The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-03-24
OrR FRONTIER DEFENSES.

lle cSJaDllSnmCnJ OF EOfJ ELndn Alien
in Northern Vermont is attracting good
deal of attention. Not only have the
New York and Boston dailies devoted
space to the subject, but the editorials
find publication abroad. On this point
we quote the Boston Journals editorial
opinion:
"There is no concealment as to the
character or purpose of the new military
post near Essex junction, Vermont,
which has been so well described in our
columns. Fort Ethan Allen, it is frankly
acknowledged, is intended as basis of
operations against the Canadian frontier.
The subsidence of Indian troubles and
the gradual abandonment of military
stations in the far West as the progress
of white settlement has moved up to
and beyond them has left large part of
our little army available for duty else
where in the United States. 1t is now
the accepted policy of the War Depart
ment to establish new posts in the older
sections of the country and to fu nish
our seacoast fortresses with stronger
garrisons. Especial attention is being
given to the defences of the Canadian
border. There is nothing menacing in
these precautions. An armed conflict
with our Northern neighbOrs would be
an unspeakable calamity. 1t will never
come from our seeking or from theirs.
But it must be remembered that Canada
is a political dependency of England,
and that England has always acted, and
is now acting, on the assumption that
war with the United States is not only
possible but probable. There can be no
other Interpretation of her tremendous
Notifications and arsenalB at Halifax,
her forts and dockyards at BERN ada and
her long line of ocean citadels stretch
ing from Jamaica down to the north
coast of South America. 1t would be
folly for our Government to ignore these
preparations or deny their true signifi-
canoe. Fort Ethan Allen is our answer,
and in time it is understood that it will
be followed by others until a chain Of
border military posts at proper intervals
stretches across the continent from
Maine to Washington"
These remarks were accompanied by
maps of the region and plans of the fort,
from which we take few extracts: !:
Fort Ethan Allen is located near Essex
Junction, place famous in song and
story. The station is known to travellers
principally through the interminable de-
lays of trains, and this gave rise to Hop.
E. J. Phelps's celebrated Essex juno
ton poetry. The points in favor of this
location are these:
First-As base for strategical move
ments.
Second-Its accessibility by rail and
water to the centres of population and
supplies.
Third-The home market for Morgan
horses.
The name of the post was Secretary
Elkins's last official act. The plans for
Fort Ethan Allen contemplate the con-
struction of quarters for two battalions
or eight companies of cavalry.
The Government reservation com
prises 600 acres of land in the town of
Colchester, nearly midway between Bur
lington and Essex Junction.
The Fort is to be erected on historic
ground. 1t comprises part of tract of
$1,000 acres of land once owned by Gen.
Ira Allen, brother of the hero of Ii
conderoga," who obtained the LAND from
Governor Benning Wentworth in Revo-
lutionary days. The deed transferring
the land to Gen. Allen conveyed to him
"15, 900 acres of land in Colchester, four
miles on Onion River and eighJ miles
from Lake. Champlaln."
The bill under which the post was es-
tablished directed it to be located upon
the frontier, provided 600 or 1000 acres
of land were rendered the Government
for the purpose.
The necessary land for this purpose
was purchased by a number of public
spirited citizens of the Stat, under the
leadership of DR.. VIM. Seward Webb of
Shelburne, who has been the prime
mover in the project, and generously
subscribed $1,000 toward the $4,000
needed TO secure the real estate. The
Central Vermont Railroad alsO made a
liberal contribution of $4,000 and the
Wells e. Richardson Company added
$1,000 more. Additional subscriptions
for handsome sums came from Burllng-
ton Wooden Company, Michael Kelley,
U. A. Woodbury., Skillings, Whitneys &
Morse Lumber Company, Elias Lyman
and other Burlingtonians. A committee,
consisting of d. w. Robinson, U. A..
Woodbury., Elias Lyman, Michael f.
Kelley, Fred Ii. Wells and Il. S. Peck,
were directed to solicit subscriptions,
and Edward Wells was appointed Treas
urer Of the fund.
A committee, of which DR.. William
Seward Webb was made Chairman, was
appointed last November to take charge
of all matters relative to the purchase
and transfer of this land to the Govern
ment As a result of the work of this
committee this tract of land has recently
been decided TO the United States and is
now Government reservation.
The War Department detailed Captain
G.. +. Pond, Assistant Quartermaster, IT,.
S. A., to assume temporary command
of the new post, which he formally did
early this month.
The Government will build this year
one double barracs, two double sets Off
GERS quarters, one guard house. two