Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-22
A BIG PRIZE DRILL.
a Correspondent who Wants the Chat
hams Programme Enlarged.


hams Programme Enlarged.
Editor Morning NepS: Very nearly
three years ago, lust after the Nashville
prize drill, an agitation was COTTON up
here which resulted in the formation of a
stock company under the style Of "The
National Prize Drill Association" whose
purpose was to institute an annual prize
driil in Savannah. Seven thousand dol
lars was subscribed in few weeks at
that time. One of its promoters, over the
signature "H. G. D., says in the NEWS Of
June Is, 1885: "Suppnse the actual cost
of our drill will be $25,0 900, the exercises
last six days, and that we have an aver
age attendance OF 10000 people per
day. OF this number, say only
one-half or 10000 of them visit the
fair grounds each day. THIS would make
a total attendance Of $4,000 people for the
six days. At the admission price OF SOC.
apiece this would give us anet result from
attendance OF $4,000. besides which we
will have the proceeds from the sale OF
privileges, which is worth from $4,000 to
IS 600. The ATTENDANCE, tguratively used,
is small one. 1t is shown in my first
letter that NashYille's $4,000 show drew
a crowd one day of 20, 600 people,"
The Chathams' Centennial recalls to
mind this scheme, and, indeed, this would
he an suspicious occasion to put the
project on foot once more. The Chatnams
purpose to have a competitive drill merely
as an Incidental feature of their Centen-
NAL celebrations but this affords an eX-
celleEt opportunity for the former pro-
mOters of ''the biz drill' TO lend help
ing hand. and, by secOnding the Chat
hams efforts. getting up such drill as
would surpass anything ever before al
tempted in the South. Mobile had big
drill last May, and gave away in prize
money an aggregate of Sl2,OOO, ana lett
nothing undOne that might crafty both
the military and the spectators, as to
awards. musical entertainment, sham
battle. etc. The result was thousands in
attendance, a fine drill with hrst-
class companies competing, visitors,
both civic and military, highly
pleased, and last, though not least,
plenty of money left in the city by the
visitors. The gate receipts for four days
were $l4, 900, that is 50 coo in excess of the
prize money. Large prizes shodld be
offered in order to induce celebrated COM
panies like the Chickasaw Guards, of
Memphis, the Houston Light Guards, the
Mobile Rifles, the Washington and the
Louisiana Field Artillery companies, as
well as renowned Northern companies, to
come here, and, by their presence, make
the drill first-class. Prizes ought also to
be offered for military academy cadets,
and. in order to insure good
music. prizes for military bands.
Altogether the prizes need not
exceed $4,000 or $4,000. The Chat
hams have offered $500. Now, let the
National Prize Drill Association" step
up and raise these figures by say $4,000 to
$1,000. and by cooperating with the Chat
hams get up an entertaining programme,
offer good prizes, and let us have first
class drill. Then will their dream Of three
years ago be realized. There is no risk IN
it, as the receipts could scarcely fail to
meet expenses, at least, if not, indeed, to
leave a handsome surplus. But two
weeks remain now until the drill, and if
anything Is to be done it should be done
quickly. The advantages TO result to all
our citizens, either directly or indirectly,
from bringing large crowds of strangers
| from all over the country TO our city
are too obvious to require expa-
tiation. As III. G. D." further
says, ''let US be alive to our interests,
! and not allow other cities, with half the
natural advantages that we possess, to
outstrip US in such matters" What
! SAYS the National Military Prize Drill
! Association of 1888? At the New Or
! leans drill the Worlds. Exposition man.
/ Ggement, the Exposition United States
! Commissioners and others added to the
| prizes offered by the management Of the
drill, and in so doing helped materially to
make the drill a success. There is no
reason why our prize drill assOcia-
tiOn may not follow their example by
lending their aid to the centennial drill /:
assuming, Of course, that they were in
earnest three years ago and really desir-
Gus to get up a frst-class drill. The Chat
hams, we think, could have no grounds
for O5jecting. 1t would be to their ad-
vantage rather than otherwise,
A LOOKER-ON-IN-NENI
Savannah, AprU 20. 1886.