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Show Plan to Mark Historic Sites at Yorktown After the lapse of nearly a century and a half It seems highly probable that something will be done to preserve pre-serve and mark the historic sites In Yorktown, Vn., the scene of Lord Cornwallls' surrender and of stirring Incidents In each succeeding war of the nation. Yorktown was partly destroyed de-stroyed by the British in 1S12, again by the Union troops In 1SG1, and during dur-ing the World war Yorktown was an Important naval base and mine depot. The Society for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities has preserved many Interesting relics and maps, and a movement Is now on foot, fostered by the Colonial Dames, to have congress con-gress appropriate a sufficient amount to restore the ancient fortifications, lay out roads, and erect monuments and markers at the historic sites. Yorktown, established In lfifll by decree de-cree of the king of England, was purchased pur-chased from Laurence Smith. The site covered SO acres, and was paid for with 10,000 pounds of tobacco, the currency of the colonists. It occupies a bluff above the York river, and prior to the Civil war was n -n'n of enn- and various redoubts erected for the defense of the town, against Washington Washing-ton and his troops. There are but two monuments at Yorktown. The most imposing one, standing within the town limits and overlooking the York river, was authorized au-thorized by a resolution of congress on October 29, 1871, but was not erected erect-ed until 18S1-82. It cost $95,000, and Is a memorial of victory. The Inscriptions Inscrip-tions tell of the surrender of Cornwallls, Corn-wallls, the treaties of peace that followed, fol-lowed, and other historical statements. state-ments. The monument Is 95 feet high. Marks Surrender Spot. A plain little marker stands on the probable site of the surrender. It wns built by a superintendent of the national cemetery which adjoins it, who was hopeful that the government would erect a larger one in time. Disputes Dis-putes arose as to the exact scene of the surrender, and no action has yet been taken. The marker, scarcely 20 feet In height, Is slowly disintegrating. disinte-grating. Original fortifications, built by the Americans and British, still are In a fair state of preservation. One of these Is Fort Hamilton, a British redoubt, re-doubt, so named because It was stormed and taken by Col. Alexander Hamilton In the latter days of the siege. It Is to preserve and properly mark 'these historic sites that the Colonial Dames are bending their energies en-ergies to have a sufficient appropriation appropria-tion made by congress. 1 Surrender Monument. slderahle population. On the iiuiln street of Yorktown wns the first custom cus-tom house estahllshed In America, the port of entry for New York, I'hlludel-phla, I'hlludel-phla, and other northern cities. Oldest House Still Occupied. The oldest house now Hlimdlng In Yorktown was erected In tli'.lb. Its brick walls are still In an excellent state of preservation, and the house Is occupied as li residence. The York-town York-town Inn, (mother landmark, was erected In 17--"i, and here were entertained enter-tained many distinguished visitors, Including In-cluding Washington, ( 'urnwal I Is, La-fayelle La-fayelle and Virginia notables of the Colonial period. The present courthouse stands on the site of the original house of Justice, Jus-tice, which was built In K;:i7, but like (i majority of the original structures, Was desl roved by I'nlon troops during dur-ing tho Civil war. Other historic places are the Nelson house, headquarters head-quarters for Cornwallls during the sleico of Yorktown; the Moore house, where the articles of surrender were drawn up; Cornwallls' cave, which ho used as M HlorehouHO for ammunition, |