The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-04-20
DECORATIONS ar BELoIr.
Two Arches Erected Across the Street
and Many Other Adornments.

QEG0E8A4AOLA2 81 EZA4244s
Two Arches Erected Across the Street
and Many Other Adornments.
Beloit. April 2O-The work of prepar-
alton for the department encampment
of the G. A. r., which convenes in this
city tomorrow. is about completed. The
decorations viii favorably compare
with most of the towns where the en-
campment has been held in former
years. All the business buildings are
tastefully decorated, and flags are
hung out from every house.
The opera house, where the sessions
of the G. A. r. win be held, has been
thoroughly Overhauled so that one
would now scarcely recognize the din
gy room of a few days ago. The com
mittee on decoration have been lavish
with their festOonings, bunting, flags,
and pictures of prominent Union Off
GERS. The committee will also spring a
happy surprise on the old comrades
when the stage curtain rises, for hung
on the side of the wall viii be a large
picture of Mckinley, our next presi-
dent.
Two arches have been constructed,
one placed across the street in front of
the. postofice, and the other spans the
street leading to and from the depots.
They are ornamented with pictures of
prominent generals of the late war,
and with bunting and fage.
Mill street. the most prominent bust
ness thOroughfare of the town, is
spanned with three large streamers
five feet wide and forty-dve feet long,
each bearing inscriptions in large let
ters. Welcome, comrades"
Beloit expects to entertain from 800
to 1900 visitors during the encamp-
ment Every home in the city has been
thrown open for the accommodation Of
the comrades of the G. A. r. and dele
gates of kindred organizations and 9th
er visitors. Beloit is not an obscure
place out west" as a disgruntled Mis-
souri, paper has said. On the contrary
it is a healthy, wide-awake, enterpris-
ing city, whose homes and people are
as hospitable as are found anywhere in
Kansas. There viii be plenty to eat
and drink and if the wells run dry,
comrades, the famous Solomon river is
running bank full with the healthiest
water on earth. made so by the glorious
rains of the last week.
There will be a novel feature of the
parade not witnessed heretofore in de-
partment encampments Of the Grand
Army Of the Republic. This will occur
Wednesday. Besides the line Of war
veterans and Sons of Veterans local
civic societies and the Beloit fire de-
partment several hundred public
school children. healthy, hne-looling
and well-dressed as can be seen any
where in Kansas viii be marching in
the procession, headed by float haul
ing the number Of young girls there are
states.
There are a large number of tents
here already, 50 that if any old veter-
an wishes, he can occupy a tent cook
his bacon and beans and repeat the
/ never -grow-old stories of camp and
march.
Both the Times and Gazette viii is
sue daily editions during the encamp-
ment
The Beloit churches We're crowded
with women Sunday morning. many Of
them attending in order to pray for
1 their husbands Who were in their
1 places of business decorating their
stores and workshops for the encamp-
ment
Department president of the W r.
C.. Mrs. Emma B. Alrich. department
secretary, Miss Rachael c. -Alrich, Mrs
Edith NJ Wood. of Pittsburg, past de-
partment president. now chairman if
4 the executive board w. r. C.. and Mrs
Jennie r. Marsh. of Manhattan. a mem
4 Der Of the executive board. spent Sun
\ day in BeIOit, and attended the various
/ church services.
1t looks like Col. w. c. Whitney, OF
/ Cawker City, for department comman-
/ der. He will be supported by all the
/ delegates in this section of the state.
/ Until this matter is out of the way. his
friends are non-eommtttal as to where
4 the state reunion viii be located.
The decorations of the halls and
churches where the G. A. r. and kim
! drad examinations meet to transact