Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-27
MOBILES MILITARY DRILL.
A Picture of the Parade and Camping
Grounds.


MOBILE, April 26.-The great inter-
State prize drill promises to be a great
success. The place selected for the drill
and camp grounds is the grounds Of the
Fair Association, darlington" about two
miles south Of the city and on the marge
of Mobile Bay. The street railroad reaches
il, and the track Of the Louisville and
Nashville railroad passes within a few
feet of one OF the entrances, and with
these facilities larger crowds than the
most sanguine Of the drill managers ex-
pect can be transported to and from the
drill without crowding, and, besides,
such as prefer can reach the grounds by
steamboats, down the bay, or from Point
Clear, the summer hotel across the bay.
ARLINGTON GROUNDS.
Arlington grounds ia an enclosure Of
about $50 s, laid off in spacious
walks and drives that are shaded by
magnolia and live oak trees festOoned
with our silYer-gray moss. and the mag
nOlla is Just about to burst into bloom.
The buildings of the fair grounds will be
utilized for restaurants, music halls, the
stables for artillery, cavalry and staff
horses. The drill grounds will be within
the circumference of the half-mile race
track Of the grounds, and natural t0po-
graphy and intelligent engineering work
have made this probably the best
grounds yet selected for the pur-
pose of competitive drill. The soil
Is sandy lOam with clay substratumi
that has been plowed, narrowed, rolled
and packed until it is firm, but elastic.
The slope is very slight, but the drainage
is so perfect that a recent rainfall one af-
ternoOn and night of 1.16 inches, which
frightened the committee on grounds into
an early drive down the bay next morn
ing. left the drill grounds dry, hard, and I
perfect in condition.
THE TENTISG GROUND.
The tents for the soldiers will be placed
upon ridge south and west OF the fair
grounds, which is well drained and
watered, aud opens to the gulf breeze
and an unObstructed view of the bay.
The various committees who have been
entrusted with the different details of
the management of the drill are vieing
with each other as TO whose work will be
most thoroughly performed. The commit
tee on transportation have written tue
general managers Of the railroads TO the
borders of frenzy, and the fare from your
city 10 Mobile and New Orleans and re-
turn, with stop-0yer privileges, has been
reduced TO merely nominal rates.
Inc DuIthu VI puullD bouiAoib ha9 ptA-
fected arrangements TO accommodate a
very large number outside Of the quota
which will fill the regular hotels and
bOarding-houses with contracts prevent
ing deviation from most moderate charges,
fixed by the committee.
THE PRIZES.
The drawing for places in the compet-
tion will begin May 4, and the cOmpeti-
tion will begin next morning. The prizes
amount 10 $12,0 900 i'm money, besides sew
eral badges and medals as individual
prizes. There will be 35 squadrons, con-
slsting of from 10 TO 40 men each, besides
rs companies which have won in pre-
viOus Interstate competitions, 81 which
have not won in such contests, 0
artillery detachments and 3 companies CT
zouaves. 1t is estimated that the whole
will aggregate 2,760 soldiers. One real
attraction will be the famous Mexican
band under the leadership OF Prot. Nc
COshand Binnse.