The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-15
THE WARSHIPS COMING.
THE HEARS ARGE TO BE ORDE9ED
HERE MERCHANTS WEEK.

A6rChAntS' w eek COmmlbCee.
The United States warship Kearsarge,
Of historic fame, will anchor in the Savan-
nah river opposite the city during Mer-
chants week. The Dolphin will probably
accompany the Kearsarge, and the PhiIa-
delphia will anchor in Tybee roads.
1.-THE MORNING NEWS certainly did a
good thing when it urged the invitation Of
the warships to visit Savannah during May
week. y said Secretary Max Robinson yes
terday. at was bright idea. The ships
will be a great help to the celebration.
The following is the letter received by the
secretary from Congressman Lester yester-
day informing him that the warships had
been ordered to Savannah
Eo-sz OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
WASHINGTON, April -, 1892.
Mr.. MAJ Robinson, Secretary Merchants Week
DEAN SIR have just had a pleasant inter
view with the Secretary OF tue Navy and Com
modore Ramsay o. the bureau Of navigation.
There are only three warships, viz: the Pnla-
d.lpnia the hearsarge and the Concord at Key
West The Concord has been ordered TO Mem
phis, and will be there on May 10 The EhIa-
delphia draws 23I4 feet of water, aud therefore
cannot get into Savannah harbor.
The kesrsarge is the only ship that can be
made available. She will be ordered 10 put in
al Savnnnah during May week. and will proba-
bly, reach Savannah by May 3 Admiral Che
KearsaTge and come with Ter to Savannah.
Very truly yours, RcFus L LESTER.
An invitation has already been extended
Ito Admiral Gherardi, aud though he has
not signited his acceptance, there Is little
doubt that he will come.
AN ATTRACTION FOR TYBKE.
Secretary Robinson diy7atched letters
yesterday to both Representative Lester
and the Secre.ary Of the Navy urging that
gba pbfluEaFlbsa ha nrdaras1 Vi a -oo1z
together with the Kearsarge. AT Tybee
, tonds the Philadelphia would lie almost as
valuable TO the celebration as 1t
would be at Savannah, as
it would be accessible TO the
sightseers, especially on Tybee day. The
roads would he a splendid vantage ground
for a display Of any kind by the warships,
which would be greatly enjoyed by the
spectators from the beach. Secretary Rob-
inson had already written previous letter
to Congressman Lester requesting him TO
endeavoT to have the Dolphin, now at Nor-
folk, ordered to Savannah. The Dolphin is
a dispatch boat. and was used by President
Harrison rs a pleasure boat during the first
part Of his administration, until the oppo-
sition newspapers began TO comment
upon It.
The idea is that the three boats could
come into Tybes roads together. The Phil
adelpha could anchor there and Admiral
Gherardi could transfer his flag to the
Kearsarge and come up to the CITY it'll that
ship and the Dolphin
Secretary Robinson THINKS it good i3ea
to dwell on the fact that the Philadelphia
cannot come up the Savannah river, as it
will be the biggest kind Of an argument In
favor Of the deep water appropriation.
After the celebration 10 Is proposed to en-
terrain Admiral GaersrdI and his officers In
some manner by the committee.
CONGRESSMAN HERBERT CAN'T COME.
Congressman Herbert, chairman of the
House committee on naval affairs has been
invited to be present, but as he has already
accepted an invitation to De present at the
opening of the bridge across the Mississippi
at Memphis, about the same date, it is
feared that he will not be able to accept.
Merchants week IS progressing finely in
all except one direction, the subscriptions
are NOT coming in fast enough. The COM
mlttee wants at least $4,000 more, and 1t
will have to have that amount to carry out
the celebration on the plan proposed.
The success Of the celebration is already
guaranteed, and its benefits are apparent.
If the merchants leave the committee with.
out sufficient funds to carry out the cele-
bratlon as proposed they may
blame themselves if the crowd goes
away disappointed and saying unpleasant
things about Savannah. The committe has
announced its determination not to con-
tract any debts this year until the money is
IN hand, on whatever account. 1t has a
sad remembrance Of past experience on this
score, and 1t will never do so again.
The value of the celebration is beginning
TO be generally recognized. The secretary
was handed a contribution of 500 yester-
day by third party from an anonymous
contribution. The contribution was under
stood to be from prominent sporting
who rpall2al tho ualfta ~
the celebration to his business
Other members OF the sporting fraternity
have evinced a Willingness TO chip In.
In this the sports show themselves superior
TO many of the merchants who expect to
realize big profits from the celebration upon
the contributions Of their neighbors with
out giving a cent themselves. The list of
subscribers with the amount Of their sub
scriptions will probably be published in the
MORNING NEWS during Merchants week.
THE RAILROAD RATES.
The Florida railroads have all come
down TO the cent mile rate granted by
the railroads composing the Southern Rail-
way and Steamship Association, and all
having connections with Savannah will adj
vertise rates FOR Merchants week.
Col. c. D. Owens, traffic manager Of the
Plant system, rendered very valuable service
TO the committee in securing the rates from
the Florida railroads,
The general committee is increasing its
list OF amusements An engagement has
been completed with the Grace Shannon
balloon Company to give Au exposition at
Tybee on Tybee day. Miss Shannon will
ascend to hight Of several hundred feet
above the sea in a balloon, from which
she will take a parachute leap into the
ocean. She will wear life preserver so
that she will be in 10 danger of drowning
from her sudden dip into the sea.
The sight will be an entire
novelty TO the great majorioy
of the spectators present.
Applications are being received from
number of snide side shows for engage
ments here during the celebration, but no
attention is paid to them.
They are not wanted anyway, and the
committee is determined TO have nothing
for which an entrance fee can be charged.
The MILITARY PARADE.
The officers Of the First Volunteer Regi-
ment of Georgia will meet Monday Snight
to consider the question Of turning out for
parade during Merchants week
The only objection to turning out seems
70 be the difficulty in getting the men off
from the places of business where they
are employed. It is proposed to request
the business houses and the railroads TO
give the men two hours off on the after
noon Of the parade. Many employers have
already stated their willingness to do this.
The bicycle contest and parade promises
TO be one Of the events of the week. The
prospects are that there will be a larger