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YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

3 9002 06092 7580

r OF REPORTS

OF

TALLEY FORCE PARK COMMISSION

FOR THE YEARS 1894, 1896, 1900.

BY PRESENT COMMISSION
DECEMBER, 1906.

HARRISBURG, PA.:
HARRISBURG PUBLISHING CO., STATE PRINTER.
1907.

My

D

I give theft Beoki
for the faundiag if a. College, ist, Mr Cetou-y'

REPRINT OF REPORTS

TALLEY FORGE PARK

FOR THE YEARS 1894, 1896, 1900.

BY PRESENT COMMISSION
DECEMBER, 1906.

COMMISSIONERS:
John W. Woodside, President,
Room 352 BuUitt Building, Phila., Pa.
W. H. Sayen, Vice President and Treas.,
1414 South Penn Square, Phila., Pa.
Samuel S. Hartranft, Norristown, Pa.
J. P. Hale Jenkins, Norristown, Pa.
M. G. Brumbaugh, Phila., Pa.
John P. Nicholson, Phila.. Pa.
W. A. Patton, Radnor, Pa.
John W. Jordan, Phila., Pa.
Richmond L. Jones, Reading, Pa.
A. H. Bowen, Secretary,
112 South 2nd Street, Phila., Pa.

HARRISBURG, PA.:
HARRISBURG PUBLISHING CO., STATE PRINTER.
1906.

REPORT

TALLEY FORGE COMMISSION,

1894.

FRANCIS M. BROOKE, President,
Chamber of Commerce, Philadelphia,
FREDERICK D. STONE, Secretary,
1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia.

REPORT

VALLEY FORGE COMMISSION, 1894.

Philadelphia, December 6, 1894.
Hon. Eobert E. Pattison, Governor of Pennsylvania:
Dear Sir. — The Commissioners of Valley Forge, appointed June
8, 1893, under the Act of May .30th of that year, which provides "for
rhe acquisition by the State of certain ground at Valley Forge for a
public park and making an appropriation therefor," beg leave to
report That having been severally duly qualified, according to law, they
met for organization in the city of Philadelphia, June 17, 1893, and
organized by the election of Francis M. Brooke as President and
Frederick D. Stone as Secretary. Subsequently they appointed
William C. Hannis, Esq., General Counsel; Messrs. Henry Preedlcy
and Edward F. Kane, Associate Counsel for Montgomery County,
William 'M. Hayes, Esq., Associate Counsel for Chester county, and
L. M. Houpt, Engineer, and on the first Monday of June, 1894, they
re-organized as required by the re-election of the President and Sec
retary above named.
In order that the Commission could have full knowledge of the lo
cation and surroundings of the entrenchments and redoubtsi they
had their engineer make a careful topographical survey of all the
ground between the Schuylkill river, the Valley Creek and a line
extending from the former to the latter along the Washington Lane,
showing ten feet contours, with property lines, owners, names, &c.
With the aid of this map, after repeated visits to Valley Forge, the
Commission decided upon the boundaries of the Park, a description
of the courses and distances of which will be found in Appendix
A. of this report. The boundaries of the Park as flnally flxed, to
gether with the property lines of the several owners of land taken
by the Commission, will be found Upon the annexed map which iei
made a part of this report. fS)

