Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-17
where Shall We build the CoIos-
seums

The prospects are that by the time OF
the assemblin. here OF the Confederate
veterans next spring. electric stTeet-cars
Will be running from Chimborazo TO the
Exposition Grounds along the lire OF
| Broad street.
Old "Confeds" know Chimborazo ms
the site OF the largest military hospital
that the Confederacy had. Where Is now
| park was. from 1862 10 1866. the ground
upon which stood row after row OF hos
! pital sheds where tens Of thousands OF
sick and wounded were treated.
Chlmborazo will be the eastern terminus
Of the new electric line. Its western
| terminus Will be at the Boulevard-soHe
| hundreds Of yards west OF the EXPOSE
| ton Gounds-or New Fair-Grounds," as
| the soldiers knew the place when II was
Camp Lee" camp OF rendezvous. ~
the way, we fancy that no veteran doubts
that Camp Lee was named after Il. II.
Lee. But Il wasn't. 1t was named after
his father. General Henry Lee-"Light-
Horse Harry" OF the Revolution. More
over It was named before the late war,
and. whilst the Henrico Light Dragons
and other Virginia cavalry commands
were having a summer encampment there.
This new street-car line. piercing the
city through and through its length. will
enable US to make the great Confede-
rate reunion here next year more of
success than IL would otherwise be posi-
HE for lis 10 do. We shall then be in a
Of
strangers Then, every historic spot IN
or about the city will be easy OF access
by electric street-car lines
Yes; we are going to have a large
crowd Of people here next May, and
1t will be our duty to provide four days
entertainment for them. This, we think.
we shall be able to do satisfactorily,
though as yet the Committee OF Ar
rangements have not decided where the
colosseum shall be built. We hope they
have no idea Of putting ii upon the Expo
sition-Grounds. Could we have all
the strcet-cars Of Richmond and Man
chester assembled at once. and backed
ND at the Exposition-Grounds awaiting
the hour Of adjournment Of the Vete-
rams sessions. they could not accommo-
date one half Of the people who would
wish To reach the city in a hurry.
We must say that we think that the Sc
lection Of the E.xpositlon-Grounds as the
site for the colosseum would be unsatis-
factory and unfortunate. we would bet
ter mt II in the city. The lot diagonally
opposite the Jefferson Hotel appears TO be
an ideal site. Its surface could be
easily smoothed over and then no plank
floor would be needed. The lot Is large
and well located, and slopes advantage
ousIy for the purpose in view. Further
more. it is but two squares from Monroe
Park-the place where the Jefferson Davis
monument Is 10 be erected. and where,
Of course. all the ceremonies Of corner
stone laying VIII occur.
Yes, this lot 0he Venable loo seems
70 be just the site that is needed upon
which 70 erect the mammoth temporary
building. which VIII be required for the
veterans meetings We shall not do
as well as other southern cities have done
If we fail TO have a building which
will seat at least ten thousand people.
II any one knows Of n better site than the
Nenable lot. let him say so.
Next 10 the Venable lot. we should pre-
fer TO see the colosseum put upon the
Capitol Square. II room could be found
there FOR IT, This, Of course, would re-
quire an act of Assembly. but the Legs
lature meets In December and we think
that It would not refuse US this boon, in
case 1t were believed that no other site
so suitable could be found. The Capitol
Square has the advantage Of centralness,
ana in the Capitol and Library buildings
near by convenient committee-rooms
could be found for the numerous COM
mlttees which must prepare the work OF
the veterans.
1t is not day too soon to begin think
ing OF all these things. When great sums
Of money are to be raised this very
fact seems to accelerate the speed OF
the wheels OF time. Though we build
the colosseum as plainly and cheaply as
possible. Il will cost thousands Of dol
lars. The roof and sides should be
proof against the rain-storms which may
be expected any day in May. and there
should be good, comfortable seats with
backs to them for those who may care
to attend the sessions Of the Grand Eli
campment. and who wish TO hear the
speeches Of the big men"
The day Of the encampment and re-
union will soon roll around. and we
have many preparations TO make, but
none that is of more consequence than
the selection OF site for the veterans
assembly hall.