The National tribune., 1893-08-10
NATIONAL
ENCAMPM ENT.
Progress of the Preparations for the
Coming Grand Reunion.
IxDTANAPoLIs, Aug. 5, 1893.


working will reach the standard i
fixed in the outset to make II the greatest tina
has vet occurred With all details of arrange
ment progressing smoothly and fitting in JUS
where they belong without any friction, the
Board is very much pleased with the responses
il is receiving in regard TO attendance. 1t Is
confidently believed that it will not fall short
of the great multitude that was promised the
citizens months ago
Not a day passes that the Board fails to re-
ceive numerous inquiries FOR accommodations
at the hotels and boarding houses, and, then,
the requests for free quarters are very large.
1t is certain that all the space thus far provided
for will be necessary. indianapolis placed
her expectations high, and there is nothing to
indicate that they will not be realized. Her
welcome to the veterans will be as broad as her
generosity.
The Eastern Departments will be well repre-
scented. In some of the Departments especial
work is being done in stirring mp an interest
in the event, and Department officers note
very satisfactory promises of attendance. The
cheap railroad fare is helping the matter of at
tendance amazingly.
From the Central and Western States the
attendance will be larger than that at any
previous Encampment. If the Indiana Posts
continue giving the number of members who
are coming as they have been doing, there will
be but few of the Grand Army veterans at
home during the Encampment week. The
average is about 40 to a Post, and this will
give an attendance of about 10000 out OF the
23909 members in good standing in the State
Illinois and Ohio each repor. about the In
diana average of Grand Army men alone who
are coming, and their respective representation
of veterans will be nearly 10000. Thus, the
three States on their returns that have been
received promise at least 10000 Grand Army
veterans. The averages really show more, but
to make modest estimate account is taken Of
II Tc,-Ep TO ha aarn
from.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR ALL.
This feature of the work of the Citizens
Executive Board insures accommodation for
everyone whose Post places the matter of
quarters in the hands of the Board. Now and
then a Post indicates its preference to leave
quarters unsecured until it reaches here This
is bad course TO pursue, for as ample as the
accommodations will be. there will be none
with any certainty awaiting the application of
late corners. This week the Board has sent
out thousands more blank applications Of the
kind, and il is the wish that there should be
immediate response from the Posts. This is
considered so important that it is desired to
have all Posts assigned to quarters not later
than the second week in August
To those asking individually for lodging
and board the same urgency of early arrange
ment applies. But in this the Executive
Board can do no more than place the host
and the applicant in communication. The
old soldier should at once make a memo
Tandum of this and communicate with Execu-
tive Director Fortune. The advantage of this
lies in the fact that the visitors within half
hour of reaching the city CAP be sure OF being
at their quarters or boarding houses, brushing
of the dust of travel and getting ready in
few minutes to 20 sightseeing. II the veteran
does not know where he is to sleep and take his
meals until he arrives, he can be of having
his first days enjoyment marred by searching
for rooms
WEEK OF PLEASURE.
With his quarters of his mind the veteran
can settle down TO several days of pleasure such
as he has never had before. The committees
that are looking after the features and other
details of the great entertainment TO delight
him have their work well in hand. The Camp
fires will be numerous there are depart
menfs, corps divisions. brigade and regimental
associations. There will he, outside of the
Campfres, many Reunions. and with song,
speech and story they will all afford great en-
joyment TO the veteran.
But the big event of the Encampment is TO
be the parade. and old soldiers compare that of
each succeeding year with the grand review at
Washington in 1865. With the assurance Of the
largest attendance yet secured. the parade in
September promises TO outuumber any other.
Two things have been constantly pursued by
the Encampment-the comfort and the pleasure
Of the visitors. The committee and individual
work, too, is being directed TO that end. 1t is
the veteran first. and be will find it so on his
coming here. Perhaps on account of the ex-
ceptional historical interest attaching to In
disnapolis, and the city being the center of a
vast section where the veterans most numer-
GUS more is expected than would otherwise be-
THE BEET OF EECAMPMEETs.
But there is another consideration. This
EncampmeDt will be regarded as the climax of
a long list Of successes elsewhere. and for thou
sands of veterans il will probably be the last
The feeling that the years before them are few
is strong, and it is the exception for them 10
consider many more Reunions ahead. Years
ago" said an old soldier, when we met at En-
campments our means of enjoyment were more
lively than they have been in recent times
Now when we come together we like to take
aside few Of our intimate comrades and have
good talks. We will have but few more oppor-
tunities 10 do this. and thus the indianapolis
Enesmpment is booked for about the last enor-
nous attendance"
The soldier has been saving his money for
this trip. aud he is coming with his wife and
children TO enjoy what TO him is the festival Of
years.
This is what the Executive Board has to en-.
courage IL aud its great work Of preparation
Executive Director Fortune said yesterday that
year ago, if the present business situation had
been foreseen, no project for indianapolis offer
ing better results than shown would
have been better 10 adopt than that OF the
Grand Army Eneampment this year. 1t was
done and the proof Of the wisdom Of that action
is not far away.
As A FINANCIAL FACTOR.
Putting aside the general attention." said
Mr. Fortune, 4" that has been directed TO the city,
not dollar that the citizens are spending is
without direct benefit. Preparations for the
Encampment have kept many men busy and
later on opened up avenues of work for many
Classes Of mechanics. In all lines Of labor
necessary for completing the arrangements be-
tween 2, 500 and 5000 men will be employed
and this work comes At time OF tho year when
everything is dull The Encampment has been
great help 20 the unemployed, as well as 10
hose employed in the trades whose work has
been necessity.
81 have confidence in the result" Mr.. For
tune continued. The crowd we expect will
be here. aud they are not the people who feel
the effects Of the present stringency in money.
That is confined 10 business, and the money
necessary 10 bring the veteran 10 indianapolis
and provide him with accommodations has
been raised for that purpose. 1t is a great
piece Of good luck for us that we have the En-
campment here at this time. Ii will be the
means Of greater benefit TO the city than any
other kind Of project at this time"
CHAIRMAN LILLY on wEIssERT's LETTER.