6
The lines were located so as to comply with the requirements of
the Act, and also to atford access to the fortiflcations and the coun
try they cover.
Having served formal notice upon- the several owners of the lands
laken, the Commission "endeavored to negotiate and agree with the
owners as to the price thereof," as provided by the Act, but failed
to do. so because the prices asked were in excess of the values that
were flxed by those who, in the opinion of the Commissioners, were
competent to estimate their values. Except in the case of the tract
owned by Edwin Moore, which was jiurchased at eighty dollars per
acre, and the purchase having been approved by the court, title was
taken for the State.
The Commission then proceeded to ascertain the values of the
other lands, by jurois duly appointed for the purpose, in accordance
with the further provision of the Act. They flxed them at the prices
given in the table marked "A.ppendix B.'' which, to make the state
ment of all the lands taken by the Commission complete, includes
the tract purchased of Edwin Moore.
The total number of acres taken amounts to 217. .582 acres. The
aggregate cost, f29,57S and the average per acre, $135.94.
^Vhile the awards are in excess of the values flxed by the wit
nesses for the State, they average much less than half those asked
by the land owners and testifled to by their witnesses before the
jurors. All the land owners hav e accepted their awards except Eobinson
et al. in Chester county and Bridget and Bernard ^NicMenamin and
E. B. English in Montgomery county, who have each appealed there
from. Of the appropriation of |25,000 for the purchase of said lands and
the necessary expenses incident thereto, there has been received
from the State Treasurer on warrants of the Auditor General |4,650,
of which there has been paid out |2,492.16, leaving a cash balance
on hand of |2,157.S4, which, together with the ¦1;20,S.30 yet undrawn,
amounts to .|22,ri07.S4. From this must be deducted about .l;2.3t10 to
pay unsettled claims against the Commission, which will leave a
balance of |20,2(I7.84, which will be used, so far as it will go, in full
payment of the awards made by the juries and conflrmed by the
courts in order of their acceptance by the land owners. This
will leave a deflciency of |!t,370.16, to meet which and to pay inci
dental expenses and iiilerest on the awards until paid an appropria
tion of .|!10,000 is needed.
As Ihe act provides that the lands taken are "to be laid out, pre-
sei'ved and maintained forever as a imblic place or park by the name
of \^alley Forge, so that the same and the fortiflcations thereon
may be maintained as nearly as possible in their original condition

as a military camp," and further that the Commissioners "shall
adopt plans for the improvement, preservation and maintenance
thereof," the Commission recommend the taking of the land yet un
taken, as shown on the map, lying between the Valley Creek, the
"Washington Lane and the Reading Railroad, except the property
known as A\'ashinglon's Headquarters and now owned by the "Cen
tennial and Memorial Assoeiation of Valk^y Forge," as excepted in
the Act creating the Commission, which untaken ground comprises
about two hundred and fifty acres. And also sufficient to make a
broad avenue or drive way along the whole outer line, which ex
tended from near the A'alley Creek, a few hundred yards south of
the AA'ashington redoubt, in a southeasterly direction to the Schuyl
kill river near Port Kennedy; along which line nine of the fourteen
brigades that were at Valley F'orge were encamped, including troops
from I'ennsylvania, ^^irginia, Massachusetts, New York, New Hamp
shire and Vermont. The making of an avenue so located would
elfectually mark the outer line and also afford an opportunity for
the Colonial States to permanently mark the camps of their several
troops. The estimated cost of these lands is flfty thousand dollars.
The Act requires that the fortiflcations and their surroundings
should be maintained as nearly as possible in their original condi
tion as a military camp, and the. Commission would at present rec
ommend the making of such roads and paths as would make the en
trenchments and redoubts accessible, maintaining both them and
the roads now within the boundaries in proper condition. The es
timated cost of which is ten thousand dollars.
In conclusion the Commission flrmly believe that with the bound
aries enlarged as above suggested, there will be neither difficulty
or delay in securing the interest and effective attention of the States
and of the Nation through their several constituted authorities,
to this historic spot. That the Colonial States will permanently
mark with appropriate memorials the camps of their several bri
gades, and the Nation will erect on the summit of Mount Joy which
is within the inner or second line of entrenchments, a. high, rugged.
battlemented tower, surmounted with a colossal bronze flgurt' of a
private soldier of the Revolutionary Army. Such a tower will afford
an opportunity to see the whole eamp ground and its surroundings
and at the same time, be a land mark, visible in every direction for
many miles. "S^ery respectfully yours,
FRANCIS M. BROOKE. President.
FREDERICK D. STONE, Secretary.

