The Washington times., 1894-08-12
In READINESS FOR KNIGHTS
Public Comfort Committee Can Lodge
100000 Visitors.
PLAN OF THE CAMP GROUND
Brilliant Trades Display at'Night on Penn
sylvania Avenue Illuminating the Cap
itol Dome-Supreme Lodge Reception
$4,000 Has Been Paid on Subscriptions.

More progress has been made during the
past week toward perfecting plans for the
accommodation and entertainment Of the
thousands of visitors who will be here during
the Knights Of Pythias encampment than at
any time since the citizens committee has
been organized.
Everything is practically in readiness, and
there are now on the books Of the public
comfort committee rooms sufficient to COM
fortably lodge 100000 strangers. The great
est difficulty confronting the committee is
the tardiness OF out-of-town Knights and
their friends in making application for quar-
ters.
Ont of the expected crowd not more than
$500 have secured rooms and tents in ad-
vance, and all but 500 of these will come in
divisions and regiments. This is a rather dis
couraging outlook for hotel and boarding.
house keepers, but many OF the District
Knights are confident that the estimated num-
ber will be present. They ythat during the
last three days previous to the encaInpment
the public comfort and camp and camp
grounds committee will need assistance in
assigning the visitors quarters. This state
rnent is made on the basis OF the experience
of Knights who have arranged Tor previous
encampments in other cities.
The local committee have done all in their
power to impress upon the Knights intending
to come to Washington the necessity of apply
ing for quarters at an early date. III they
wait until they reach Washington this COM
mittee say no complaint should be made II
satisfactory lodging is not secured.
The committee on illumination and fire.
works have been hard at work during the
past week perfecting plans for their part OF
the entertainment. They have invited repre-
sentatIves of the different trades and business
houses in the District to participate in a
trades display and commercial parade on the
evening OF Tuesday. August q. The idea is
to have the different lines of business appro-
priately represented by floats or in any other
manner suitable TO the merchants. This will
be one Of the main features OF the encamp-
ment week, and at this early day handsome
turnout is promised.
nLuMISATIoN OF THE AVENUE.
The committee on illumination has also
about completed arrangements for the iilumi-
nation of Pennsylvania avenue. Six thousand
feet of electric-light wire will be strung along
each side of the Avenue eight feet above the
sidewalk At intervals of three feet along this
wire vari-colored japanese lanterns will be
suspended and lighted by incandescent lights.
the Treasury have signified their intention of
making grand fireworks display III front OF
their respective houses. The committee has
also received permission TO illuminate the
Capitol dome on the same night. Powerful
electric lights will DO hung from the base of the
statue of Freedom and around the colonade
Just beneath it. enabling persons on the
ground TO get view OF the dome by night
At meeting of the citizens committee two
weeks ago, request was received from the
Pythian sisters OF Washington for permission
to erect headquarters tent on the camp
grounds. There was considerable opposition
by members OF the order to this request.
They said the sisters had never been recog-
nized as a part of the order, and therefore
should not be allowed tent. The question
was referred to the Knights of Pythias execu-
tive committee. At meeting OF that body on
Monday evening a communication was re-
ceived from the ladies withdrawing the re-
quest. and thus solving the question and
avoiding discussion.
The committee on camp and camp grounds
have been hard at work during the past week
making arrangements for the erection OF
tents. A plan of the camp grounds has been
drawn and provision has been made for
l5Il tents for the privates in the uniform
rank and about 200 large tents for the differ
ent brigade commanders and members OF
Major Gen. Carnahan's staff.
Headquarters are located on the east side,
near Fourteenth street. Ample accommo-
dations will be provided for newspaper
representatives in n large tent to be To-
Gated Just south of and Immediately ad-
Joining headquarters Near by will be
located the committee on Information tent. and
some one will be in attendance during the day
and night for the purpose OF directing visit
ors to the points OF interest in and about the
city and furnish such other Information as
may be desired. The sanitary tent is to be
directly south Of the main camp. while the
dining and kitchen tents are located on the
west side.
Streets lettered from to will extend north
and south through the camp and the different
divisions and regiments may locate their
quarters by referring to the street on which
their tent is erected. One of the essential
features OF such a large camp is post-offiee
and several days ago the committee was no.
titled by the city postal authorities that ar
rangements for the collecting and delivery OF
mail, the sale of postage stamps and money
orders would be completed at an early date,
probably this week.
LOCATION OF THE PosT-oFFICE.
The post-offlce and also a telegraph office
will be at q convenient point at the south
east corner Of the grounds. close by one of
the main entrances to camp. According to
letter received at headquarters nearly 1000
tents WcIc siippcu stStciNuy itou W
lumbus, o., and should arrive in Washington
some time this week.
Preparations for the reception to the su-
preme lodge. to be given in Convention Hail.
were practically completed last week. Flags
were loaned 10y the Treasury Department, and
detail OF sailors from the receiving ship Dale
will decorate the interior and exterior of the
hall. A contract with the Marine Band for
furnishing music on that occasion has been
closed and the order of exercises will be as
follows: Music by the band; opening address,
Commissioner John W. Ross; address OF well
come on behalf of the nation, Vice President
Adlai Stevenson; response, Supreme Grand
Chancellor W. w. Blackburn; address of well
come on behalf Of the District of Columbia
Knights of Pythias, Hon. c. G. Conn; re-
sponses, Mr.. r. l.. @. White, supreme keeper
OF records and SEALS and Vice Supreme Grand
Chancellor Richie.
contract for the rental Of Convention
Hall has been signed by the hall managers
and Mr.. Goodhart, chairman Of the commit
tee on reception to the supreme lodge, and
approved by the citizens committee. The
company agree to furnish light and ushers
and print 1000 coupon tickets for 1900. II
was decided that handsomely printed invita-
tions to the reception should be sent to each
member of the supreme lodge, each invita-
tion to be exchangable for four tickets OF ad-
mission.
Since the last meeting OF the citizens COM
mittee additional subscriptions to the en-
cnmnment fund have been received by the