Show valley ley for forge e restored independence d day a y 1909 sees bloodstained blood stained historic valley forge restored and not only restored but greatly beautified improved and turned into a public park for the enjoyment of the people it la Is a fortunate thing that tho the time has passed when the pilgrim to valley forge in search of sights rights and relies relics of the historic camp perhaps the moat hallowed of our revolutionary reminders was obliged to tramp over fields of none too friendly trl endly farmers and be constantly annoyed by signs warning oft off trespassers apart from which the fatigue of such a trip was great as there were no roads leading over the camp ground and no signs marking the way to the historic spots only fields of waving grain or woodlands overgrown with underbrush consequently the hardest kind of walking over the steeps hills was required to view but a few of the sights through the untiring efforts of a number of patriotic men all this has been changed and the state of pennsylvania has been induced to assume and complete a task which was first offered and refused by the federal government although the undertaking was clearly within its province as the camp ground of valley forge forge 1 Is a relic which should belong riot not only to pennsylvania but to the entire nation as every patriotic american must wish for its preservation and would feel proud in being part owner rut but whether by pennsylvania or the national government it must be at least gratify gratifying ang to the nation to learn that the neglect of a century has been atoned for and under the able and direction of the valley forgo forge harkcom park com commission mission a work of almost incalculable historical value has been done on the bleak heights above the schuylkill to which was hing tons barefoot army crawled when the defeat of germantown left them no other refuge fort washington and fort huntington have been restored an iron tower feet to lu height for observation purposes la Is being aln finished dished 0 on n mount joy and from this tower not only a birdseye view of the entire camp ground and beautiful surrounding country can be had but also philadelphia 20 miles distant can be made out gut A beautiful commemorative chapel of the episcopal church has teen been built on the spot where washington in his direst hour of distress knelt in prayer the headquarters of the commander in the isaac potts house have been purchased completely restored and turned into a revolutionary museum roads have been built which make possible quick communication muni cation between all points of the park besides which lawns and flow flower ar oeda have been laid out and planted a and 1 ad even a guard house has baa been built to further heighten the park et ret |