APPENDIX A.

b

The Park is situated priucipally in Upper Merion Township, Mont
gomery county, and partly in Tredyffrin townshi]), (Jhester county.
The lines are as follows:
Beginning at a point at the North-east corner of land of the Cen
tennial and Memorial Association of A'alley Forge (known as AA'ash-
iug ton's Headquarters) and a corner of lands of the estate of Nathan
Jones, deceased, and at a distance of 204. IS feet from the centre line
¦of the Philada. & Reading Uailroad, and at right angles thereto,
thence along the line of the said association N. Hi deg. -"0 min. S-') sec.
\V. — 1S.2 feet to a point, corner of land belonging to Lottii' H. Rex,
thence by land of said Rex, N. 13 deg. 29 min. 25 si'c. E — 12.5 feet to
another corner of the same, thence N. 44 deg. 00 min. 30 sec. W. — -50
feet to a point in the middle of a road leading to A'alley Forge Sta
tion, and a corner of property now belonging to the Philada. & Read
ing Railroad Company, thence along the line of the said company's
land north, 1 deg. 51 min. 15 sec. west, 65 feet more or less to a point
on the southerly line of the right of way of the said Railroad Com
pany, being 33 feet distant at sub-grade from the centre line thereof,
thence along the southerly side of the said right of way of the said
railroad, parallel with the centre line of said railroad and 33 feet
distant at sub-grade therefrom, for a distance of 2449.66 feet to a
point at its intersection with the westerly line of land belonging
to Susanna M. Johnson and at the distance of 47.13 feet at sub-grade
from the centre line of said railroad, measured along the said west
ern iine, thence along the line of laud belonging to the said Johnson
S. 19 deg. 14 min. 20 sec. W.— 399.47 feet to a point, thence still by
the same, S. 29 deg. 12 min. 00 sec. E.— 196.52 feet to a jioint, thence
still by the same. S. 19 deg. 14 min. 20 sec. W. — 300 feet to a point
in the middle of the Port Kennedy Road, thence along the middle
of tiie said road S. S2 deg. 09 min. 00 sec. E.~1070.84 feet to a point
at its intersection with the centre line of Washington Lane and in
the line of land of AVm. 'M. Stephens, thence along the centre line
(,f said lane and by the said Stephens laud S. 9 deg. 55 min. 00 sec.
W.--760 feet to a point, a corner of land of Charles .]. Johnson,
thence along tlie line of said Johnson's land and land of Bridget Mc-
Mciianiin S. 56 deg. 59 min. 50 sec. W.— 1794.0:t feet to a point in (he
(cnlre of Ihe Gulf Road, a corner of land of Bridget M<':\Ienainin
and 1). K. Kennedy thence along (lie Camp Road by land of the said
Kennedy, the following courses and distances, to wit: S. 8 deg. 23
min. 43 sec. W.— 335.2 feet, S. 30 deg. 18 min. 00 sec. E.— 755.98 feet

