The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-08-01
GREAT EVENT FOR SOLDIERS.
The City Can Accommodate Readily the Crowd
Expected at the Cornerstone Ceremonies.

The indications are that there will be an
immense crowd here on Aug. % the day
upon which the cornerstone of the. soldiers
monument will be laid. Everybody is so
much impressed with the idea that it will
be by far the largest number OF people
ever gathered together in Indiana that
inquiries are being received as to how In
dianap0lis expects TO care for the multi
tudes in the way of food and lodging after
they get here. 1t is entirely safe to say
that no city on earth, of anywhere near the
size of Indianapolis, even cities of moro
than double its population, have as ample
facilities for lodging and feeding many
thousands. The first-class hotels here, &C
cording to a calculation made by an
experienced hotel clerk. can lodge and
feed 1900 persons very nicely: ten first
class two-dollar-a day houses have an aver
age capacity of 200 each, that will care for
1900 more persons; there are twenty smaller
hotels which can care for 1J0 each; that's
5000; and the boarding houses can feed and
lodge $500 IN comfort. AS to private houses.
nm estimate has been made, believed to be
far under the mark. that private houses
within radius of three-quarters of mile
of the Circle could care for 10000. That is
all down town. Increase the radius very
little and the private residences of this city,
1T is no Overestlmate to say, could feed and
lodge 10000 persons. making, with the no.
tells. accommodations for total of @, 500
persons.
But the accommodations then would not
have reached the limit. TOmlinSOn Hall
could be taken, and cots placed there to
give sleeping quarters fOr2, 900 persons Such
things are done in cities where the national
conventions of the great political parties
are held. The Board of Trade building
could lodge 500. M2nnerchor, Lyra and
Masonic halls 1000. There are number OF
hundreds of people, who would cheerfully
pay fair price TO sleep on cot. There
are many thousands who would prefer to
get their meals at restaurants. and no city is
better provided with them than this. The
restaurants here will compare favorably
with establishments of the kind anywhere
in the United States, and their prices are
moderate. AS now managed they could
feed $4,000 people day. 1t takes less time to
prepare food than formerly. and as to
food supplies this city is in the center of
the universe. Indianapolis can easily wax
eloquent over her capacity. to lodge and
feed O great multitude; all she wants is an
opportunity to do SO.
Next week the local committee on finance
will canvass the city to raise FUNDS for the
decorations and other special features incl
dent to the cornerstone ceremonies. The
committee is in good spirits over the en-
couragement 1T has received from business
sources, and there is no doubt the contribu-
tiOns will be commensurate with the big
ness of the occasion. Col Oran Perry is
organizing a mounted escort for President
Harrison TO consist of 100 men. Dis
tinguished citizens from all over the
country will be here. Special citations
have been addressed to Governor Foraker,
of Ohio Governor Luce, of Michigan; Gov
ernor Filter. of Illinois. and Governor
Buckner of Kentucky. There is consider
able rivalry as to which section of the State
shall bring the best brass band. There are
several noted bands IN Indiana, and they
do not all hail from the large cities, some
of the smaller county towns having excel
Tenet musical organizations. The follow
ing gentlemen have been appointed a COM
mittee on carriages and other local trans
portation: g. II. Shower. A. c. May, ID.
j. SmOck. G. w. Jenkins and NJ. Swan.
The campfire programme is constantly
growing in variety and merit. Miss Laura
McManis. the noted whistling soloist. will
appear in her novel and artistic musical
performance. The G. A. r. posts of Yigo
county will probably follow the lead of
Morton Post, No. /. OF Terre Haute. and at
tend in body. 1t is not unlikely that this
form of organization will be adopted bv
the G. A. X. men of other counties.