Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-31

TIE CONTRACTS FOR TIE xLEorBIo LIaHr
HLuNISArIoSs AwARDKD-THE FREE BAR
RACKS AT CAMPS ALoER AND FARRAeUr
NEARLY ooxPLxrED-wHAr THE woxAx's
COMMITTEE rs DOING.
Special Dispstch TO The Evening stss
ALBANY, Aug. s1.-Commander-in-chief Pal
| mer Of the G. A. R is about to issue personal
communication to the heads Of the state de-
partments explaining more fully the reasons
for issuing his order relative to double
columns. When seen by your representa-
tive Commander Palmer said that il was merely
supplementary to his former order and gave
further reasons why he decided to have the
parade in double columns. II was prompted"
be said, ''by feelings of humanity toward the
men. We are not young We were in SIS.
Then the boys full Of vigor and youth, could
standan eaghthours march in single column. but
| now it must be remembered that we have
grown older. 1 expect that my order will
bring more of the old veterans in line than
would have participated in the parade had we
decided to have a single column. Ny order has
met with the approval of the mass of veterans
and that is all that could be desired"
good story is told about the communica-
| ton sent by Gen. Palmer to the committee in
charge Of the arrangements Of the encamp-
ment that is not denied by the COM
mander. The committee was unanimously
in favor of the single column parade.
They sent a communication to the commander
expressing their views and saying that they
were unanimous The little general immedi-
! ately penned the following reply: "Gentlemen:
| Commander-in-Chief Palmer is Just as unani-
nous as your committee"
Commander Palmer has a slight affection Of
the heart that is sometimes troublesome, and
he says that many Of the soldiers came out Of
the war similarly afflicted. He thinks that it
would be cruel to ask men in the declining wears
Of life to make long march in a single column.
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT CONTRACT.
The contract for supplying the electric light
ing to be used in the illumination of the city has
been awarded to the Thomson Houston Company
This company has consolidated with the Edison
and there has been formed a general electric
lightingcompany which is the principal concern
Of the kind in this country. The experts in the
employ Of this company will devise the method
of illumination of the streets Of the city. 1t is
expected that the results will be very satisfac-
tory.
If Washington was out west somewhere il
would be necessary to ray that the preferred
bCueiut VI lluuillaIOn le kEaIQtst ever uc-
vlsed, and that never before in the history Of
tho world has such stupendous and NUM-
ficent spectacle been presented as will greet
the eyes of the public during the evenings Of
encampment week. II would also be necessary
to assert that the illumination will cost about
double the actual cost. But as this city is not
in the west it is only necessary to say that the
illumination will be complete and handsome
and that the committee will spend $4,000 in
! producing this result. Itsounds more impressive
to say that S30.0 or SAC, 900 will be expended
but such statements won't add anything to
the brillancy of the streets at night or the en-
| joyment of the veterans. The other details Of
| the arrangements are being carried out in the
same style, and it is safe to say that if the WIS.,
itors don't enjoy their stay in this city it will
not be the fault Of the citizenE.
THE FREE QUARTERS.
The committee proposes to spend some
S55,oeo in supplying the visitors with free
quarters. When it is considered that some
! SO, 900 men have announced their intention of
! coming to this city and expect the citizens
committee to supply them with places
| to sleep it will be that
the sum Of money. as large as it is is none too
large for the purpose. The figures given are
/ not only imaginative, but they are based on the
actual numbers recorded on the books of the
committee. The dimensions of this affair have
| grown SO large that ii is not necessary to
resort to imitation in order TO produce an effect
| upon the popular mind. There IL no wind
| in the arrangements of this encampment, but
there a good MANY hard dollars expended
and the result viii be that the visitors will have
a good time.
CAMPS ALGER AND FABRAGUT.
Camp Alger, located on the monument
grounds, and Camp Farragut, at Garfield Park
are about ready to receive the veterans. The
long buildings, fitted up with bunks are well
| IL ~
the occupants won't have to pay one cent for
the accommodations, the camps will no doub
receive the hearty Endorsement of the old SOL
diers 1t is true that the committee did not
have the boards planed or the hunks finished
in hard woods. but the free quarters
will be a pleasanter and more healthful
place to spend the night than a good many of
the hotels, halls and houses where cots are used
to the full capacity of the rooms. The
grounds as we'll as the buildings are
to be lighted with electricity. There
| is to be post office, a package room,
| telephones and all the modern conveniences
and luxuries, including policemen and patrol
wagon. Wash rooms and privies are conven-
iently at hand, and a great dining room has been
erected, which will seat 5000 people. There
are to be several ranges in the kitchen, which
| will each be $50 feet.
BY the circular which was sent out to every
post in the country notice was served that such
must be sent TO the citizens committee by the
LIST Of September if there was the intention on
the part of any post to come here expecting to
get free quarters
A good many applications have come in and
Col. Wright expects to find a place for all,
although he sees the possibility of the necessity
arising for the committee to secure additional
| quarters. If in spite of this ample notice posts
| persist in coming here without giving any no
tice they can't blame the citizens committee il
they have hard time to find place to sleep
| in.
THE EXCURSIONS PROJECTED.
1t is properly supposed by the executive COM
mittee that thousands Of the old soldiers who
visit Washington will desire to see once more
the scenes where years ago they made their
| charges. defeated others or were themselves re-
pulsed in the stirring years Of civil strife. So
| far the committee il concerned thew have
done all they could to render possible visit to
| these points Of extraordinary interest to the
members Of the Grand Army.
The excursion program was intrusted to q
| competent committee Of interested gentlemen,
many of them old soldiers and an attractive
route was mapped out. The days on which the
trips were to take place were decided upon and
| all plans regarding the enterprise definitely
completed. A hitch. however, has occurred
| and it comes from the very quarter from which
it was least expected. The railroads have so
far not only failed to furnish the committee
with terms and schedules, but they do not hold
out much promise Of entering into satisfac-