and S. 18 deg. 39 min. 25 sec. E. — 439.8 feet to a stone, a corner of
said Kennedy and of John Sweeney, thence along the land of said
Sweeney the following courses and distances to wit: S. 18 deg. 39
min. 25 sec. E.— 110.5 feet, S. 27 deg. 54 min. 15 sec. E.— 215.2 feet,
S. 11 deg. 48 min. 50 sec. E.— 338.8 feet, S. 4 deg. 26 min. 25 sec. E.—
350.45 feet and S. 1 deg. 50 min. 00 sec. E. — 144.0 feet to a point in
ihe centre of the said Washington Lane a corner of said Sweeney's
land and in line of land belonging to Cyrus N. Davis, thence by the
same and by land of Robert T. Robinson and along the said Wash
ington Lane crossing the line dividing the County of Montgomery
from the County of Chester, S. 47 deg. 03 min. 30 sec. W.— 358.32
feet lo a point, a corner of land of said Robinson, thence by the said
Robinson's land and still along the said Lane, S. 31 deg. 59 min. 05
sec. W. — 99.6 feet to a point, a corner of said Robinson's land,
thence by the same and by land of Mary W. Jones, S. 71 deg. 27 min.
19 sec. ^\'.— 2299.35 feet to a point in the Valley Creek, North of the
road bridge across the same and in the line of lands of said Jones
and Jane T. McNeely and others, thence down the said Creek and
by land of said Jane T. McNeely and others, N. 10 deg. 25 min. 45
sec. E. — 125.74 feet to a point in the line of land estate of J. B. Car
ter, and on the line dividing the county of Chester from the county
of Montgomery, thence along the same, and by lands of said Car
ter's estate, N. 71 deg. 27 min. 10 sec. E. — 32.0 feet to a point in the
middle of the Valley Creek road, a corner of land of said Carter's
estate, thence by the same and following the same road, the fol
lowing courses and distances, to wit: N. 4 deg. 53 min. 40 sec. W. —
344.3 feet, N. 8 deg. 35 min. 25 sec. E.— 1306.7 feet, N. 17 deg. 05 min.
30 sec. E. 363.17 feet, N. 32 deg. 53 min. 05 sec. E.— 256.21 feet and
N. 12 deg. 35 min. 20 sec. E. — 254.96 feet to a corner of the same,
thence leaving the road and still by the same lands S. 81 deg. 13
min. 30 sec. E. — 254.73 feet to a corner, thence still by the same N,
8 deg. 46 min. 30 sec. E. — 1827.3 feet to a point in the middle of the
aforesaid Gulf Road and a corner of land of Sarah A. Shaw, thence
by the same, N. 39 deg. 39 min. 10 sec. E.— 1510.3 feet to a white
oak standing in the centre of the aforesaid Port Kennedy Road,
and a corner of lands of said Shaw and aforesaid estate of Nathan
Jones, deceased, thence by the land of said Jones' estate, N. 11 deg.
56 min. 20 sec. W. — 294.15 feet to a point, a corner of the said es
tate, thence by the same, S. 78 deg. 03 min. 40 sec. W^— 1896.5 feet te
the place of beginning. Containing 217.582 acres.

10

APPENDIX B.

Report of the 'Monfgomery County Jury on Lands taken hy the
State at VaUey Forge^ made Ootoher 12^ 189Jf..

No. Name. Area.
1, Est. Nathen Jones,  14,688 A.
I.Harriet J. Mewes,  (Lane)
¦ 3, Martha J. Bean  42^'j-l(XI0 A
3, Phila. & Reading.  913-11X10 A.
4, Susanna M. Johnson,  1.2S28 A.
5, Sarah A. Shaw  SO.CGT", A.
5, P. & W. Bauchmiller,  (Tenants)
6, Pawling & Johnson,  25,4506 A.
7, Pawling & Johnson,  2 A. 112 P.
8, Pawling & Johnson  4 A. 34 P.
9, Bridget McMonamin  -.  3 A. 22 P.
10, Bernard McMenamln,  7.3591 A.
11, James Robinson,  5 A. 64 P.
12, J. B. Carter,  86.6007 A.
13, Samuel F. Jarrett,  '.  2 A. 119 P.
14, E. B. English  2 A. 36 P.
15, Matthias Walker,  9 a. 118 F.
16, Mahlon Ambler,  4 A . 142 P.
17, John M. Weyherill,  2 A. 77 P.
18, Est. J. Vogdes,, dec'd.,  3,1973 A.
Purchased by agreement;
Edwin Moore  l,352n A
Total, Montgomery County,  211 . 669 A

Awards.

Per Acre.

