The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1911-05-26
UEKltG GET7ISGSLl2G RATHEEZEZD q
IRON J2fE' SSLb1JfIT or I2OLyyD Tap

association Incorporated by the legislature Of
Pennsylvania and this patriotic organization had
expended than 100000, had acquired 900
acres of land and erected more than three hun
dred monuments when in 1895 the congress of
the United States provided for the establishment
of Gettysburg National park and placed it under
the direction of the secretary Of war.
A magnificent park has now been constructed
which encloses the widest limits of the battle
field and the erection of memorials and markers
still goes In the soldiers cemetery alone
more than four hundred memorial shafts and
tablets and more than one thousand markers
have been set up at a cost aggregating several
million dollars. When the present scheme of
roadways is completed there will be between 100
and $50 miles of fine macadamized highway ex-
tending to every part of the battlefield, while five
iron observation towers various parts of the
field enable sightseers to enjoy the birds-eye
views which helpful in enabling one to
understand the movements of the opposing forces
that made up the far-fung battle line.
The cemetery, in dedcating which Abraham
Lincoln delivered the immortal address familiar
to every American, originally contained the bodies
OF 1855 soldiers removed from all parts of the
field, where they had been hastily buried The
number of graves has been greatly increased since
that date and there is yet ample space for the
veterans who may desire to rest at the scene
OF the supreme struggle between the Union and
the Confederacy. One of the features of the
national cemetery is the ivy-clad rostrum-a
memorial shrine for the dead who sleep around
1t and which is used for the exercises held each
Memorial day.
The battle of Gettysburg is of such comnara
lively recent date that vivid reminders of II are
to be found on all sides. The little dwellings
occupied as headquarters by Generals Meade and
Lee respectively are yet standing in an excellent
state OF preservation; the earthworks on Gene.
terry hill are yet intact Culp's hill still holds its
buiiet-scarred trees and the bullet.marked boul.
ders are to be seen on every hand at the DEVILS
Den Plans have also been made for the aeon
rate restoration of those portions of the field
such as the famous peach orchard which fsured
conspieuously in the battle, but were obIiterated
or lost much of their old-time semblance in tbn
days following the war and before the launchin.
OF the project for perpetuating the battlefield as
one OF the most interesting object lessons OF
American history.
A boon enjoyed by present-day visitors IN cat
Wseurg that Will be sadly missed by those sight
seers who come generation hence is the nres-
ence on the battlefield as guides of veterans WIZ
participated in the thick of the fighting To hear
these men recount their personal experiences ana
point out by the aid of undimmed memory evory
tocahty that inquired in the crucial battle of the
war rs to gain an impression more vivid and
thrilling than can be hoped for nv those ~
must depend for their knowledge of this mflitaTv
drama upon what they may have read IN -.
histories ~ III lne