Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-02-23
House Committee Did Not Make
Appropriation for Fort
Ethan Allen.
sen PROCTOR WORKED FOX II
said lie Would Ufgc Vermont TO Take
S0,OOO for It's Permanent Camp
GrOund-TrOperty Cost the
state $1,000 or S12.OOO
hut IL Not Needed


tor rroctor's fault that the House ap
preparations committee failed to make al
appropriation for the purchase of land
at Fort Ethan Allen. He went before
that committee. when the sundry civil
bill was being framed. and explained tn,
situation, asking that an appropriate
be made for the large. or AZ acre trac,
belonging to the state. and for the :.
acre tract.
When he went before the committe
Senator Proctor took plot of tn
ground with him. The fort grounds ar
not large enough said he, with tn
increase of the post. There is a fu
regiment Of cavalry there now-l2 troop
and two batteries of artillery. The orig
nal ground some six hundred and ode
acrcs. given to the govern
ment by individuals. A piece
ground was afterwards purchased dow
below, on the river, to give them access
| IT, the liver But 6oo acres as I say. was
given by individuals. They need more
ground and that estimate was made upon
these lands. where think there are Il
dozen small houses.
| II was there a short time ago ana look
cd it over with the ouartern,a stcr and the
commanding officer, and they named the
prices they had got on the different pieces
and thought they were very reasona BILE.
Several of them were owned by married
nOn-commissorcd Officers, who were
there and did not expect to stay always
and would move, and they were willing
to sell at very fair price"
The Senator thought the two pieces of
ground would make very Mica addition
to the post. II talked about the price
tor. with the quar,ermast en- general and
Adjutant General Gilmore who bought
the land originally and who has been
in the office a great many years. He
was looking out fer the interest % the
State. especially. and he said he thought
they ought to have $1,000 said
thought that was high. He said that was
about the cost OF it--either $4,000 or $l2-
0oo They put up some temporary build
ings on the tract. which would be of
same usc if moved back of the line
think $4,000 or $1,000 would be too much
for the land. but would suggest this:
wrote to the governor some time ago,
telling him I thought the State should
axe n very low price because the gov
eminent would always lot the State troops
muster on the ground The State would
not be the loser if it disposed Of the
ground. and I said I would Nike it very
much if that estimate he made, 81 900
for tho small tractD and 5000 for the
state ground, 1t Is perfectly level
ground. Every foot of it is availabl ..
Senator Proctor added that he doubted
very much whether the state would ac-
cept $1,000 for the tract it owns. But
il you will put il in the bill" said he
II will have Il chance to say to them that
this il all I can get and that the State
ought to sell can say that very hon
Iestly. because I do not think it is to the
ADVANTAGE of the State to keep it. The
policy OF the war department is to let
the state troops Muster on tho govern
inent reservation. They do not muster
there all the time. There Is sentiment
in the state in favor of passing the mus
ter around in different parts Of tho State
The governor WAS n private in my rcgi-
ment ard very nice man and a very
sensible man"
'Will he take orders from you?" in
Guired Representative Gardner of Michi-
gan, facetiously.
''Oh, not that replied Senator Proc
tor: ~ do not mean that. But he will
appreciate the military situation. that il
Is really no loss to the state. and no OBJ
Jet to the State tn Try, to get anything
but low price. I hope they will take
it, They will have plenty of time to con-
slider it, and ! shall tell Their, that that
lis all that I could recommend. under the
circumstances. because I deem it a fair
arrangement to them. considering the
fact that they do not really need 1t. While
the arrangement is directly a losing one,
Vet at the same time the fac, that the
Strt lO p1-
that"
Proctor leaving the plot OF he ground
with the committee.
PATENT ON POTATO PLANTER.
A patent has been granted to George
W. Spencer of St. Johnsbury, Vt. for a
potato planter.
The comptroller OF the currency has
lapproved of the National Park bank Of
New York as reserve agent for the
First National bank Of Srngheld VT. He
has also approved of the election Of b.
A. Park as president. in place Of r. p.
Mather; and of Samuel Adams as CASH
Ter. in place Of b. A. Park for the Nation
al hank of Chester. VT. The comptroller
has likewise re-extended the corporate
existence Of the Montpelier National
bank.
The postofilce department announces
the appointment OF Morton u. Grant as
carrier on rural route. No. g out Of Ar
lington, VT, and Of Henry s. Burt as as
lsistant carrier.
\ hill to grant Stephen Gilbert, late OF
Company l. sixth Vermont volunteers.
IA pension of $50 a month in lieu Of what
he is now receiving has gone to the Pres.
dent. The bill was introduced by rep
resentative Foster. The beneficiary re.
sides at Johnson. VT, is 70 years old and
extremely poor. A bill has passed the
House to increase to $50 a month the
pension of II. T.. MaXdeld who was IN