Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-07-06
MARks AT GETTYSBURG.
The Finest Arranged Military Gene.
terry In the World.
Gettysburg Correspondence

battlefield, almost $4,000, 600 has been
expended In the object by the. govern
ment and the various military organi-
cations. OF this amount the national
government has contributed $751;
916.79, and large part Of the re-
mainder was appropriated for the pur-
pose Of erecting monuments and
markers by the various states whose
troops were engaged In the battle.
The work has been admirably carried
on until now the scene of the High
Water Mark of the Rebellion" Is
judged to be the finest marked battle.
field In the world. Its many miles Of
fine roads add greatly to the VISITORS
comfort while studying the details Of
the fight. A number Of new avenues
have been laid out, but not finished,
which will increase the value Of the
field to the student of history, 50 that
the request Of the National Military
Park Commission for an appropriation
from Congress of not less than $780,.
600 does not seem excessive.
Briefly summing it up, the work Of
the Battlefield Commission during the
last year consisted in the building of
Telford avenue, one and one-third
miles long, along the battle lines of
the First Army Corps on the field of
the first days battle; the addition Of
1,10O feet of Sickles avenue; the par.
tial construction Of an avenue from
Spangler's Spring around the south
western slope and base of Culp's Hill;
the placing Of o large number Of guns
and markers showing the position Of
the Union and Confederate batteries
and the walling and marking of sew
eral small springs which were used
by both armies during the battle. Be-
sides this, the commission had force
of men at work all summer caring
for the different parts Of the field
keeping the grass cut around the
monuments, the underbrush cleared
from the woodland, rebuilding the
stone walls used as breastworks, sod
ding the embankments along the ave-
nues and in other ways keeping the
Geld in first-class condition.
OF the money appropriated by the
government since the Battlefield Com
mission has been In charge, the fol-
lowing amounts were received in the
various years: 1887. $2,s92.17; 1893,
$4,000; 1894, $4,000; 1896. $4,000;
In 1896, 1897 and 1893, $4,000 was ap-
propriated, and in 1899. $60,922. so.
The total amount of 1851, ,916.79, which
includes incidental. moneys received
BY the commission, was expended as
follows: Compensation Of commission
ers, 55,193.65; mileage of commits
sioners, $5,07265; cost Of lands
acquired by purchase, $21 ,65752; cost
Of roadways, supplies, labor, rent, etc,
s263, 3,025; unexpended balance, $16,-
B62.79.
According to the annual report of
the commission, the average cost of
the avenues was $S,5S2.6S per mile,
which, in view Of the durable manner
In which they are built, is considered
moderate. The 517.68 acres Of land
bought since the commission has been
In control cost on an average Of $41.S3
an acre. In q number of instances the
price paid was as high as $120 an
acre, while in some cases small por.
tions of land were donated or sold at
a nominal sum. The commission has
little trouble in securing
most of the land, but portion to be
used for construction Of the Confed.
crate avenue has been In litigation for
several years. Concerning this the
report says:
"The proceedings begun by US three
years ago by the direction of the Sec.
retary of War; In the Circuit Court of
the United States for the Eastern
District Of Pennsylvania, to acquire
by condemnation five tracts Of land
on Seminary Ridge, embracing two
miles of the Confederate battle line
of the second and third days. is not
yet concluded. The jury Of view
made their award two and one-half
years ago. The defendants appealed
to court in term, where, after much
delay caused by them. 1t was tried
and verdict rendered last December
very liberal for them. They availed
themselves of the six months allowed
for appeal, and then carried the case
to the United States Court of Appeals.
The completion of this avenue will
open up an entirely new part Of the
field"
A much approved work of the com.
mission is the marking of the position
of the regular Union and Confederate
batteries, usually by two guns of the
same calibre and class as those which
constituted the battery, and also by
large iron tablets supported on iron
pillars and bearing appropriate in.
scriptions. The commission has al
ready mounted POI guns. The Union
lines have nearly all been marked
with monuments showing the posi-
tions of the various brigades, divisions
and regiments engaged, but there are
only two monuments on the entire
field showing where Confederate reei-
ments fought. Others will be placed
as soon as the land is secured.