The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-12-09
GREAT MILITARY PARK.
Report Of Chickamauga and Chat
tanooga Park Commission.
Satisfactory Progress Made in the
Work-Interest in the Park Rap.
idly Increasing Throughout
the Country.

Gen. Henry v. Boynton, as chairman
of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga
national park commission, has submit
ted to the secretary of war the annual
report of the commission, showing that
satisfactory progress has been made in
the establishment of the park in ao-
cordance with existing laws and the
plan heretofore adopted by the war de-
partment. No change seems to the park
commission to be advisable. No new
legislation is suggested and no in
crease of the appropriation over that
made for the current fiscal year is need
ed. The battle field of Lookout noun
tain has been added to the park during]
the past year at a cost Of $22 ,065, and it
is hoped that ten or twelve acres on the
top of the mountain at it's north point
may be acquired during the coming
year, thus completing the purchase OF
land for the Chattanooga section of the
park with the exception of small tracts
on Missionary ridge. Interest in the
park throughout the country is rapid
ly increasing. Most of the 26 state COM
missions cooperating with the national
commission have been active in provid-
ing for the erection of monuments on
the field. Many of the states which
have erected regimental and battle
monuments throughout the park are
now engaged in putting'up costly state
monuments of imposing design. The
state authorities of Tennessee and
Georgia and the county and municipal
authorities of Tennessee have been
prompt and liberal in affording every
legal facility for prosecuting the work
of the commission
Gen. Boynton says that the care taken
in ascertaining lines of battle and the
success attending the same, appears
from the fact that every brigade line on
each side has been established UPON
seven distinct fields. namely, Chicka-
manga, Wauhatchie, Lookout Noun
tain, Orchard Knob, Missionary Ridge.
Tunnel Hill and Ringgold, and that no
difference has arisen in regard to any
OF these, with single exception-in the
case of line specifically and definitely
located by Gen. Grant upon his official
map of the battle of Chattanooga. In
the location of the great multitude Of
regimental and battery positions in only
one case has there been difference be-
tween the national commission and the
state commission, and no difficulty is
anticipated in the settlement of the
same.
During the past summer the Lookout
Mountain fields have been cleared of
underbrush, paths constructed to reach
every portion of its rugged topography,
and complete historical tablets cast for
every brigade and division engaged.
The eight artesian wells on the Chick
amauga field have been tested by the
unprecedented drought of the past sea-
son, and have been found abundantly
able to supply water for camping and
maneuvering troops. The use of the
park as a refuge for southern coast
and gulf garrisons during the period Of
yellow fever visitation has been DEM
onstrated by the presence of the garri-
son from New Orleans upon the park.
The appropriation for the present
year was $4,000. out of which there
remains a balance of $57, 800, which is
considered sufficient to carry on the
work until the end of the year.