The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-07-18
ALL ABOARD FOR MT. GRETNA
The Great Alliance Encampment to be
Held There in August--Reduced
Rates on all Railroads---Prepara-
tions on a Grand Scale.

tions on a Grand Scale.
Mr.. EDITOR The Summer Encamp
ment Committee of the National Farm
ers Alliance and Industrial Union,
after examining a number Of places
offered for the purpose, have unani-
mously decided to locate the Summer
Encampment, for this year at least, at
NJ ount Gretna, Lancaster and Lebanon
counties, in the State of Pennsylvania.
This is admittedly the richest farming
country in the United States, the county
of Lancaster alone having over 1000
farms, and the real and personal prop
erty of the county valued at over $170,
O0O,0 900 by the tax assessors. But lhey
are feeling the hard times, and want to
know more about the Farmers Ali
ance. there now being but very few
Alliances in that county. They are,
however, quite numerous in the other
surrounding counties.
Mount Gretna is naturally one of the
finest localities in the United States for
lGrge gathering of farmers, and arti-
ficially nearly $500, 600 have been spent
by the owner, Mr.. Robert H Coleman,
an extensive iron ore miner, furnace
man and farmer, to make the place as
attractive as any one could wish
The place is readily reached by the
Pennsylvania Railroad system, the
Philadelphia and Reading r R., and
by the Baltimore and Ohio R. R. in
connection with the Philadelphia and
Reading, the Richmond and Danville
system connecting with the Penn4yl
vania. Low rates are assured by the
various transportation companies; in
the middle States, Virginia, West Vir
ginia and Ohio about half fare, Or a
very small fraction over one and oDe-
half cents 81 mile
The encampment grounds exceed
1000 acres, on which will be erected
before the encampment opens four as
sembly halls of the best description,
one seating 300. another s99o g SOC, aeA1se
other $500 and another over 5000,
which can quickly be made to accom-
modate over $4,000. Then there is a
mammoth building with glass sides for
exhibits, smaller building for agri
cultural displays, over 1000 square
feet of platforms for agricultural ma
chinery, and places for live stock.
Liberal premiums are offered for agri
cultural and horticultural products,
5000 for the best display by any ALI
ance, 500 for the second best, and $50
for the third best, open to any Alliance
in the United States. Liberal premiums
for the best butter, best bread, best
cake, and best pies-all to be home
made, and by farmers wives or daugh-
ters. No charge to compete.
There are hundreds of neat cottages
on the grounds, which can be rented
Tor the encampmeLt at a very low
rental; also canvass tents at still
lower price.
Meals served on the ground at from
so cents down to 25 cents, a genuine
old fashioned farm dinner being as
sured at the last named price.
Everything possible in the way of
comforts has been provided. Nothing
has been omitted. This is to be a genu-
inc farmers outing, and the committe
have left nothing undone to make it
the grandest and best farmers summer
gathering ever held in the United
States.
The best music that can be had will
be rendered on the ground and plenty
of it; band music, vocal, banjo club,
mandolin club; entertainments and at
fractions without number day and
evening; the best speakers in America
topics especially interesting to farmers
will be on hand, and there will be re-
unions Of farmers of the North with
their brother farmers of the South, and
of Eastern farmers with their Western
brethren. There is going to be no Sec
tionalism In this encampment. ALI
will be on the same plane at Mount
Gretna. Particular pains will be taken,
however, to have those from the same
communities placed in cottages or
tents quite near each other; and If
deemed desirable, their own meals can
be prepared on the ground, there being
a number of free ranges for that pur-
pose.
In the following respects the commit
tee believe Mount Gretna to have no
superior: Easy of access by railroads
tracks-5O, 600 people can be
taken to or from the grounds in very
few hours; plenty of shade; pure noun
tain air; pure water; superior drainage;
no mud; no dust; beautiful streams;