New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-18
INVADING GETTYSBURG.
FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL PARK THINK
1T IS THREATENED AGAIN.
THE PENDING BILL. IT IS SAID. WOULD ALLOW
A TROLLEY ROAD TO BE OPERATED OVER
PORTIONS OF THE BATrLEFIELp-AN
AMENDMENT SUGGESTED BY
GENERAL sIcKLEs.


ray TELEGRAPH THE rRiBUNEl
washington. Feb IA bill has been passed py
tho House of Representatives. and Is now penang
wv C.,r,,,,oe m the District Of Columbia, In
Tho senate which seems likely to revive the o'tter
| cortroversy of a few years ago over the issue Vi
vandalism involved In the building Oh a" e'eo',.
railroad over parts Of the Gett!sours o"''''
The managers of the road constructed 'hen """ ..
cured right. of way over ground not actually
owned by the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial AS
ISOLATION but closely paraeling the l'hes VI JAZZ
ocour,ed nv the Union troops. The Battiehe'o Az
ISOLATION fought strenuously against the .rones
company and finally succeeded In ori.'"s II ~
bankruptcy To prevent further inVas'o"S Vi .'e
field the association, which held state char'er'
turned over It's property to the reue'"' 49,,
,ron, which used II as nucleus for the establish
n,ort If tho present Gettysburg National PARK. a
,oco, cornoration under the title OF the Washns
ton and Gettysburg Railway Company. Is NOW s.eN
ing 10 secure rights within this distric' 10. "o'
line 10 connect with lines owned by TWO other mary
land and PENNSYLVANIA companies. the whoe ope"-
ing a and direct line OF tra'e' i'o''
TO the new National Park -
Friends of the park think that they nave o'soo'
cred in 4 clause in the bill when passeu 'hc i'e
n ,oophole which would allow the local company ~
purchase and operate the now abandoned troie!
line over portions Of the Gettysburg he'a nep'e-
sentative shannon who sent a copy OF the Dill 10
coro-o, Daniel r. Sickles, received this reply on
Monday last which fully sets forth the appreheh-
sions of the friends Of the park In regard ~ Tue
pending measure
No q Fifth-avc.. New-York. February ~
Tho Hon r G. shannon. House Of Representatives.
Dear Sir: ] am obliged TO you for copy OF tne
Gettysburg Railway bill and report OF me .on
missoners / am glad to see that the mrs. ,, So
ton authorizing the company to run L G,svs
IRON, the National Cemetery GROUNDS at net,!s
huro has been amended. IL ! could nave peeI
heard before the committee would nave asheu 49,. ,o
authorizcs consolidation with the Pennsyivana anu i,
MARYLAND railways. This clause contains au.nV Hy
to run n trolley road constructor tnree q, ~ y,
Years ago which runs through the oattenelu Ea
8ettvsh,rc The construction OF this road greatI!
damased and altered some OF the natural features
n and substantially broke II up. bankrupt WISH.
therefore that the House bill might pc 90
foilou,s. After the word thereof. on line ~
SECTION 20 insert: provided that no railway con-
etructed leased. owned or operated ny the coih-
pany hereby incorporated shall run through or over
any part OF the battlefield OF Gettyspurg. nc;
am dear sir, very truly yours ID. T. SlChLEo'
When General Sickles's letter was shown 10 Co'o-
ne, Truesdell one Of the District Commissioners
he was little surprised that the clause objected 10
nv General Sickes had escaped the attentt OF 'he
commissioners. Members Of the Senate Distr,c'
Committee will undoubtedly favor change OF IAN
guaee II the bill passes the SeEate al az 1nIs So
sion II is reasonably certain that General Slckess
proposed amendment will be substantially auop,eu'
some members of the Senate District committee
feel assured that the bill II passed the House
would allow the present road on the Get,!snue
hattlefeld to operated In spite OF the opposi,on
of the War Department. even Defore the maih h"e
to the District should be constructed.