf"na
lion, ur- committed which can never lr rrpalr'n
and II This /, allowed 10 be- continued while th'
Govern nent Is dcllberltlnc the injury VIII H. IT.
reparable ,u
II respectfully urge that prompt measures
L., taken To suppress Operations "n th" is'u'
field proper until the Government has tim" 10 DC
,ern,Inc the ronrse |, Will pursue IN" whol"
country demands II and public opinion VIII sustain
van I'm doing IT, II should be- understood that a.
Earring the electric railroad from H." tml'lrhcrl
I.xc.,f unimpoitant crossings where there WAS no
ghtin, will not prevent H. operation III VI" street, oi
1,,tt, sllrg the highways "hth
reach ali the important features oi NE
Acid without Decorating those sections MAD" historic
hv tho blood of men. In few Instances II l. I'M.
r,rau, Thai short section, Of the battlefield b" crossed
bv the road but should be under the direction "l
,Lc battlefield Commit. sion
Acting secretary Grant referred ms report am anu
all the paprrs connected with IN" WORK on ihe
,,nttysbufr battlefield TO Colonel I.rber. inc A'ne
Judge Ayot ate General for his examination ana opnio
ne Ia wba, authority the War Department mas now or
may have after July Ia prevent or Interior" WIN
the emitting OF the lines hy the railroad company.