Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-09
ARLINGTON BRIDGE
General Batchelder Says One
Should Be Built.
NEGLECTED CEMETERY ROADS
Points Touched on in His Annual
Report.
. II u II O
4 HALL OF REC ORD S


for the principal movements of troops in
changing stations. The department pur-
chased 857 cavalry horses and 70 artillery
horses the average cost of which was 800 10
per head for the cavalry and 122.66 per
head for the artillery horses. Gen. Batch
elder again calls attention to the insult
ficiency OF the appropriation for barracks
and quarters. and he points out that an in
creased appropriation will be In the real
interest of economy.
There are SO national cemeteries, with %
superintendent During the fiscal year 1857
white marble headstones were provided to
mark the graves Of Union soldiers, sailors
and marines buried in national, post, city
and village cemeteries
The necessary repairs have been made to
the lodges, outbuildings, gates. inclosing
walls, walks, water supply, &C., at the vari-
Gus cemeteries, and at all Of them the
grounds nave been kept in good order.
The outbuildings contracted for during the
Fort Leavenworth Kan, Soldiers Home.
District Of Columbia, Culpeper and York
town, Va, and Grafton, w. Va, national
cemeteries and the receiving vault at the
Arlington, Va, national cemetery have been
completed.
Arlington Approaches.
Gen. Batchelder has the following re-
Arlington cemetery:
THE necessity for improved approaches
to the Arlington national cemetery and
park. as referred to in my last annual re-
port, is again earnestly urged upon Con-
Gress and an appropriation therefor recon-
mended. Estimates made by engineers of
this department for the construction If Good
macadanized roads, of a substantial and
durable character, fix the cost at $4,000.
THE present intolerable condition Of the
approaches to this historical spot, which
forms part of one of the most beautiful
parks in the country, and where so many Of
the nations heroes are buried, should be
remedied at the earliest practicable date, so
as to render it more accessible TO the people
OF the city Of Washington, and TO the thou
sands of visitors to the national capital
from all parts Of the country.
In this connection / also renew my recon-
mendation of last year, that an appropria-
ton be made by Congress for the construc-
ton OF a bridge over the Potomac, at or
about the terminus Of New York avenue,
near Observatory Hill, which, If construct
ed, will not only furnish q short and direct
route to the cemetery and park. but also be
means of direct and rapid communica-
ton between the capital and the important
military lost of Fort Myer, Va, which ad-
joins the cemetery on the north. The value
from military point Of view of bridge at
this place is apparent.
Gettysburg Monuments.
He reports that the purchase Of land for
sites for monuments to mark the positions
occupied by commands Of the regular army
at the battle Of Gettysburg, and for ap-
proach thereto, has been completed Each
site has been marked with an iron tablet
inscribed with the name Of the command
and the date Of its engagement, and at each
site has been placed a cannon mounted on
an iron gun carriage.
Hall of Records.
"a in lad 70 he La
condition of the rooms used for storing
papers and records in the War Department,
and the recommendation is again renewed
that a suitable fireproof building be erected
in some convenient locality, to contain the
records Of all the departments. He says
that some means will have to be provided
for the storage in the War Department of
the future accumulation of records and
accounts, which were formerly turned over
to the accounting officers of the treasury
He says that the storage space Of the War
Department Is utterly inadequate for the
purpose. Should Congress authorize the
construction of hall of records" says Gen.
Batchelder, the question Of it's location is
one of great Importance, the building
should be situated near the executive &C.
partments. site on 18th street South of
the new Corcoran Art Gallery or south of
Pennsylvania avenue on 10Th street would
be a most appropriate location for the new
building, as it would be in close proximity
to six of the eight large executive depart
ments. 1t is hoped that favorable action
in this matter will be taken by Congress at
an early date"
Clerks Needed.
The quartermaster general says that the
loss of clerical assistance during the past
year has retarded the work Of the office,
and that experience has shown that it's
business cann)t be efficiently conducted
without additional clerical help He there
fore includes in his estimates on next year
for additional clerks as follows: Three
clerks OF class two, three clerks of class
one and two clerks of class $1,000
Antietam Battlefield.
In regard to the Antietam battlefield, Gen.
Batcheder says:
I'm carrying out the provisions of the
acts of Congress approved August 80, $780,
August 8. 1892, and March 3, 1893, the work
Of surveying, locating and preserving the
lines of battle of the Army of the Potomac
and of the Army of Northern Virginia at
Antietam, Nd, has been confined chiefly to
fixing accurately the positions of the sew
eral brigades Of the two armies on the night
of September 16 and IL, 1862 Just prior to
the commencement Of the battle, and pre-
pairing the last of a series Of three MAPS
which will show the extreme advance of the
Union army on September II. vast
amount Of correspondence has been carried
on with a view of securing reliable informa-
ton before the maps are finally completed.
No idea of the work done Is to be obtained
by an inspection of the battlefield, and but
little more will be visible until the land
upon which permanent markers Of stone
will be placed) is acquired by the govern
ment and the avenues are laid out.
Eight hundred acres will have to be &C.
quired by the government, and after de-
Quoting the amount of money on hand the
sum Of $4,000 will be necessary to finish
the work
when the positions of the several bril-
gadeS of the two armies and their batteries
"a total of 232-are located correctly. and
are designated by temporary markers. the
work will be largely completed. The tenn
porary markers will then be replaced by
permanent tablets or monuments. The
ordnance department has furnished the
board with condemned cannon sufficient to
mark the position Of the batteries of each
army. These cannon are now at Sharps-
burg, and will be placed in position when