$2128. OO

$170 30

371.00

•Hi.c.o

mo 00

No. Award

524 00

408.48

4190. 0

156.19

600. CO

3330.00

130.84

3.57.00

132.22

3S0.0O

92.60

14SS.00

473.31

S77.fO

116.45

6S7.0O

127.22

9186.01

109.51

290. CO

105.86

295.00

132.58

1230.00

132.48

475 01

57.19

263.00

106.00

)Sf:.CO

150.13

$135.01

Report of the Chester County Jury, made March 27, 189 Jf.

NO. Name. Area.
1, James Robinson, et al  3 1170 -v
2, Mary C. Jones,  ¦* 7960 \
Total, Chester County  5.9130 A
'¦'°'°-'  217.582 A.

Awards. Per Acre.
$400.00 $128.32
600.00 279.60

$1000.00

$29578.00

$169.12

$135.94

11

VALLEY FORGE COMMISSION.
CREATED BY ACT, MAY 30, 1893,
To acquire, maintain, and preserve forever
The Revolutionary CAMP GROUND at Valley Porge,
for the free enjoyment of the people of the State.

COMMISSIONERS.
FRANCIS M. BROOKE, President,
18 and 19 Chamber of Commerce, Philadelphia.
JOEL J. BAILEY. Philadelphia.
JOHN CADWALADER, Philadelphia.
CHARLES C. HARRISON. Philadelphia.
SAMUEL HARTRANFT, Fort Washington.
DANIEL W. HOWARD, West Chester.
HENRT A. MUHLENBERG, Reading.
I. HESTON TOOD, Port Kennedy.
WILLIAM WATNE, Paoli.
FREDERICK D. STONE, Secretary.
130O Locust Street, Philadelphia.

JI
I'fi fi~ I
Ifi fi I

H^.ii!iH'.i*il:*:.i*::

(12)

REPORT

flLLEI FORGE COMMISSION,

1896.

FRANCIS M. BROOKE, President,
403-405 Bourse Building, Philadelphia.
HOLSTEIN DE HAVEN, Secretary,
617 Walnut Street, Philadelphia.

(U)

REPORT

VALLEY FORGE COMMISSION, 1896.

Philadelphia, December 17, 1896.
Hon. Daniel H. Hastings, Grovernor, Harrisburg, Pa.:
Dear Sir: The Valley Forge Commission respectfully begs leave
to make this their second Biennial Report :
The act of May 30, 1893, appropriated |25,000, or so much thereof
as might be necessary, for the "acquisition by the State of certain
grounds at Valley Forge for a public park" and the necessary ex
penses incident thereto; and that the supplement of July 3d, 1895,
to the above act appropriated |10,000 to pay the purchase money
for the lands already taken by the State, and also authorized the
Commissioners to accept for the State "gifts of money or land and
to permit the United States of America or any of the States thereof
to erect monuments 'or other memorials on the grounds acquired for
said Park."
Under the above act and supplement thereto, the Commission,
as shown by their report of December 6, 1894, have prosecuted their
work to the extent to which they had available funds. During 1895
and 1896 they attended to the trials of the appeals taken, and have
paid all the awards, except in the cases of E. B. English and of
the estate of Jacob Vodges, deceased. E. B. English took an appeal
which has not yet been tried. He claims a greater amount of land
than that stated in the proceedings to condemn, and also a greater
price than that awarded him by the arbitrators, to wit, the sum of
1295. The heirs of the estate of Jacob Vodges, deceased, were awarded
|480, and all of them with a single exception — an one-eighth interest
— agreed to donate to the State their respective shares, the Com
mission undertaking to pay the fees of their counsel for his services
rendered in this behalf.
A deed was drawn accordingly, reciting the gift which has been
executed by the Pennsylvania heirs and is now in transit to the
others — who reside in Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri and California —
for the same purpose. (15)

