The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-09-23
LAKE CHAMPLAIN
TERCENTENARY
COMMISSION
(Continued from frat MACE


to the December session. We are as
sured that at that session favorable
action will be taken.
The commission desires TO call the
attention OF the General Assembly to 4
the fact that Samuel Champlain In
July, 1909, not only discovered the
beautiful body Of water which bears
his name but also was the first Euro
pean to set eyes upon any part Of the
territory now known as Vermont.
The year 1909, therefore, will be the
three hundredth anniversary Of the
discovery of Vermont as well as that
of Lake Champlaln and 1t is certainly
desirable that this important event
be celebrated in a fitting manner by
the people of the state.
From time immemorial the obser-
vance OF times and events has been
found desirable and In the truest
sense profitable Those states and
nations that have attained the most
advanced civilization are those that
have held in highest esteem the ia
nous deeds of their founders and pat
riots.
The historic importance OF this an
niversary and a proper consideration
| for the good name of the state, alike
demand that this commonwealth take
official notice of the occasion. Such
a celebration will be an inspiration to
more earnest and careful study of
| history; to truer appreciation of the
important place held in the annals Of
the nations by the territory in which
we live; and to a higher standard of
patriotism.
II is well for us to recall the prom
inent place which Lake Champlain
holds in the story of North America.
From prehistoric times it has been
la great natural thoroughfare between
the St Lawrence River and the Hud-
son Valley.
Three great nations, France, Great
Britain and America, have made it a
highway in war and in peace.
The French erected fort at Isle
La Motto In 1866 which was the first
settlement within the present limits
OF Vermont and although it was not
literally permanent settlement, yet
1t was a frequent stopping place for
voyagers through the lake, and II is
believed never thereafter lapsed into
a wilderness.
The first public observance of the
Christian religion i'm Vermont was
held at Isle La Motto and relics OF
that early period of French occupa
ton may still be seen at the shrine OF
st. Anne in that place.
At Crown Point, France established
Fort st. Frederic, with the single ex
ception Of Quebec her strongest Amer
lean fortress; and there, at a later
date Great Britain built a stronghold
with ramparts twenty-five feet high
and twenty-five feet thick at cost oil
over two millions of pounds sterling
For these great fortresses that guard
ed the route from Canada to New
York and New England the armies oil
France and England contended in a
series of campaigns for news OF which
the capitals of Europe waited in eager
expectancy In no small measure the
manner in which America should be
! developed was fought out between
some of the greatest captains of the
age in the valley of Lake Champlain
The British flag was first lowered in
the War OF the Revolution at Ticon
deroga upon the demand of Ethan AL
len, ''in the name of the Great Jeho
. yah and Continental Congress" an
event OF tremendous significance In
its effect upon the country, and In fur
nishing the artillery which enabled
Washington to compel the evacuation
OF Boston by the British. The first
} important naval battle of the Revo
luton was fought on Lake Champlain
The first aggressive movement of the
American colonies on a considerable
scale, the invasion of Canada was un
dertaken by way of Lake Champlain
and by the same route the army re
turned, broken by defeat and disease
to take post at the Lake Champlain
fortresses. 1t was by way OF Lake
Champlain that Burgoyne came in
1777 with boasts and threats and a
: powerful army, to cut In twain the
American colonies, and 1t was at Ben
ningtOn that he received the defeat
that was the beginning Of his down
fall. At Plattsburgh was fought one
: of the fiercest battles OF the War Of
| 1912: and McDOnough's victory was
one of the most important in Amer
lean naval history. 1t will be recall
ed that McDonough's fleet was built
at Vergennes on otter Creek and al
the mouth of this river Is Fort Cas-
sin. where another important navaI
engagement took place.
In 1909 the Vermont" the second
successful boat ever navigated BY
steam, began regular trips; and sc
the year 1909 will mark the one hun
dredth anniversary of steam naviga
ton on this body of water.
II would be difficult to find in Amer
lea region richer In historical asso
Citations. President Roosevelt has dc
clared that in his opinion no section
of America is richer in historic lore
than the Champlaln Valley.
When Samuel Champlain first sail
ed into these waters his Indian guides
pointing to the eastward to the lane
we call vermont told the great French
pioneer that there were In those
parts beautiful valleys and fields fer
tile in corn, with an innumerable var
iety of other fruits" And from that
day to this the beauty OF our valleys
and the strength of our hills have ex
cited the admiration of all who love
the grand and beautiful.
While the commission believes that
this anniversary should be celebrated
primarily because of its historic i'm
portance, we cannot ignore the fact
that its observance will afford the
best possible opportunity to make
known the great natural advantages
of Vermont.
The state Of New York has appro
priated the sum of fifty thousand dol
lars for the Champlain celebration
and there is strong probability that
an additional appropriation may be
made.
1t is also confidently expected that
Congress, during the next session will