Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-05-13

iinfton or Of Piattsburgh harbors.
Doubtless our Canadian friends would
also like TO contribute to this memorial
which II located at the government res
ervAtion on Isle La Motto would be easily
accessible TO them. 1t 10 A. easy cf ac-
cess from Montreal a from Burlington
and from two to four thousand people
from al, sections Of the country visit
the shrine Of ~. Anne every week dur
Ing the summer season and tho Cham
plain steamers could run past Isle Ia
Motto regularly and get some Of this
passenger traffic which will no doubt
greatly increase.
Compton sense considerations will Oct
ermine no doubt the location Of the
Champiain memorial BY the Joint com
missions and they will therefore no
doubt ignore the selfish demands Of eth
err Burlington or PIattsburgh and locate
Il on an island in the lake both visible
and always accessible for the greatest
possible number OF people.
Arthur II. HILL.
Isle La Motto. May :. 90.
We have devoted a considerable
number Of columns. first and last, to
communications from Mr.. Hill and 9TH
ers in support Of the claim Of Isle La
Motto to the possession OF any perma-
nent memorial to Champlain that may
be erected by the joint commissions OF
Vermont and New York. We have en-
deavored to be entirely fair with the
claims Of Isle La Motto.
When Mr.. Hi says that the commits
sioners will no doubt ignore the sell
flsh demands of either Burlington or
Piattsburgh," he invites attention to
"A glass house of large proportions. 1t
will be reassuring for the commits
sioners. no doubt. to discover there is
one spot for the Champlain memorial.
whose advocates are purely unselfish.
Whatever sordid considerations may
impel others who happen to favor
location miles from their own homes.
on the ground that It can constantly
be seen by a multitude. here is an
island whose claimants Of the monu-
mcnt are inspired by no thought OF
personal gain. no visions Of advancing
farm values. no dream OF all the local
advantages which would grow out Of
presence Of tho crowds pictured by en-
thusiastic advocates as hocking to the
Champaign mecca.
1t is true that Mr.. Hill would have
the people Of Vermont outside Of Grand
Isle county, who wish to visit the me-
mortal in the future. journey by rail
to either burlington or Alburgh. pro-
coed thence to the station in the south
ern part of Alburgh. where people stop,
who wish to leave the train for Isle
la Motto. and travel thence by team
seven miles or so, crossing the bridge
into Isle La Motto: or IL they prefer
red to journey by team they could
traverse the Sand Bar bridge and jour
ney across the county into Isle La
Motto; or. II the Champlain Transpo--
tation company could be induced to
| extend its regular route to the north,
they could come to Burlington. take
| the boat. see Plattsburgh as they
passed north and so on. or they could
take the steamer at st. Adams bay and
way. That would be something to re-
uuire OF the people Of Vermont as \
whole to be sure; but 1t would not be
selfish demand" Of course"
| It is true that during the winter
months, with navigation closed, a Cham
plain memorial on Isle La Motto would
probably not be seen. much less visited,
by a hundred residents of Vermont out
SIDE OF the county and the museum could
be closed like a summer hotel; but to
ask to have tho monument located where
it would be deserted and invisible to
most Verrnonters practically during this
considerable period would not be . "sel.
fish demand" Of course.
= great tower on an island in the
broad lake. In the path Of the
big passenger steamers. would be
more accessible thaa Isle La Motto
from the mainland Of Vermont
during navigation and It could be seer
many miles In al directions from both
chores throughout tho year. II each
State were to erect its own Champlair
monument on the mainland, the memo
rinl could be visited and seen every day
In the year.
Now why are two States asked &c
make a year round pilgrimage Of this
character, to Isle La Motto every time
they want TO visit or even see a Cham
tlGin memorial?
~ Is claimed that Champlain campet
Oh Isle Ia Motto. though Champlair
does not say that he camped OH an,
Island in the lake To bolster UP this
claim it Is asserted that Champlain sup
posed the lake was a river until ht
reached Isle La Motto. in spite Of thu
broad expapse OF water In the lake fol
miles north Of that island.
Let us take up the steps Of the explor
er In detail as narrated in his own &C
count. his Voyages" In describing nil
trip up the river, the Richelieu, Cham
plain speaks of continuing ION our Wa,
AS far as an island three leagues
long. covered with the most beautiful