16
The increase of the verdicts over the awards and the expenses of
said trials have nearly exhausted the appropriation.
Annexed are consolidated accounts of the receipts and disburse
ments of the Commission to date, full detailed accounts for which
have been rendered from time to time to the Auditor General with
the proper vouchers duly audited and certified, showing a balance
as stated now on hand of |136.72, which balance is deposted in the
Bank of North America where all the funds of the Commission have
been kept. No items of personal expenses of any Commissioner
incident to the work have been paid from the State funds, though in
some instances these items have not been inconsiderable.
The watchman has been attentive to his duties, and his services
have been effective; he has been paid in full to February 17. 1896, as
the appropriation of 1893 has been exhausted, and that of ISUr, is not
available for this purpose. Until a further api)io]iriation is made
he must wait for his wages, which are but |3.00 jier week, and which
he has agreed to do. Unless such an arrangement was made, the
grounds would necessarily be left unwatched and unprotected.
In order that the corners and lines of the lands owned by the
State should be well marked and defined, the Comraission had pro
vided before the date of their flrst report the necessary number of
corner and line stones to be at conveniently visible distances along
the line, and for this purpose 35 corner and 40 line stones were
necessary. It was afterwards decided to postpone the setting of
the stones until after all the lands were acquired. The stones are
now stored on the lands adjacent to those of the State.
At the last session of the Legislature no appropriation of moneys
was made to this Commission, except such as were required to meet
obligations at that time incurred, and for this reason no substantial
progress has been made during the last two years. This ci^ssation
of the work undertaken by the State and approved by the people of
the whole country as an indication that Pennsylvania recognizes the
obligation imposed upon her by the possession of such historic
grounds as those of Valley Forge and Gettysburg, is much to be re
gretted. The organization throughout the United States every
where of Colonial and Revolutionary Societies is an (nidence that
the ])eople are taking a (ioep interest in the scenes of those eventful
peroids. Philadelphia is expending the moneys required to restore
Independence Hall; Connecticut has appointed a comraission and
acquired the lands where General Putnam and his command were
encamped during the winter of 177S79 for the Putnam Memorial
Oamp; and Rhode Island has already made an appropriation for the
erection of a monument to maik the grave of Lieutenant John
Waterman, an ofBcer of that State, Avho is buried at Valley Forge
within the lines of the encampment. Unfortunately their com-

17
mission has not yet been able to secure the land where this grave is
situated, and in the attempt of the State of Rhode Island to nego
tiate with the owner, it has eucountered difficulty and inconvenience,
the outcome of which it is believed will be alike to the credit of
Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Valley Forge. The example of
Rhode Island will no doubt be followed by other states anxious to
commemorate the services of their soldiers on a fleld so famous as
Valley Forge. It is of the greatest importance that the whole of
the ground included within the encampment should be acquired by
the State so that sorae general plan may be devised, just alike to
all, the truth of history be maintained, and the marking of the lo
calities be not left to the chance of- disconnected efforts.
The effect of renewed general interest in this historic camp, fol
lowed by elforts upon the part of states aud perhaps individuals to
secure possession of portions of the grounds, must be to enhance
the value of them, and this furnishes anotlier reason why Penuisyl-
vaiiia would be \\is<' to act now aud not await the uncertainties of
the future.
A'alley Forge is one of the A-ery few camps where sorne of the en
trenchments thrown up by the soldiers of the Revolution have been
preserved substantially as they were originally. Each year, how
ever, brings a largely increased number of interested visitors, and it
has become the custom not only of patriotic but social aud other
organizations to malce pilgrimages to Valley Forge. The Commis
sion is unable to make roads for want of raeans, and therefore these
people wear paths and walks over the entrenchments theraselves.
^^'ith the best of motives they work an irreparable injury.
It is hoped that in memory of the deeds of ^^'ayne and Mifflin and
Muhlenberg, and the raany brave men who followed them, and for
the credit of our State, which is charged with a duty because of her
great achievements in the past, requires that this Coramission be
supplied with the necessary funds. We tlierefore repeat the recom
raendation contained in our last report, as follows:
"The taking of the land yet untaken, as shown on the map, lying
between the "X'alley Creek, the Washington Lane and the Reading
railroad, except the property known as Washington's Headquar
ters and n()\\' owned by the "Centennial Association of ^'alley
Fiu'ge," as excepted in (lie act creating the Commission, which un
taken ground comprises about two hundred and fifty acres. And
also sufiicient to make a broad avenue or driveway along the Avhole
outer line, A\'hich extended from near the ^^all(\v Creek, a few hun
dred yards south of the Washington redoubt, in a southeasterly
direction to the Schuylkill river near Port Kennedy; along which
line nine of the fourteen brigades that were at Valley Forge were

