Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-09-08

| lsuuiCS anu CtiiiuiCh honN oP '"s
the largest portion of the encamp-
ment, and the self-respecting man
will not only maintain good order
himself in the presence of his fam
lily and the families of his neigh
bors, but he is prepared to see that
all others do the same. If II may
be asked the reason of the great
success of the reunions at Baxter
Springs and why they have grown
to be the grandest and most enjoy
able of any in the West. the answer
is that the veteran and his friends
come here with their families. He
don't go off on "toot' with the
boys for season, but moves his
family down to Camp Logan for n
weeks outing with his neighbors
and old comrades.
Attention il called to this partic.
ular feature in the success of the
reunions. because il il the basis for
the future. The veterans will be
glad to extend the hospitality of
their camp in the future to those
who come only for n day. but they
will be better pleased if they will
come and spend the entire week ~,
Camp Logan. The. experience of
the reunion just closing. as well as
those of the past, has demonstrated
that Camp Logan is the one great
pleasure resort. or outing camp, for
all this section. The reunions will
be held annually, and the people
may as well get ready for them.
Heretofore the great majority have
depended entirely on the Associa-
ton for tents or shelter. For the
future, or until we get rich enough
to build permanent barracks on
the grounds, all who can should
come with their own shelter. y
good sized tent, capable of accom-
modating two families, can be had
for from six to twelve dollars.
Properly taken care of, il will las,
for years. 1t is confidently cx-
pected that ut the next gathering
there Y i'll he thousand private
tents on the camp ground.
In closing up for the reunion, i,
is well to make n few observations
as to the present and future. To
the board of directors of the Asso-
citation the suggestion is offered
which is probably not new to them,
and that il that the Baxter reunion
is big thing. 1t is great instilu-
ton requiring the very best atten-
ton of the best minds of the Asso.
citation. 1t has long since passed
the point where il can be managed
as You would manage Fourth OF
July picnic. Not temporary but
permanancy, must be the order
from this on. The reunion is IL
fixture; so must the camp be. Not
less than 50 acres of land must b,
owned or controlled for a long
number of years by the Associa
ton. The camp must be brought
to condition of well regulated
park, with place for everything
\ place set apart for the camp. a
place for promenade, speakers
stand, Midway Plaisance, water
closets and n hundred other things
that are essential TO well re2t.
lated encampment. 1t will take
money to do all these things, but
the money can be had if the proper
effort is made. The citizens OF
Baxter and immediate vicinity are
more directly interested than any
one else. Camp Logan cannot only
be made the finest encamwmeni
grounds in the state, but it can be
the great pleasure grounds of ali
this section of country, who vii
resort here for picnics, chautauqua
assemblys, camp meetings, etc. Ii
is well worth the effort to look for
ward to all these things, a Id it can
be accomplished. But whether
great things are accomplished or
not, some things will be expected
at the next gathering. A larger
auditorium and better water facil
tiles must be provided. More COM
pany room will have to be found
and better parking facilities for
teams arranged for. There are an
hundred and one things that will
have to be buildcd greater aud bet
ter, for the reunion gets larger each
year, and so must III. facilities for
the comfort of the people.
Finally, on the part of the whole
people, we want 10 return thanks to
few individuals who got very
little enjoyment out OF the weeks
outing, on account of the hard
work they had to perform in pro-
viding comfort for others.
The only really hard week of
labor that Col. Weldy performs
during the year, is when he is in
command at Camp Logan. The
average camper may think there is
nothing very hard about presiding
over camp fire, and there is not.
That is the only time in the day
when Col. Weldy gets any rest.
From the time he steps out of his
quarters in the morning until he
steps in again to go to bed, it is
one continuous strain. Everybody