The Washington times., 1894-08-12

endeavoring to secure the desired railroad
rate from the Western Traffic Association.
but as yet have not been successful In Its
efforts, and now entertains no hope OF bring
ing the association to terms. Whlie thls VIII
keep many OF the Western and southern
Knights from attending the encampment 1t IS
still believed and was so expressed to TINES
reporter yesterday that 20. 900 of the uniform
rank will be in the parade and 150.OO OF their
friends will visit the city.
MIR. MITcHELL's CONFIDENCE.
Mr.. John H. Mitchell, chairman OF the
Knights of Pythias public comfort committee,
is confident that there will be 125.000 visitors
in the city during the coming encampment.
In conversation with a TIMES reporter yes
terday on the subject Mr.. Mitchell said: Il
can't understand why SO many people say
there will only be few thousand strangers
in Washington encampment week. Even
some OF the executive committee seem to De
discouraged because more applications Tor
quarters have not been received at this time.
They say that because only about 1000 out
of-town Knights have asked for quarters
there will not be more than sc. 900 here on the
9th. But they are laboring under misap-
prehension and make a big miscalculation
when they express themselves in that way.
When estimate over 100 900 l am not merely
guessing, but speaking from the experience
of men and committees who have had charge
of encampment arrangements for eight years
past
''I have learned from them that during the
three or four days proceeding the encamp-
ment more applications for quarters have been
received than 1T any time previous. There
are even a number of people who will not ap
ply until they reach the city. To provide Tor
them it will be necessary for the public COM
fort committee to have branch office in each
railroad station. At these offices a list Of
rooms which have been registered will be
kept and the visitors assigned to them.
AT the coming Grand Army encampment,
in Pittsburg, they expect $4,000 visitors.
These come only from the North, East and
West. There are very few Grand Army men
in the South, which is a Pyhtian stronghold.
II they can get so many visitors in the Smoky
City from practically only three sections Of
the country in these times OF scarce money
and obstinate railroad corporations. the Ma
tional Capital can certainly attract twice that
number from every section of the United
States and Canada. When the encampment
was held in Toronto eight years ago sc. 600
visitors were in that city.
Washington need not fear about small
crowd. The Knights are coming from the
North, South, East, and West and the encamp-
ment Of '94 will be the greatest Pvthian gath
ering in the history Of the order"
In marked contrast to the day before yes
terday was an exceedingly dull day at Pythian
Headquarters. Only few additional rooms
were registered and Secretary McClintok had
a comparatively easy time. But one applica-
ton for quarters in camp was received, from
Blackwater Division. No. 8, Second West Vir-
ginia Regiment. of Davis, W. Va. They will
bring twelve men. Word was received from
the Macauley-Peters Tent Company that they
will begin to set up the /, 200 tents on Aug