IS
encamped, including troops from Pennsylvania, Virginia, Massa
chusetts, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Vermont.
The making of an avenue so located would elfectually mark the outer
line and also afford an opportunity for the Colonial States to per
manently mark the camps of their several troops. The estimated
cost of these lands is fifty thousand dollars."
(They would also recommend the acquiring of such Redoubts,
Picket Posts, Burial Places, &c., within the lines of historic interest
as may be desirable to preserve.)
"The act requires that the fortification and their surroundings
should be maintained as nearly as possible in their original condi
tion as a military camp, and the Commission Avould at present
recommend the making of such roads and paths as would make the
entrenchraents and redoubts accessible, raaintaining both them and
the roads now within the boundaries in proper condition. The esti
mated cost of which is ten thousand dollars, and the Commission
firmly believe that, with the boundaries enlarged as above sug
gested, thei-e will be neither difiiculty or delay in securing the in
terest and effective attention of the States and of the Nation
through their several constituted authorities, to this historic spot.
That the Colonial States will permanently mark with appropriate
memorials the camps of their several brigades, and the Nation will
erect on the summit of Mount Joy, which is within the inner or
second line of entrenchments, a high, gugged, battlemented tower,
surraounted with a colossal bronze figure of a private soldier of
the Revolutionary Army. Such a tower Avill afford an opportunity
to see the whole camp ground and its surroundings, aud at the same
tirae be a land mark, visible in every direction for raany railes."
For further information, a map of all that portion of the ('amp
comprised between the SchuylkiU river, the ^'alley Creek and the
W'ashington Lane is annexed, which shows the redoubts, entrench
ments, topography, property lines, &c., and on which has been
raarked the boundaries of the land acquired by the State.
.Vlso a C(q)y of the Map of the "Encampment at Valley Forge.
1778," with explanatory note.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
FRANCIS M. BROOKE, President.
HOLSTEIN DeHAA'EN.
Secre tar v.

19

Statements of Receipts and Disbursements on Account of VaUey
Forge Appropriations.

.APPROPRIATION MAY 30, 1S93.

To engineering' account.
To real estate account.
To incidentals, 
To legal expense 
To professional services.

?756 20

20,197 38

308 63

1,329 38

2,408 60

$25,000 00

By appropriation,

$25,000 00

$25,000 00

APPROPRIATION JULY

To real estate account, 
To legal expense, 
To cash on hand in Bank of
North America 

',724 05
139 23

$10,000 00

By appropriation.

$10,000 00

$10,000 00

Itemized accounts dnly certified have been tiled in the Auditor General's office for the above
statements with the proper vouchers showing when, to whom, and for what account respect
ively paid.
Philadelphia, December 17, 1S96.

VALLEY FORGE COMMISSION.
CREATED BY ACT MAY 30, 1893.
To acquire, maintain and preser\e forever
The Revolutionary CAMP GROUND at Valley Forge,
for the free enjoyment of the people of the State.

COMMISSIONERS.
FRANCIS M. BROOKE, President,
403 Bourse Building, Philadelphia.
WILLI.VM J. LATTA, Philadelphia,
WILLI.^M WATNE, Paoli.
LEVI G. McCAULET, West Chester,
HENRY A. MUHLENBERG, Reading.
SAMUEL W. PENNYPACKER, Philadelphia.
TATNALL PAULDING, Philadelphia.
JOEL J. BAILEY, Philadelphia.
SAMUEL S. H.^RTRANFT, Norristown.
JHOLSTEIN DE HAVEN, Secretary.
,817 Walnut St., Philadelphia.

