Evening star., 1902-01-30
TO PRESERVE VALLEY FORGE
BILL MAKING TT A NATIONAL PARK
URGED.
Arguments Presented to the Senate
Committee ON Military Afairs-sen-
timental and UtiIitarian Reasons

The Senate committee on military affairs
today heard arguments by number Of
members of the Valley Forge National
Park Association in support Of the bill be-
fore that committee making national
park Of the Valley Forge battle-ground
The association had prepared the following
statement:
"The history Of Valley Forge Is so fanila
lar it is not necessary to recite the senti-
mental reasons for the preservation of this
historic field by the federal government nor
to urge the grace Of the thought Of such
preservation by the nation. The practical
phases of the use to which Valley Forge
may be put IL 1t Is purchased and preserved
by the federal government are many and
convincing. The ideal use would be Its
restoration to the condition in which 1t was
Immediately succeeding the occupation of
the ground by the continental army under
Washington in 17I7; the headquarters OF
the various generals restored to their prim-
Tive condition; modern cottages and struc-
lures razed; the earthworks and embank-
ments restored, and its preservation thus
for future generations. In the spring and
summer crops Of grain, such as were plant
ed by the colonists preceding the occupa-
tion could be raised In the fields; the wood
crowned slopes Of Mount Joy could be
thinned OF underground and sapling and
given chance to again become clothed
with great trees.
"a heavy fnterdicting hand should be
laid upon all propositions to scatter monu-
ments over the field. few simple columns,
shaft here, a row OF pillars there, all In
perfect harmony, might be the best means
OF perpetuatins the names and positions OF
the various division encampments..
Location of Military Base.
"But practical use may be Of greater
moment than a park. however beautiful,
based wholly upon sentiment. Yet, even in
this, Valley Forge makes an urgent appeal
to the unitarian. As the location Of a
military base for the section of country
covered by Pennsylvania, Maryland, Della
ware, New Jersey and New York, its Site
cannot be surpassed.
when Mad Anthony Wayne urged upon
Washington the selection of Valley Forge
as winter headquarters, he based his ad-
vice upon knowledge of the country that
was extensive and thorough. From there
an army could strike with equal facility
south, north or west by main Travelled
roads. AS point Of GENERALIZATION OF sup
plies. IN the event if war. it Is ideal. Con-
sidering first the natural highways, Valley
Forge is easily reached by way of the Del
aware, Chesapeake and Schuylkill valleys,
by the great valleys leading south and on
the north toward New York, by the levei
fields and easy marches of New Jersey. We
may think today that the great railways
will transport to battle the great armies OF
the future. This might be so If opposing
armies selected their battlefelds by ami
cable consultation before hand. Accident,
however, as demonstrated in the civil ara
Spanish wars, as well as in other conflicts,
shows conclusively that the futures efrec-
tive army must be composed of battalions
OF marching men, not train loads Of trans
ported troops.
Point for Mobilization.
Despite the promises Of our conviction
1t is not absolutely certain that the last
foreign foe has set foot upon the soil Of
America. and the day might come when
Valley Forge would again play an import
ant part In the affairs of our country as
it did In the days OF the revolution. The
British army. which occupied Philadelphia.
landed at the head of the Elk. IT, in the
mutations Of the days to come, another
army should ascend the Chesapeake or the
Delaware. 1t might find a vital landing
place at many points on the shores Of both
these waters. II Washington, Baltimore
or Philadelphia were threatened there could
be no better mobilization point for the de-
fensive battalions of the north than Valley
Forge, for right at its portals opens up
the great Chester valley, on the even slopes
Of which could be marshaled all the armies
of Napoleon. If New York or the north
were threatened the regiments Of the south
and west would find at this point the one
place for Capitalization. Its occupation
would Offset the occupation of Philadelphia
and assuming that hostile army ascended
the Delaware and was taken by Philadel-
phia,' as Franklin once quantity phrased
1t, with the intention of striking thence
north or south, it would be as effectively
blocked by the occupation Of Valley Forge
and the Chester valley by the American
troops as were Lords Clinton and Howe in
the days of King George.
"The natural capacities for defense Of
Valley Forge are remarkable, even in the
changed conditions Of modern warfare Be-
yond the Schuylkill the camp could not be
approached, except under the direct and
enfilading muzzies of artillery, which might
be mounted at q dozen places. while at
tacking forces using the Chester valley
would be exposed to measures Of repuIsion
long before their onset was of effect at
Valley Forge.
IF the federal government acquires lands
comprising the ancient camp, and, for any
reason. In the future, should decide to dis
pose OF the ground. 1T could realize dollar
for dollar the money invested"