The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-10-05
ARE 0RNAMENT|NC
MONUMENT GROUNDS.
improvements at Menonimee Shaft Being
Made By County and Vandalia Rail
way Co.-John McFarlin in Charge
of County Expenditures.

Arrangements are now nearly com
pleted for the improving of the
grounds about the Pottawattomie
Monument at Twin Lakes this Fall
1t is practically certain that the
Vandalia railway will put a should
er to the wheel and do substantial
part of the improving. Large bodies
such as railway corporations, move
slowly as there Is necess ri.y a GER
tain amount of red tapc 10 be pulled
In negotiating VITA them and Nhat
Is cne reason that the work has not
been hustled. Another reason Is
that the funds appropriated by the
state did not become available until
too late In the Spring to do much
ith it, Grass was sown late but it
Is not good stand.
In 1907 the State legislature, at
the instigation of Hon. Daniel Me-
Donald. appropriated $500 for
the erection of this J lonument. C..
Il. Mattingly of Plymouth, COL
Hoyne of Notre Dame and Col
Fleet of Culver, were appointed by
the Governor as Trustees. Two
acres where the monument stands
were donated to the Trustees for
that purpose, by John MeFarlin. of
this city. The monument was un-
yelled Sept. 4, 1909.
The total cost of the monument
was 1920. This left the sum of
$3.50. which was turned back TO the
State. Later this sum was reap
propriated for identifying the park.
about the monument. The amount
went this time into the hands of the
County Commissioners. who were
now its trustees.
The Conntv Commiss ol,ers asked
John McFarlin to LOOK a'ter the
beautifying work for them. Mr..
McFarlin has met the Vandalia
Railway officials with the result not
ed above.
The Railway station is not over
twenty rods distant from the Monu
ment. which is not more than half
mile from the Lake, and tvs spot
will probably become one OF the
popular picnic centers of this par;
of the country.
1t is tue present plan to make a
gradual grade of the railroad s
right-of-way, which is now a little
; abrupt, and TO drain this with tile.
The railway will make a privet or
ornamental hedge, between their
right-of-way and tue monuil ell
grounds proper. In this will be
openings for gates. TIE railway
has several men whose sole business
it is to go about and keep in order
their grounds and this property will
be put In the hands of these men
who will NOV the lawn, trim the
hedges, and keep the grounds in a
general park-like condition.
Mr.. McFarlin has let the contract
for cement posts, to VIM. Bradley,
of Twin Lakes. These posts will be
used with a chain to make a fence
between the grounds and the high
~-ar to the west. 1t was Mr.. Me-
Farlin's first plan to use pipe,
similar to gas piping, for this fence,
hut the railway advised against it
as this would in time get bent and
could not be Strengthened.
ahe cid hedge is now icing pulled
and cleaned out. Mr.. MeFarlin
expects to put forest trees. instead
of ornamental shrubbery. on the
monument grounds. as this would be
more in keeping With the natural
witness of Indian days and life.
As a matter of sentiment, he
plans to permit families to plant
tere tree, which shall be known by
the family name and can be enjoy
ed by the children and grand chill
dren Of after generations. As
there will be about fifty trees used,
many of our Marshall county fami-
lies viii have chance to be repre-
sented. and it is to be hoped that
our old settlers viii especially take
advantage of the lance to COM
memorate themselves in this way
At the request of Sam >Gretsinger
it Is to be granted to old bachelors