The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-01-22

| Department of the Potomac The ceremonies
| lasted until $50 o'clock, when re-entering his
| carriage Gen. kountZ was escorted back to the
Riggs House, where banquet awaited him, at
which covers were laid for 100 comrades
| These were all more or less in uniform, and all
wore military badges of various kinds, making
altogether brilliant effect The proceedings
were opened by Commander Alexander an
nouncing, in one of his usual happy speeches.
that he had been ordered by the Commander
of the Department to take his position at
the head of the table, and as the cardinal
principle of his life was to obey ORDERS
be acted accordingly. Col. Alexander has
previously shown himself to be ar orator
of rare ability, and during the course OF
the evening he revealed brilliant capacities as
a chairman, and introduced each speaker with
a few very well chosen words especially appli-
cable to the comrade brought forward. Com
mander-in- Chief kountz was received with
enthusiastic applause, and made sensible
wcll-considered speech on the Order and its
objects. Col. \. NJ. Brooks the new Depart
ment Commander, made a brief and telling
speech, when Gen. Rosecrans was introduced
with such burst of applause as always greets
"Old Rosy" wherever he goes, and for 10 min
utes he talked in his best possible manner.
At the conclusion he was rewarded with three
cheers and a tiger, given with viii. The
grand old commander of the Twelfth Corps,
Gen. Slocum, was received with no less enthu-
sasm, and made a very interesting speech.
Gen. Hawley, of Connecticut was the next
speaker and interpolated in his remarks the
song Marching Through Georgia. i'll which
all present Joined in the heartiest manner.
Commander Alexander then introduced the
sole survivor of the great war Governors of the
loyal States, the colleague of Buckingham, of
Connecticut; Andrews, of Massachusetts, /;
Brough, of Ohio; Morton, of Indiana-Andrew
Curtin, of Pennsylvania. The applause which
followed this introduction was deafening.
MIR. Curtin made speech of some length,
but of intense interest, and moved those who
heard him at one moment to laughter and
another to tears. His relation of his expert
ence when he conducted body of militia
across the line to the battlefield of Antietam
was exceedingly funny, while his story of his
introduction to the Legislature of Pennsyl-
vania of the 400 soldiers orphans, each of whom
represented a dead soldier, was thrillingly
dramatic. Before he had brought the children
there the Legislature refused to pass the bill to
appropriate money for the Orphans Home, but
after it hardened old Senator came to him
with tears in his eyes and said: How much
money do you want? You can have milliou!"
The result was that l., 600 children of the dead
soldiers of Pennsylvania were educated at the
expense of the State.
Senator Henderson, of Nebraska; Capt A. c.
Boutelle, of Maine; Asst-Secy Coon, Gems. S.
o. buTuGttY uIGtu bduIl, I1dulDTlCh. NlC-
CutcheOn; Controller Lawrence, of the Treas
ury; Capt. George E. Lemon, C. G. Royce,
Gen. Dickinson, and others, made speeches
of unusual merit and interest, which aroused
the hearers to applause and maintained
the enjoyment of the occasion so well that
the comrades were very reluctant to adjourn,
even when it was announced that it was
nearly 3 o'clock in the morning Certainly
no gathering in the City of Washington this
hac Ind 10y whom II
pleasure to listen to as this one.
On Tuesday the Commander-in- Chief re-
manned in the city, and was escorted to various
places of interest, and in the evening left for
Richmond, where he will remain few days
and return home.
THE INAUGURATION.
Preparations for the inauguration of Presi-
dent-elect Cleveland are being pushed rapidly
forward. The fears which have been haunting
the Executive Committee that the new Pension
Building would not be finished in time for the
ball will in all probability prove groundless, as
it is now pretty certain that the work will have
progressed quite far enough by the 4th of March
for the purpose. Already collection of beau
tiful designs in satin and silk have been SUBJ
mitted for the ball program, and although no
decision has yet been arrived at as to the style
to he adOpted-a program, which when closed
appears like the new Pension Building in plina-
very likely be adopted.
The Committee on Public Comfort are busily
engaged in preparing for the accommodation of
the immense crowd expected. One caterer has
proposed to the committee TO feed 5000 people,
and others have stated their ability to do as
much. 1t is estimated, too, that the hotels can
feed three times as many people as they can
lodge.
Special rates have been made by the Committee
on Transportation with the various railroads.
The rate from Atlanta to this city and return
is $3.50 for citizens and SIT for the military,
and the reduction from other points is in SINH
lar proportion.
WHERE THE BALL WILL BE HELD.
The new Pension Office situated in Judici-
airy Square, which is just now approaching
completion, is one of the handsomest Govern
ment buildings in the city, and its architecture
is of pattern entirely new to this hemisphere
and one borrowed from the Italians. One of
the peculiarities of this structure is that there
are no halls, the rooms extending from the
outer walls to large covered court yard, aud
are entered from galleries, which entirely sur
round this open space, thus obviating the
trouble, which has always existed in all large
structures, of having dark and badly ventilated
rooms. The building, which is of brick, is rs
feet high, and is divided into three stories 1t
extends 400 feet from east to west and 200 from
north to south. The rooms are lofty and spa
cious-the dimensions of each being 81 26
feet. One of the most pleasing and at the same
time appropriate features of this structure is
the course of terra-cotta, three feet broad
which represents in relief scenes and incidents
of military life. The windows are decorated
with pilasters, cornices and pediments in the
two upper stories, and in the lower story a
horizontal cornice, supported by terra-cotta
consoles, forms their ornamentation. In the
open space which forms the center of the
building, and which is rooted with glass and
iron, Will be held the Inauguration Ball, and it
will probably be the handsomest, as it certainly
is the largest, room which has ever been used
for that occasion.
REDUCED RAILROAD RATES.
The various railroad companies whose lines
run into Washington are arranging excursion
tickets at rate lower than ever before on SINH
lar occasions. The Pennsylvania Railroad has
offered to transport organizations of 100 or
more persons travelling together on one round
trip ticket from New York city to Washington
for $3.50 each, less than 100 persons or indi-
yiduals 50; from Philadelphia, for 100 or more
persons s. each, less than 100, Sc; from other
points on the line of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road, to organizations of 100 or more persons,
one fare for the round trip; for less than 100
persons two cents per mile for the distance
Travelled. Tickets from New York, Philadel-
phia and local points on the line of the Penn
sylvania Railroad to be sold on March g 3 and
a, good TO return until March 5. The Virginia
Midland Railroad offers rates from Atlanta |
Ga, $3.50, and for military $17; Athens, Ga, |
$3.50 and $l7; Gainesville, Ga, $3.50 and |
$l5.70; Seneca S. c., $2l So aud $l4; Green |
L. n