New Ulm review., 1900-01-31
Will Meet
Feb. Zenith


Arrangements have been perfected for
the holding of meeting of the Fort
IRidgely National Park and Monument
Association in this city on Saturday,
February 10th. a very large attend
ance from neighboring towns is assured.
Amoug the notable persorages who will
be present are Gov. Lind. Col. Timothy
j. sheehan and Judge Charles E. Flan-
dreau. Secretary Capt. G. 81. Hopkins,
OF Fairfax, was here Friday and Satur-
day in the interests Of the association
Iand secured forty or fifty new members
among our business men. The object Of
tho association is to secure the favorable
action of congress with view to the
purchase OF additional land contiguous
to the state cemetery now located at the
fort and the establishment and mainte-.
nance of national park. Following
is an address issued BY the association
which, in view of the philanthropical
nature of the work, we gladly print
below. z-, ,
+: TO THE PUBLIC.
The history of Minnesota furnishes No
chapter more pathetic in its horrible de-
tails than that relating to the great
Sioux uprising and massacre of 1862;
aud no portion of that chapter is of so
much historic interest and importance
as the siege ana defense of Fort Ridge
~. This engagement was in fac. the
high tide of the uprising even as Gettys-
burg was the high tide of the Rebellion.
Had the fort surrendered to that horde
of painted savages, already crazed by
the blood of scores of victims all along
the valley, the whole of Southwestern
Miunesota would have been over-run and
depopulated. ...-
Our state has eommemorated that
battle by the erection of modest monu-
ment and 9 state cemetery has been es-
tablished there for some time.s*s5 >, H.,
Many G. A, r. posts have signifed
the unanimous desire of their members
to be inferred there but no provision has
ever been made for enlarg1ng and beau
tifying the grounds with that end in
view. In scenic beauty the spot and its
surroundings are not excelled along the
whole course of the Minnesota River.
One standing Oh the site of old Fort
Ridgely, looking down the beautiful
Minnesota Valley, is led to cxclaim
"Nature foresaw the great events that
would transpire here and the needs of
generations yet unborn of a. place for
recreation and bestowed her charms ac-
cordingly." The site is, geographically,
near the center of the state, III the midst
of a rich, prosperous agricultural terri
tory with many dourishing towns con-
tiguous, and ample railroad facilities.
None but the wealthy can afford to en-
JOY the beauties of the Yellowstone,
while, on the other hand, small nation-
al park, as here contemplated, could be
made continual source of pleasure to
all, even the humblest. H.
May we not hope that our national
government will do tardy justice by
throwing it's protecting arms around
this neglected spot and Iescuing it from
the vandalism which has SO nearly OBJ
liberated it.
This seems well worth striving for
and IS the main object<of this associa-
tion. Not a member expects dollar in
pecunlary benefit, directly or indirectly.
All are giving freely Of their time and
means, from motives which are abso-
lutely unselfsh, and the high character
of our membership Is q guarantee of
persistent work.. May we not bespeak
for ourselves the benefit Of your influ-
ence and prestige, for we realize that
without your actual, personal interest in
/ the movement We can do nothing.
]. Our Life Membership Certificates are
4 five dollars $500 each. They are very
artistic and are made suitable for fram-
ing as permanent souvenirs. We solicit