Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-07-18
GRAND ARMY MEN
Preparing Tor the Accommodation Of the Wis
itors at Annual Encampment.

WASHINGTON, July l6.--ln the course of
a couple OF months the veterans of the
Grand Army will be assembled in this city
The citizens executive committee, which
has charge of the arrangements for the re-
eeption and entertainment of the old SOL
diers. finds that the pressure of matters re-
quring attention grows greater as the day
of the encampment draws nearer.
During the past week the uncertainty as
to the action of Congress relative to the
appropriation of the money asked for has
been eliminated by the passage of the dis
trict bill. which places $40 900 to the credit
of the committee.
Necessarily II good many details of the
arrangements have been DELAYED until il
was known whether this money would be
available A great deal of work is crowded
into a comparatively short time but such is
the organization and system adopted that
Chairman Edison has no doubt but all the
plans will be perfected to receive the Grand
Army of old soldiers when they reach the
city.
\ meeting of the executive committee
will be held on Monday evening, and plans
will be adopted for the thorough canvass of
the city for subscriptions TO complete the
so 900, which is the amount that Congress
stipulated should be raised by the citizens
before the appropriation becomes available.
The cash paid in toward this fund now
amounts to So 600 and there are unpaid
subscriptions amounting to about $4,000.
1t is proposed to form canvassing com
mittee, one for each square in the business
part of the city, and certain day each can
vasser To 90 to work and see every one in
the square As the subscriptions now to be-
called for are expected to be in cash, it is
thought that the entire canvass can be
made in one day and the money needed To
make up the balance secured.
Chairman Edison would like the popular
subscriptions to be sufficiently large 10
make up TO the so 900 which Congress cut
of of the amount estimated by the commit
tee. If this il done there viii be available
for the use of the committee the sum of
Sl50W0.
Chairman Edison has made careful cs-
timate of the probable number that will
he here and the cost of entertaining them,
and he feels that this fund will not be too
large.
The figures upon which he bases his es-
innate show that at least 100, 600 veterans
of the late war will attend the emcampment
II will be necessary TO provide quarters
for the great proportion of these visitors,
as the books of the committee plainly
demonstrate.
Chairman Edison estimates that between
this time and the goth of September some
~. 900 or - 900 men will either make their
appearance here unheral,lcd or will send
word that they are coming. Altogether he
estimates that free quarters will have to be
provided for some 60 600 or 10000 men.
The details of how this is to be done
have not vet been worked ont, but Chair
man Edison has an idea that it would be a
practicable plan to erect two or three frame
buildings on the monument grounds, about
500 feet square, each capable of accommo-
dating some 20 ,Alo men.
During the past week applications for
quarters have been received from delega-
tton of l26 men, representing posts III the
following places in Maine Rockland, Cary.
Norriigpwock. st. Albans, Fryeburg and
Watcryille.