Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-09-19
THE BIG ENCAMPMEN7
Formal Opening of the G. A. R. Reunion at the Ma
 tional Capital.
sITY FAST FILLING WITH VISITORS

ACten0ahce -- The Decorations nAoSt
 ElAbOrate-President Harrison Cannot
 Re Present-The Great Parade To-mor-
 rowProgramme of Events.
 WASHINGTON, Sep. 19.-Every train that enters the city is simply packed with vet erans and visitors who have come to be present at the 26th annual Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic The city presents a more attractive appear ance than ever before in its history.
 The first thing to attract the attention of the incoming Grand Army visitors Is the waving Stars and Stripes. No mat ter which way they move the glorious em blem of the United States and bunting of all colors meet their eyes.
 The decorations all over the city are elaborate and artistic, business houses and private dwellings being we'll orna- mented. The government buildings, how ever, show the most prominent speci- mems of the decorators art. The State, War and Navy building is elaborately decorated with the national flag arranged in many artistic ways.
 The Executive Mansion is handsomely decorated. From the roof of the porte cochere hang festoons of bunting, while 1GOm the Snl0lu III Uu0 C0uGE0, T0nS WulU0 and blue streamers are drawn to the base of the supporting pillars, on each of which is 8 shield bearing an emblem of one of the army corps.
 The numerous columns of the Treasury look very bright, each being wrapped with large United States flag. Each apex of the cornices bears & military de- vice outlined in electric lights, and at either entrance stands a column draped in the national colors. The Department of Justice is prettily decorated, numerous flags being festooned on it's front.
 Another very handsome bit of decora tion is seen in the Pension Hall, where the Grand Army encampment is to be entertained Thursday night. This build ing, while from the exterior one of the ugliest ever designed by architects, is very handsome within and susceptible of very effective decorations. The building incloses an immense court, roofed over with skylights and side lights, with a fountain in the centre and rows of i'm mense columns on the four sides of square supporting the balconies above. These columns rise to the roof, where they are joined by small arches. These columns below the first balcony are each decorated with a shield surrounded by flags, and 8 similar decoration is placed about each column from balcony to bal cony. The shields on the first floor bear the names of prominent officers of the war, and above the first balcony the names of famous battles. Across the front of the balconies, connecting the cen tral figures of the decorations, are fes- toons of red, white and blue.
 No decorations extend across Penn sylvania avenue, the purpose being to leave that broad street clear from all ob- structions to the view. But at the cross- ings of each side street where it enters Pennsylvania avenue there are hung elaborate decorations of flags and shields.
 The public buildings are draped from column to column and across the win dows with immense American flags, and some bit of red, white and blue is dis played from every available spot along Che great public thoroughfare. Wires have been strung on both sides of Penn sylvania avenue from the Capitol to Washington Circle, past the White House, and at short intervals electric lights will illuminate the surroundings.
 The grand stands for the President and the Commander-in Chief of the Grand Army are of artistic design and are very elaborately and beautifully decorated.
 The stand for the Commander-in-Ch Chief of the Grand Army is in front of the War Department, and is larger and more mas sive in appearance than that provided for the President. In 8 modified way it rep resents a fortress, with embellishments. The structure is in solid color, having the appearance of heavy grey stone, and the decoration of flags is hung about it in such 8 manner as to distinguish the decorations from the structure, making the effect more artistic and impressive. There will also be shields, pennants and emblems.
 Indications are apparent to-day that the number of visitors to the Encamp- ment will not be quite so large as was an ticipated, but there will be enough here to easily make good the claim of the committees that it will be the largest re- union of old soldiers and their friends held in this country since the war. The falling off in the attendance is as- cribed to the fear of danger from run ming the gauntlet of cholera in New York, as it is most noticeable from the North and East.
 This morning occurred the parade pre- ceding the dedication of Grand Army Place. It was reviewed by the Vice President and other officials.
 The programme for the remainder of the day is:
 12:S0 p. m.-Dedication of Grand Army Place (White lot), with addresses by Vice President Morton and Grand Commander in Chief Palmer.
 2p. m.-Meeting of Department Com manders; meeting of Board of Directors National Women's Relief Corps. 5 p. m.-Dril by National Fencibles, prize winners at the Omaha encamp- ment.
 7p. m.-Meeting of Council of Adm in istration.
 SD. m.-Camp fire of Sheridan posts, G. A. R.. reunion of the Twelfth, Four teenth and Twenty second Corps and Quartermasters.
 9:S0 to l1:3O p. m.-Reception to w. C.. R., ladies of the G. A. R., and other or ganizations of patriotic women, by the ladies of the Department of the Potomac, headed by Mrs. John A. Logan. For this affair the rotunda of the Capitol has been gorgeously decorated.
 The work of the encampment-that is, the business which brings them together | each year-will be done on Wednesday and Thursday, but the great day, the great celebration of the occasion, will be tomorrow and to morrow night. From 10