The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-04-24
TWENTY-FIVE MILES OF MARCHING MEN
General ButterfIeId's Army OF Civic
Organizations at the Centennial.
A Solid Half Mile OF Bands In the
Firemen's' Division.
Wedding Out Men Not tstrong;Enoush
for the Long Tramp.

NEW YORK, April 23.-The civic parade
Of May has completely outgrown the cal
culatious of even the most enthusiastic be-
lever that it would be big thing, and no
further applications for place will be con-
sidered. 1t would be simply enormous were
all who have asked to be given place in
line allotted the space they ask for.
General Butterfield yesterday had on file
in his Office applications from 105,970 people
for place in the line. This number Is ex-
elusive Of bands and people who will ride
on the floats. II these were massed, packed
like figs in box" as the General expressed
it, he estimated 1t would make line at least
IA miles long. and with the organizations op-
ened out into marching position at half dis
tance the line would extend over ia
miles. This Is exclusive Of the GA floats
which have been accepted on the artists
sketches and awarded place in the line,
and also of the bands and drum corps which
will accompany the paraders. How much
space the bands would occupy can be but
vaguely guessed at, but one division, that Of
the volunteer firemen, will have at least a
solid half mile Of bands. On the assumption
that hands will be pretty literally supplied
by parading organizations and that the floats
will number 100, not an over estimate. the
organizations in line will take up at least %
miles Of streets.
To handle such parade would certainly
be an impossibility. 1t would be unsatisfac-
tory to the participants and to the public.
Therefore, In order that IL may be reduced to
manageable proportions pro rata reduction
of the number of applicants for places In line
will have to be made. Before this Is arbi-
trarily done by the committee, however, each
organization will be asked to do what 1t can
voluntarily to help the marshal. To this
end Assistant Marshal Oliver yesterday sent
this letter to all organizations that have
asked for place in line:
sI am directed by General Butterheld, Chief
Marshal, to advise you that the application of or
Industrial parade of May LIST have grown to such
proportions that 1t Is impossible TO give all place
and enable the column TO pass by daylight. The
numbers will have to be materially reduced.
Before making this reduction Gen Butterfeld
desires you to have In view the following: First
That you should not admit into the column Of
organizations any person physically unable to
stand the fatigue of a long and wearisome delay
and march. Secend-That a careful and close
canvass be made up q the exact exact number Of those
march In good order and quick time, and that you
report to this once by tomorrow evening revised
number that your organization under such re-
strictions would reach. The information will en-
able the marshal, possibly, to save cutting down
some organizations who ought not to be cut down
II their entire body are able TO stand eight or ten
hours march and great fatigue. Ii Is very de-
sIr0us to give all the organizations and all their
members who are fully able TO comply with the
seyerities that inevitably apply to such march
chance 10 parade"
Further orders touching the parade are to
the effect that all organizations will be re-
quired to march IS files front, with platoons
not more than 10 feet apart. The distance
between the separate organizations OF 500 or
more must not exceed 20 feet, and In this
twenty-foot space the chiefs Of the smaller
organizations OF will be required TO march.
During the march all turns at street corners
must be made on the run, no wheeling by
platoons being permitted, as such
maneuvres would require toe much time.
Floats must have not more than IL feet be-
tween the heads of the horses dragging them
and the rear of the platoon preceding them,
and each horse will be required to have a
leader or guide at his head in addition 20 Ine
driver, so that starting and stopping the
floats may be done as expeditiousiy as posi-
Bile. The orders TO march or halt VIII be
given by buglers stationed 600 feet apart.
Each organization Of 100 men will be required
to have a water carrier to furnish water to
the paraders.
Gold and silver medals and satin banners
will be given to the six organizations max
ing the best snow In the parade, as determin-
ed by fifty judges stationed at different points
along the route of the procession. Prompt
ness In movements, general appearance and
couduct, observance Of distances, and all
other rules will enter in the determination
of the award of prizes.