The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-12-15

taken.
 The subject of preserving the ancient Indian names of localities was presented at the general meeting, as there was at the time disposition to change the names of some such places and put in their stead that of some political Worthies in order to aid in legislation some private or party designs. The proposition was defeated and other places were selected so that the Indian names still remain. At New Canaan, rude stone properly inscribed was raised in October by the Historical so- ciety and the Red Men to the memory of Puntus, the Indian chieftain, from whom the first settlers bought their lands; perhaps it would be we'll if simi- lar monuments could be set up at other places to keep the names of the ancient land owners at least in remembrance. The Old Fort Hill at Thompson has been purchased with the design of mak- ing the spot one of public resort and recreation. Here was located the cele- brated stronghold of the Nipmuk h. dians, who lived at Quinnatisset. The "cellar hole" and other remains of the old fort yet remain. Your committee
 
 memorial mark for the spot. Since the appointment of your com l mittee several monuments and memo- rial tablets have been dedicated, and it has been said that the raising of them has been because of the action taken in this matter by your committee. There has been an opinion expressed that all these historical memorials should be set up by individuals or so cieties and that in no case should the local or state authorities be called, upon to furnish such markings. While this | is eminently right 1t Is also proper that an appeal should be made to the legts- l lature to provide certain laws for the care and preservation of such memo- rials after they are dedicated. This | necessity is at once shown when we find | that in the state of New York monu- ment erected to Major Andre at Tarry- town has been twice blown up by some unknown persons and the ground mon ument and iron railings surrounding it twice sold for taxes. There are also | other questions that naturally arise | The ownership of the land on which the l monument stands, the amount of land | that ought to be set apart when a mon- ument is set up, the preservation of a | tablet on a private or public building when said building is torn down or re- F modelled. The state of Rhode Island | has a law which protects any marker | that may be placed upon soldiers or sailors grave, but with this exception l your committee do not know of any other law touching such questions
 In many places there are the remains of old burying grounds that were used by the early settlers and those that l followed them. In such towns all the families represented are gone and there | remains no one whatever to care for the crumbling grave stones and the field lays waste, overgrown with weeds and filled with debris. There are also several old Indian burying grounds in a similar condition; perhaps it may be ! wise to solicit some private or public | action respecting these remains. We l understand that in Bristol a private citizen at his own expense is cleaning out and repairing an old burying ground that has lain neglected for | years.
 Your committee submits these few re- marks respecting the work committed | to it's care and respectfully ask the so- ciety to take such action as it may deem proper to ask, that it may be permitted to continue its work, request ing at the same time the active cooper ation of every member In the further ance thereof.
 All of which is respectfully submitted, l HENRY BALDWIN, Chairman. After some discussion of the report the committee was continued to take further action. The meeting adjourned at about o'clock.
 The Military Order of Foreign Wars also met at the New Haven house at 12 o'clock.
 Those who were present were: Hon.
 Morgan G. Bulkeley commander; Rev
 H. N. Wayne, secretary; Colonel H. w.
 Vessels, Hon, Erastus Gay, Samuel
 J. Barlow, J. H. Swartwout, A. Floyd
 Delafeld, Timothy Jones, and Rev
 Alexander Hamilton. The election of officers resulted as follows: Ex-Gover-
 nor Morgan G. Bulkeley, commander;
 Rev H. N. Wayne, secretary; Samuel J. Barlow, registrar; A. Floyd Delafield
 vice consul; Rev. Alexander Hamilton
 chaplain; champions of the council, Col
 W. F. A. Bulkeley, Colonel H. C. Mor-
 gan, H. N. Wayne.