Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-07
THE SOLDIERS AND THE CAPITAL.
What Will the People OF Washing
ton DO?
To the Editor Of TIE EVENING srAn:

To the Editor Of TEE EVENING srAn:
The article headed The GAR Encamp-
ment of 1891" III The STAR OF March n con-
veys An erroneous idea OF the position of the
Grand Army men in this city in relation to that
matter. The facts of the case are as follows:
The national encampment to be held in Bos-
ton next August will, by vote, decide where the
encampment will be held in 1891. Several
large cities will compete for the privilege of
entertaining the encampment and urge their
claims. The fact is that majority Of the old
soldiers favor sais city because they want to
visit Washington. where most of them have
no. been since 1865, and if sufficient induce
ments are held out there is very little doubt
that the encampment will vote to come here
next year. The present position of the Grand
Army men here is that if the citizens want the
encampment and viii efectualiy say so by
guaranteeing a sufficient sum to entertain the
encampment rs well. if not better. than ii has
been entertained III other cities. give pledges
that hotel rates will not he raised and secure
low railroad fares, then the delegates from this
city to the encampment will press the matter
and no doubt will succeed, as they have never
yet failed to accomplish any object they set
out to attain in the encampment. At present
we present the matter to the citizens as u
purely business proposition. The encampment
lasts about a week and draws to its location the
from all over the country.
1t il reasonable to suppose that during the
week not less than 10000 strangers will visit
the city (S15,OO0 railroad tickets were taken mp
at milwaukee, during the encampment last year..
VI these 1t may be estimated that the whole
number will remain two days, that 5000 will
remain four days and from $4,000 to sc. 900 six
days. II is safe to say that at least 81 800 900
will be left here by the visitors; more likely
double that sum. II Is the practice to pro-
IA oft rwtfh hnny So ,,r
nlsh entertainments for all the visitors in the
Way of free excursions with refreshments, fire
works, &C., daily for six days, winding up with
q banquet, and a souvenir Of some kind to the
delegates, who number from 500 to 800.
moderate estimate of the cost of these enter
talnments Is $50 0O0 which would be expended
here under the direction of q committee of citi-
zens. 1t is for the citizens to say whether they
consider tins is good investment. If they do
the Grand Army men will use their best efforts
20 bring the national encampment to Washing
ton IN 1891. X they do not the matter ends
right here. with no harm done. We are not in
the position OF asking the citizens to help US
entertain the encampment, but we say, if the
citizens want the encamPment and will guaran-
tee the expenses, We Will help them to get it,
and will work for them ami with them to make
the occasion such success that the visitors
will ever bear in kindly remembrance the good
people OF Washington. And we know that
Grand Army men, as individuals, will not be
behind the most enthusiastic citizen in the
matter of subscribing to the fund OF $50. 900.
As far as the Grand Army men are concerned
personally it would be much more agreeable
for them to attend the encampment in some
other city, for it would cost them far less
money, give them a change of scene and re-
lieve them of the vast amount of work and
responsibility involved, the amount of which
no one knows who has not been engaged i'll
such an undertaking. There is no doubt that
the encampment could be entertained for less
money than $4,000, but any less sum upon
which to work would hamper the efforts at a
creditable demonstration and would probably
result in a one-horse affair, which would not
reflect credit on any one concerned. More
over, if the whole $4,000 were not used the
unexpended balance would be at the disposal
OF the citizens committee, TO be returned to
the subscribers If they saw tit. N NJ. BROOKS.