Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-24

proportion Of the brigade favored trip to
Chicago, but this was apparently impossible.
At first there was every promise Of assistance
from the worlds fair authorities, but they, hav-
ing discovered that they had bitten of very
much more than was chewsble, soon declared
themselves unable to attend to the details of
anything like . great encampment. Since
then. however, many efforts have been
made by prominent army and National Guard
ofhcers-Maj. Gen. Nelson A. Miles, U. 8. A.,
and Brig. Gen. Ordway being conspicuous
Sometimes it looked as though camp grounds
could be secured, and sometimes 1t didn't look
anything like 1t. Now it Is certain that any
command DESTROYS of seeing the worlds fair
and at the same time Of accommodating experience
a to the methods Of railroad transportation Of
troops may visit Chicago and be we'll cared for
at low figures. This information comes to Gen.
Ordway from Gen. Miles, and with 1t 10 letter
from Mr.. Robert Grier, In which Mr.. Grier
says that he IL organizing - military encamp-
ment embracing sixty acres Of land, bounded
by 18th and 18th streets and Yates and French
avenues. one mile due south Of Jackson
Park, worlds fair grounds The Illinois
Central and the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road companies, also the South Chicago street
railroad. all run close to the property, giving
frequent and quick access to the worlds fair
grounds at scent rate Of fare The land 10
well suited for an encampment, being thor
oughly tile-drained and covered with q heavy
sod, with sandy subsoil. A substantial and
well-ventilated wooden building, capable Of
seating 1000 men at once, IL under way. and
will be ready for occupancy by July 8, or
sooner II needed. The capacity Of this build
ing can be increased at short notice. Subsist-
ence will be furnished for the National Guard
at the rate Of Is cents day per man; this to
include three substantial meals and service
daily Of the same character as is now furnished
the soldiers and marines Of the United States
at Jackson Park. under my contract with the
government. The water to be furnished the
troops to be from the city water works; sanitary
arrangements Cthe removal Of kitchen garbage
and cesspool accumulations) are included in the
cost Of subsistence. am prepared to supply
5000 men at any one time between the 9Th of
July and September go"
Mr.. Grier 10 vouched for a. Q responsible
Chicago citizen, and 1t is certain that hA sup
piled most satisfactorily some H. 900 troops
last October and is now engaged In feeding the
companies Of regular troops that are encamped
on the fair grounds. Food, water and sanitary
accommodations, all for rs cents per day, is q
decidedly attractive offer. OF course, the
troops would furnish their own tentage, board
or straw flooring, and q suficiency Of blankets.
With these terms in sigh, 1T is quite probable
that companies who have figured on going to
the seashore or the mountains will conclude to
go to Chicago. By the first week in August
and none Of the commands will care to 20 there
sooner than that-the railroads will have
ffteen-dollar round-trip rate from this city;
which would mean that the total cost Of the
journey, Of subsistence In Chicago for ten days.
OF car fare to and from the exposition, and
admission In the grounds each day, would
amount only to $2S.50. From this could be de-
Quoted Communication for rations, which would
certainly cut the expense to each individual
below the eos mark. To 60 in any other way
would cost each man fully twice a. much, SO
that the advantages acoruing from such a
trip as that which now-owing to Mr.. Grier's
proposition-is possible need not be debated;
seem as though not less than two or three
hundred men ought to be willing to take ad-
vantage Of the fortunate combination of cir
cumstances. and 1t Is by no means improbable
that when the companies commence to discuss
this matter enough may signify their willing
ness to make up provisional regiment, which
should 60 into camp at Chicago for ANYTHING
from week to ten DAYS Companies or bat
talions intending to 60 in . body should make
up their minds a. rapidly as possible and con-
suit the commanding general as to the details.
THE OFFICIAL SCORES TO BE MADE NEXT MONTH.
Unless the plans undergo extraordinary
amendment-and that is somewhat improba-
ble-the range class practice for the entire bri-
gade for the present year will be completed
before the close Of the month Of July. The
method which has been approved by Gen.
experimental with, but it is believed to be the
best within reach. 1t had been hoped earlier
in the season that the Bellevue range would
have been completed before tho time came
around for official class practice. But it has
been found impossible to attend to anything
moro than the prelimlnaries. Realizing that
the work would have to be done on the bar
racks range and on a small number Of targets
the authorities decided to assign one day to
each battalion. Heretofore battalions have
been required to 60 on the range fer at least
two widely separated half days, and the attend
to have each battalion report on the range at
8:4o am; the firing to commence promptly at
o'clock. Practice will continue until IL or /
o'clock. and then the rations Of bread and meat
and coffee will be served, after which firing will
reopen and be continued until the last man has
completed his score. Another important
change is a. to the number Of shots to be fred.
Instead OF shutting q man off at 800 yards
because he does not reach certain percentage
every man will be required to fire ten rounds at
zoo, 500, 500 and 600 yards, it being believed
that the resultant scores will be o more &C.
curate index to tho mans ability than has been
heretofore afforded by the scores now on
record. 1t will be provided in general orders
that those who do not shoot with their COM
mands on the date specified will not be supplied
with free ammunition, and will have to make
their scores on voluntary practice days at the
regular rates.
Wednesdays and Fridays are the DAYS on
which nearly all Of this class practice will be
done, and the schedule is going to be after the
following fashion: First battalion Wednesday,
July s; second battalion. Friday, July 7; third
battalion, Wednesday, July IL; fourth bat
talon, Friday, July IA; sixth battalion, We'd
nesday, July 49,; first separate battalion, Fri
day, July q; first, second and third separate
companies and light battery A. Wednesday,
July 26; engineer corps, Friday, July %; gem
eral staff and field and staff Of regiments and
battalion inspectors Of rifle practice Thursday,
July g. The latter aggregation will not be re-
CURED to report until i: 80 p. m. on the day sec
apart for their practice.
An especial effort is to be made to bring ont
every officer and enlisted man who can possibly
be with his organization on the day for his
class practice.
REGULATIONS.
In connection with the general orders as to
class practice will appear regulations as to
the range-regulations that are now in force
but that are not generally known. 1t will be
provided that no officer or enlisted man not
properly uniformed will be permitted to prac-
tice at any time; the use of any ammunition
other than that issued on the range is pro-
hibited; prohibition is also made plain as to
tine signaling Of markers by any other than the
range officer or some one designated bv him.
OF more general interest perhaps than almost
any other rule is the one which says that ION
days set apart for class or voluntary practice