The National tribune., 1902-12-25
FREDERICKSBURG NATIONAL PARK.
The Veterans Of the Army Of the Potomac
Anxious for Something to Be Done.

Anxious for Something to Be Done.
At the Reunion of the Society of the
Army of the Potomac held at Gettysburg
on Sept. 10, much feeling was manifested
at the delay Of Congress in acting upon
the bill for National Park at and around
Fredericksburg, and this report and reso-
luton were enthusiastically adopted.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE.
The Committee appointed at the last
Reunion in Utica to press the matter of
National Park embracing the great bat
tlefeld around Fredericksburg respectful,
ly report that the bill which had passed
the Senate at the previous Congress. had
been favorably reported by the House
Military Committee and been debarred
consideration in the House by the Speak
err, was again introduced and passed by
the Senate at the present Congress. a
hearing was granted by the House Mill
tary Committee. at which the claims of
the section in question were most ably
and exhaustiyely presented. The Com
mittec by 4 majority vote agreed to report
the bill favorably. A small minority rem
dered an adverse report, the only apparent
ground of objection being the multiplied
ton Of battlefelds commissions for which
consideration was desired in accordance
with bill introduced by member of the
Committee, which bill has not yet become
law. Every proper effort was made to
bring the Park Bill before the House, but
without success. The power bestowed
upon the Speaker by the rules of the
House was used against the consideration
of the bill in the Committee of the Whole,
and no action was had.
The Committee in this connection beg
to call the attention of the Society to a
few interesting and striking facts:
The East has two National Parks, one
at Antietam, which is practically COM
pleted at cost of 100000, and the other
at Gettysburg. for which the National ap-
preparation has reached $4,000, with
comparatively little more required. The
West has six National Parks-Shiloli,
Vicksburg, Chickamauga, Orchard Knob,
Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain, for
which the appropriations have already
reached $2.OOO000 and will probably re-
quire S2000.000 more. For the Fred
ericksburg reservation we ask the sum of
100000 only. with which to purchase the
land and clear up the ground. More will
be needed in time, but it cannot exceed
| s., 00OC This extraordinary discrimina-
ton in favor of Western battlefieids is
compare lively little known. Not one of
the battles which these parks perpetually
commemorate surpaSSes i'll magnitude or
equaied in losses the terrible engagements
in and near Fredericksburg. In the great
conflict the Eastern army suffered two
thirds of the casualties during the war,
and it is therefore reasonable 10 infer that
it did its fair share Of the fighting. The
Committee reioices that the West has been
so fortunate, but it naturally inquiries, why
this extraordinary discrimination against
the East: two millions to the West and
half n million only to the East.
The Committee, in conclusion, beg to
offer the following resolution:
RESOLVED, That copy Of this min
ute be sent to the Speaker and to every
member of the House of Representatives,
with renewed and most urgent appeal
that the bill may be considered at the next
session and passed.
d. f. Sickles, Major-General, U. S. A;
Geo. ID. Ruggles. Brigadier-General, U.
S. A; Horatio C. King, Brevet Colonel,
u. S. A.