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(.ao)

REPORT

OF THE

VALLEY FORGE COMMISSION, 1900.

December 22, 1900.
To His Excellency, William A. Stone, Governor of Pennsylvania:
Sir: The Valley Forge Commission respectfully submit herewith
their fourth biennial report.
Since the date of their last report the Coramission has sustained
a loss not easily repaired, in the death of Francis M. Brooke, Presi
dent of the Coraraission from the time of its organization until
November, 1899. A man untiring in his efforts, and giving to the
work of the Commission a large part of his time and energy, though
in failing health, and even overtaxing his bodily strength in obe
dience to the dictates, of Patriotism.
The present members of the Commission appointed or reappointed
during the early months of your administration met October 14,
1899, and effected a temporary organization by the election of John
W. Woodside as President and Charles C. Adams as Secretary.
In June of 1900 these of&cers were made permanent, and Edward
A. Price was elected as Treasurer, and the following appointments
were made: Hampton L. Carson, Esq., as General Counsel, W. P.
Solly as Associate Counsel for Montgomer}' county, and John J.
Pinkerton, as Associate Counsel for Chester county.
In entering upon the active discharge of their duties your present
Commissioners found an empty treasury, and unpaid bills awaiting
payment to the amount of |3,500. Several meetings have been held
to verify the clairas of creditors. Frequent journeys to Valley
Forge and to other places have been made for the purpose of form
ing an intelligent judgment, as to the needs of the future, all of
which journeys have been undertaken at the personal expense for
traveling of the Comraissioners, and careful estimates have been
raade of the amount of a State appropriation needed to enable them
to prosecute their work. After paying debts already incurred, and
to provide means for the care and maintenance of the grounds for
the next ten years, we submit an estimate as follows:
(21)

22
First. For the payment of debts already incurred,  $1,700
Second. For the completion of purchases upon the con
demnation proceedings of land already taken by the
State and the necessary expenses attendant thereto, 2,500
Third. For the laying out of new roads and paths within
and along said Park, so as to raake the same accessible
to the public, and in the maintenance of such roads as
now exist,  7,500
Fourth. For the watching, care, preservation and main
tenance of the redoubts, embankments and land al
ready taken, and yet to be purchased or taken by the
State for the purpose of said Park,  1,000
Fifth. For incidental and necessary expenses of said
Commission in their performance of their official duties, 500
Sixth. For the purchase or condemnation of lands, in ad
dition to land already taken contiguous to the present
Park not to exceed 300 acres and to cost not over . . . 60,000

Total,  $73,200
There can be but little question of the propriety of the first flve
items. The State already owns the land, and the debts incurred in
their purchase and maintenance not only should be but must be paid.
The ground must be taken care of and improved to such an extent
at least as will enable the public to enjoy the opportunities of view
ing the forts and other entrenchments so well preserved from the
ravages of time, although nearly a century and a quarter have
passed. We entertain a reasonable confldence in the belief that the peo
ple of Pennsylvania will heartily approve of the expenditure by the
State of the sum of $60,000 for acquiring the lands mentioned so
necessary to complete the accomplishment of the patriotic plan em
bodied in the legislation authorizing the establishment of your
Commission, and it may not be unreasonable to entertain the ex
pectation that, within a few years, the Legislature, fully impressed
with the importance of acquiring all the lands enclosed within the
limits of the Valley Forge encampment, where thousands of our
patriotic sires suffered during the winter of 1777 and 1778, will au
thorize the acquisition by the State of these lands, which will es
tablish within our borders the most interesting as well as historical
park belonging to our Revolutionary epoch within the borders of
our Republic.
JOHN W. WOODSIDE, President.
C. C. ADAMS, Secretary.

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