The evening times., 1899-12-21
WHERE WAR ONCE RACED.
Proposed Legislation for Preserv.
ing Famous Batilefields.
A Bill Introduced In Congress Pro-
viding for the Establish ment of a
National Park I'm Virginia-Chan-
cellOrxville and the Wilderness In
cluded as n Part of the Territory.

The bill providing for the establishment
tional Bsttlefields Memorial Park in the
State Of Virginia, which has been intro
duced In the Senate by Mr.. Sewell of New
Jersey. is one that has national as wei
as local interest. The bill provides that
there shall be set apart as a national
memorial park. for the purpose of preserv-
ing and suitably marking them for his
torical and professional military study
the famous battlefeids in Spottsylvania
county, Virginia, known as Fredericksburg,
Salem Church. Charlottesville. the Will
derness. and Spottsylvania Court House, all
of them within radius Of eight miles.
On that limited territory the late distin-
guished Union general. John C. Fremont,
after careful investigation, declared that
more great battles were fought more men
engaged. and more execution done than en-
any spot of similar area in the world. All
lands and public highways necessary to the
establishment OF and approach to the park
are to be ceded to the United States by the
State of virginia, and are to be thereafter
under the control Of the Secretary Of War.
For Three Commtssloners.
He is authorized to make agreements.
upon such terms as he may prescribe, with
such present owners of the land as may Ge-
sire to remain upon 1t, to occupy and cul-
tivate their present holdings upon condi-
tion that they will preserve the present
buildings and roads, the breastworks of the
two contending armies, and the present
outlines of field and forest. and that they
will only cut trees or underbrush under
such regulations as the Secretary OF War
may prescribe, and that they will assist In
caring for and protecting all tablets, mon
uments, or such other artificial works as
may from time to time be erected by proper
authority.
Subject to the supervision and direction
Of the Secretary OF War. the affairs Of the
park are to be in charge of three commits
sioners, each of whom shall have actively
participated in one or more OF the battles
fought in or around Fredericksburg. 20 wit.
Fredericksburg, Salem Church, Chan
cellorsviIle the Wilderness and the battles
about Spottsylvania Court House. Two OF
them are to be appointed from civil life
by the Secretary of War, one who shall
have served in the Army of the Potomac
and one who shall have served in the Army
of Northern Virginia. and third who shall
be detailed by the Secretary of War from
among those officers of the Army best &C
auainted with the details of those battles.
who shall act as secretary OF the CoInmis-
sion.
Scope of the Work.
These Commissioners are to have an Of
flee in the War Department building, and
their salaries are to be fixed by the Secre-
tary of War. 1t will be their duty to as
certain and definitely mark the lines OF
battle of all the troops engaged in the bat
ties of Fredericksburg, Salem Church.
Charlottesville. the Wilderness, and those
about Spottsylvauia Court House. SO far as
the same shall fall within the lines of the
park and some person recognized as well
informed in regard to the details of these
battles is to be employed to furnish the
necessary information.
The Commissioners are &c ascertain. and
substantially mark the locations of the
regular troops within the boundary of the
park ard erect monuments on the posi-
tions. The Secretary OF War is to aScer-
tain and mark all lines OF battle. and erect
plain and substantial historical tablets at
such points as he may deem necessary TO
designate clearly the positions and move
ments of the troops OF the contending
armies. The separate States are also to
be permitted to mark the positions of
their respective troops in a manner salts
factory to the Commissioners.
To provide for beginning to carry out
the purposes of the bill an appropriation
of $500. 900 is asked for, and the report
of the various disbursements is to be con-
tanned in the annual report of the Sec
retary Of War to Congress.