Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-21
THE ENCAM PMENT.
Gen. PalmerJs Address to the Grand
Army.
REPORTS AND SPEECHES.
Tho Gathering Mt AIbaurh'- To,ay-op~n-
lug Proceedings Of the National Eody Of
the Grand Army of the RcpubIic-AdJu-
GenersI Phi-terer'- Statistics.

hbaIgh's Opera House was the central point
CO Interest today to a large number of the vet
eran- of the Grand Army, for here the sessions
@: tbs tventv-sixth animal encampment were
begun. Is j. well known. the business sessions
OF the sncampment are open only to members
OF the Graad Army aud all admission is by the
eounts-sien
The time fixed for opening the first session
was 10 O'Clock, but long before that hour the
oil veterans began to assemble. The lobby
and approaches to the theater in charge
OF n detachment If squad of twelve men of the
third battalion. Union Veteran Corps. Capt. W.
J. Sim"rs In command. The squad wore their
fun uniform and carried their mGs&ets.
ESCORTED TO THE THEATEE.
Shortly before 10 O'Clock the commander-in-
chief. Gen. Palmer and the officers % the en-
campment were driven to tine theater. The
Old Guard with their band acted as an escort
Gen. Palmer hurried into the theater, and
groups Of comrades who stood chatting on the
outside rs soon ~ they saw the COMMANDMENTS
chief had arrived entered the thea:er.
The location 81 the different department
delegation, waS indicated bv handsome banners,
which added a pleasing feature to the decora-
ton Of the the.ier While the comrades were
taking their seats and a. the electric lights
flashed ont they had an opportunity 20 admire
the beautiful and ellborate decorations of the
ball which had been done under the direction
Of the citizens committee on halls, of which
Mr.. George ". Driver is chairman
The DECORATIONS.
The inside OF the opera house il blaze of
color. rich. & rEcpu-. splendid. vet not Gaudy
nor g.ri,h II i an effect gained By the
tisiic utilization Of all the cOlOrs Of the rain
bow. with their briliiancy softened by harmo-
Nous arrangements.
IL l. not the effect produced by an indiSCrin-
mate display az sky blue bunting and blood red
stripes Hanging. OF plush. velvet and silk.
embroidered with silver and gold: curtains of
rirh -iuf that would grace drawing rooms
portal. banners and steamers of silk form the
component PARTS Of the display.
The Balconies are hung with broad widths Of
garnet plush. profuselv embroidered and silver
fringed. fe-tooned in graceful folds and alter
Mating IN the f'lds with draperv o: brown silk.
Over and behInd :he gas fixtures are set pieces
representing aTmoriai troJhies in steel highly
polished and rescctin., the light from spear and
helmet. At intervals silken banner inter
tvined with the drapery drops mere inslnna-
ton Of The presence of the s,ars and stripes and
adsis n dlsh OF brilliant color TO the more sub
dued Effects. The boxes are drqped and deco
rated IN similar manner and flags hung in
their rear.
The walls of the interior are decorated with
bun ing. flags and shields. but in most artistic
manner. over the top of the stage is q mass
Of flags and shields. and from this a focal
point ratliate u dozen broad streamers beneath
the ceiling to the opposite walls. making stripes
OF red and blue against the ceiling. The eXte
rior Of the building IL festooned and Tagged IN
most elaborate manner. flags Of all nations
hanging from the windows and bands Of bunt-
ing be-pangling the walls.
THE OPENING ExERcrsEs.
Mr.. Driver ~ we'll Commissioner Douglass
and Mr.. Il. III. Warner were in the theater. as
the opening exercises were public. The COM
rades came in slowly and while waiting the
Indianapolis Glee Club entertained the dele
gates with several selections. no. forgetting the
m1sicsl invitation OF city of the indianapolis to
the Ell campment TO hold the next annual en-
CAM ment in the hoOsier capital.
The entire main floor was reserved for the
delegate while the visiting Grand Army occu-
pied the gallery. The seats for the members
we're pretty well occupied when Adjt. Gen.
Phi~terer raped for order on ;he stand for the
presiding officer. which was in the form of a
drum.
Gen Phisterer as soon as the buz o. CONVEX
sation ceased introduced Mr. b. If. Warner.
who stepped TO the front and said: ION behalf
OF the citizens executive committee and the
citizens OF Washington / present our NUM-
cipsl chief. Commissioner Douglass, who will
deliver an address Of welcome
A. the -talwari form OF Wa, kingdoms mayor
came To the trout the old veterans applauded
COMMISSIONER DOUGLASS WELCOME
Commissioner Douglass spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the twenty--ixth encampment:
One wear ago the citizens committee of Wash
ing;on extended TO the Grand ARMY then at
Detroit: an invitation 10 bold the next encanp-
ment at the national capital. / am here today
- on of Tie municipal representatives, OF the
District of Columbia well a chairman of
Il. Il
ing and 20 assure you Of the hearty welcome of
our people
IL i. now nearly thirty wears since that army
In it- primal veteran glory trod the streets OF
the ca ittl hal we'd. with the Mon rebaptised
In Its blood and dedicated anew 10 liberty and
representative government
Time. IA ever. has had his busy Scvthe in the
field uf life and many of your then comrades
have gone down before the RELENTLESS reaper.
But their deeds are not and cannot be forgot
ten. EveTy breath and moment OF freedom is
an expression Of the gratitude and an acknowl-
edgmeut a; the sacred obligation We owe 20 the
honored deal
While i,s defenders Of the national honor
and integrity have been rapidly going the
capital your capitol, like the nation itseif.
has been growing apHce- glance AZ some OF
the facts In regard TO the city in this respect
vii. i doubt nos. interest and crafty
you When won marched through the cIty
Ia I,ss5 the to.al number of dwelling houses
vas about u $50 Today there are over 90. 600.
or an upward growth " go per cent. The as
se--e,l value 90 th" property has more than kept
pace with tbs lac:ca-ei number % houses.
The bull Ing improvements alone for the last
year amounted - Sy..Oi. sol, which Is nearly
il per cen'um - ,hc assessed value o: all
existing improveml ~. The estimated value
Of goyernnlcn; and private real property In me
District l. over 90 OOC OOJ the respective
shares being nearly haif and hall. with the dit
ference IN tavo- ot the government.
The pnrul Alton & .n. district sha.xn bv
arcceut police enumeration. Il 25s. AL. This
rapid accretiou 20 the population Is the best
evidence Oi the city's atlraCtiVensss for home
Ef- With pos IDLY just little added element Of
ofieia. expectation 10 quicken and steady the
movement In 800 there were but 1903 in
hAbitants. In $50 ihc number had ri-en to
si.6s7. and IL $50 20 10000 In 1875. az the
time OF yotsr avst great match here, the poPul.-
non about 10000.
JUst ut the present YOU NAV be Interested to
know that out u Il total 81 go miles of streets
and avenues 100 miles Iaved with smooth
asI halt. the balance With granite ard other
durable 5Iocs-- There IS miles sf sewers
with propurtIOna;e amounts Of water and gas
pipes. and, o. course. The resulting fact OF a low
death rate.
As a city OF residence you can see for YOUR
selyes the high character II much % the archi-
lecture. while the later business buildings are