Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-06-11
IT Is NOW UP TO VERMONT.


trepid explorer whose name that body
Of water bears will depend primarily on
the State Legislature, and it Is time to
begin an agitation OF this question pre-
paratory to action at the coming session
OF our lawmakers.
Up to the present time the state OF
Vermont has done nothing in the drec-
ton OF the fitting observance of this his
| torc event except to appoint a commits
sion to take the intiatory steps, a body
by the way which has done excellent
work All of the efforts of the commits
sioners will so for naught, however. UNI
less the State Legislature makes an APP
| preparation which will render it possible
to carry out the plans formulated by
them in connection with the tercentenary.
| In view OF the action taken by our neigh
bors of New York It would be discredita-
bic for the Green Mountain State to re-
fuse to cooperate in the observance OF
the discovery of Lake Champlain.
/
mission. and it may be desirable In this
| connection to summarize the steps taken
up to the present time Senator Henry
W. Hill of Buffalo, native of Grand
Isle county, who has been a prime mover
in this great undertaking, thows that fol-
! lowing the action OF the Vermont Legls-
and Of Governor Proctor In appointing
the members thereof. the legislature at
Albany created commission to act In
unison with the Vermont commission and
appropriated the sum of 5000 for the ex-
penses incidental to the work Of that
body. It will be recalled that following
the banquet Of the Vermont Fish and
Game League last September at Bluff
Point Governor Hughes, Governor Proc
tor and other members of the two COM
missions made n tour of Lake Champlain
for the purpose of visiting places of his
operation.
Members of the two commissions visit
ed Washington for the purpose of secur-
IN the cooperation of the general
government, and conference with
Secretary of State loot was fol-
lowed by the presentation Of a Joint
memorial. which was submitted to Con-
gress by President Roosevelt with a
special message looking to national par
ticipation in the proposed celebration Of
the three hundreth anniversary Of the
discovery Of Lake Champlain and an ap-
preparation by Congress for this pur-
pose. In the rush Of matters attending
the shaping OF matters for the national
election Congress neglected to act, but
assurances are given that an appropria-
ton will be made for the purpose when
out national lawmakers meet again in
December.
In the meantime the New York and
Vermont commissioners held Joint
meeting in Albany and determined tina,
a permanent memorial to commemorate
the discovery of the lake by Chalnplain
should be erected at some point In the
Champlain valley; that programme
OF exercises be arranged and that the
federal government be requested to invite
and entertain representatives OF the re-
public OF France Of the King of Great
Britain and the Dominion Of Canada.
Informal discussion among the commits.
sioners disclosed n consensus Of opinion
that the proposed celebration should In
clude exercises at Ticonderoga. Crown
Point Plattsburgh, Burlington, Isle La.
Motto and if found feasible. at a conven.
| ient point in Canada. On Sunday, July
| appropriate to the anniversary be held
if possible at suitable points. especially
at Cliff Haven, at Isle LaMotte. and II
| the cathedral at Burlington. under the
auspices of the Roman Catholic church
that celebration include such musica
features as may be found desirable, and
il possible. an aquatic pageant, with fire
works, electrical display, and other ap
propriate features. being understood an,
expected that the annual meetings OF re
gattas OF canoe, motor-boat or zach
clubs may be held at this time LAX
Champlain, contributing attractive fea
lures to the celebration; that the frater
nal orders represented in the Champlai
valley be invited to Join In the celebra
ton and to appear in regalia in appropri
ate parades as opportunity may offer
After some discussion as to the prac
ticability of participation by patriot
socities. it was voted that the secretar
data relative to the patriotic socties re
presented In the Champlain valley an
submit 1t at a future meeting OF the com
mission. that the commission may &C
with more adequate information on thu
subject.
1t Is worthy of note In this connec
ton that an observance Of the thre
hundreth anniversary of the discover
OF Lake Champlain will mean also tn
celebration Of the one hundreth an
niversary OF the Introduction OF stear
navigation on Lake Champlain. thi
lake for more than century havin