The Washington times., 1904-04-24
Immense Cost of the
National Battle Parks
Economical Marking Of Lines at Antietam
Has Suggested Method to Be Pursued
in Future---InterestingD Data

The economical manner in which the
battle lines have been marked and the
field transformed into a national ceme-
terry at Antietam. Md. has. IT is learn
ed. been one of the strongest factors in
securing a favorable report by the
House Committee on Military Affairs on
the bill providing for the creation Of a
national military park commission, with
general power to restore, preserve,
mark and maintain all battlefields of
the Colonial. Revolutionary. Indian and
civil or other wars of the United States
The BILL If enacted. will abolish the
present park commissions of Gettys-
burg. Vicksburg. Shiloh and Chicka-
manga at the end of two years after
the coming Fourth Of July. and win
repose, the general work heretofore in
trusted to them in a national commits
sion consisting of five members
Separate commissions were thought
necessary TO prepare the four great ex-
listing military parks. but this system.
ii is stated has been found too cum
brous for practical purposes and I'm
usually expensive.
Ee+y Park Schemes.
Many other parks are now urged upon
Congress. each by bill creating a new
commission. The number OF these bills
proves the impossibillty Of properly
dealing with the question by establish
ing park at each battle field. The
present four parks already have eo<t
the Government nearly 50. OOO. 900. Ii is
not possible. and some legislators think
not necessary. to have a new park at
each hafflaf7ald oil
1t is vitality important that markings
should be made to show crucial points
OF these battles.
Several years ago, when an agent ga
the War Department was sent to App
nattox to revise the maps to be in
cluded in the record of the Appomattox
campaign. a curious condition of at
fairs was found 10 exist. illustrating
clearly the difficulty of marking batlIc
lines. The old courthouse had been
burned and a new one erected. The Ne
Lean house. where the surrender took
place. had been taken down brick oy
brick. with a view to removing it To
Washington as show place.
Difficult to Get Details.
The house occupied by General Grant
as headquarters at the time of the sur
render had disappeared, and there wds
nothing left of il but little depression
in the ground. Only one man could b.
found VINO was a resident Of Appomat-
tox Courthouse at the time of the bat
tie and who knew where the important
events had taken place.
Information brought TO the attention
or the House Committee on Military Al
fairs shows that the Antietam battle
field has cost the Government thus rar
only n htUe more than $4,000. which
1t Is said, has been spent under the di-
Tection of the Secretary of War much
more effectively than the greater sums
disposed OF under the direction of the
commissions in charge of the four great
military parks.
BY the act of July Il. 1870, the Score
tary of War was directed 10 take charge
of the Antietam National Cemetery at
Sharpsburg, and by the act Of March 2.
1871 $4,000 was appropriated 10 dis
charge the balance of the Indebtedness
incurred by the old board of trustees of
the cemetery. October 2, 1888. $1,000 was
appropriated for constructing a road
from Antietam Station to the cemetery,
and in August, 1890. s.. 600 more was ap-
propriated to complete the road.
BY this later act Congress also appro-