Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-20


Deians Tor the great Confederate re-
,r.o, 20 be held here June S0th and july
t., and "a. are progressing satisfactorily.
Tho committees have kept faithfully at
.,.s for several weeks, and much OF
,.e preliminary business has been at
,.aied 10. II only remains now, to
,..vo extent. Tor those in charge 70
..molv watch their places for the big
meeting 20 moterialize.
REGARDING the reunion, two things are
morally ccrtaln-it will bring here the
LARGEST crowd Of people ever assembled
.. Richmond. and the historic old capi-
,.i of The Confederacy viii do everything
81. lbs power 70 make the sojourn OF her
,.,aets as delightful as Il win be inter
.s.ing and impressive.
tdylces were received yesterday from
several states Of the South, and from
,.ery section came the tidings, "Were
coming 10 Richmond The entire city
a., nreparlng for the great occasion. and
every one may feel assured that he viii
be- taken care Of. Everybody is taking
moro or less individual pride in the sue
..ss " the event. and the doors OF al
most every nome I'm town will be open 10
receive the visitors.
There was quite an interesting. though
entirely informal. session Of the Ad-
visorv Committee Of the Reunion last
rIsnt AZ the Mechanics Institute. Gene
nj Peyton Wise presided, and the at
tendance was large. Colonel John Muir
uhv reported a proposition from the Rich
rond Railway and Electric Company to
f,rnish thirty arc-lfghts for the audito-
,.1m. al the cost OF $50. Colonel Muir
rnv also explained that he had not yet
gotten estimates for the withdrawing
and repairs necessary 10 be done, but
would secure them I'm a few days.
GETTING QUARTERS
Captain d. a. Brown. chairman Of the
committee on Entertainment Of Veterans,
stated that he was making good pro
eress in the matter OF getting quarters
FOR the veterans. lie sald that he hoped
% furnish sleeping accommodations Tor
from twenty-five hundred TO three thou
sand az the Expositlon-Grounds. Others
win be cared for in the city, where large
halls and vacant stores will be secured
and filled with cots and beds. 1t is pro
Fable that accommodations Of this char
i-ter can be provided for from five to
,f-ut thousand.
General Charles j. Anderson reported
le probability of the Virginia Military
Institute Corps coming TO the reunion,
end there was a general discussion OF
reunion matters, and the committee ad-
j1urned
ON Tuesday night next there VIII be
session OF the Executive Committee, at
which an the chalrmen of minor commit
l. a.rt1 ~
NIT reports as to progress made in their
various lines OF work.
LETTERS FROM EVERYWHERE.
The indications are that the crowds
coming 10 Richmond for the reunion will
be far greater in numbers than was first
expected Plans are on foot to run eX-
cursion trains from Texas and one or
TWO other distant States. where large
numbers are DESTROYS Of coming, and
would do so. but for the fact that the
regular rOund-trip rates are regarded
as high for such great distances. 1t Is
proposed Ia the Lone Star State. II pos
dhie. 20 get up an excursion train
with accommodations for about five hun
lrad. the train TO start from a central
point and excursion prices 20 be charged.
Cons .derable complaint has been heard
from me distant States that the old Vete-
rams cannot afford to pay $50 or $50 rail
road fare. ana earnest appeals are being
made In Texas. Missouri, Mississippi, and
Elsewhere FOR cheaper transportation. 1t Is
almost impossible for the committee here
90 DO anything in this direction. because
that body can get no intelligent idea
ss 10 how many people will come from
any specific part OF the country. There
fore IL is essential that parties de-
string more reduced rates that those al
ready offered should take prompt steps
io oulighten the railroad companies as
% the number they expect TO bring, ana
such other information as may be neces-
sary.
Letters and communications from all
over the country are pouring into the
headquarters Of the Reunion Commit
Tee. Some OF them give definite I'M
formation as 10 how many men some OF
she camps VIII bring. others ask for in
formation upon one point or another,
while still others complain OF high rail-
read rates; but all intimate that large
crowds are coming 10 Richmond TO at
tend the reunion. one gentleman from
Durham. n. c., IN conversation with
Secretary Elicit yesterday said that
fully $50 people would be here from that
city. while. from what he could learn.
an other points IN the Old North State
would send correspondingly large dele
cations.
VOICE FROM LOUISIANA
The following communication from Ad-
iutant w. W. Wilmington, Of Jef. Davis
Camp. No. 6. Alexandra. La. and
addressed 10 General Peyton Wise. eX-
plains itself:
Dear Sir and mrade.-Having been
appointed as adjutant. and commit
tee from JEFF. Davis Camp. No. 6, from
tais place. 10 make inquiry as 70 rates
and fare 10 the reunion of Confederate
veterans, ! concluded 10 write 10 you.
There are quite "a number OF comrades
who are anxious 70 visit once more
tae scenes Of our soldler-lfe and the
capital OF our loved Confedcracy. and
VIII be glad to DO so. II the fare is put
az reasonable scale. But the hopes OF
many OF us were disappointed a day or
TWO agO. when We saw published in our
paper that the fare would be $2i15. Now,
while this, 20 many. IS not a very large
amount still there are many Of our old
comrades who could not afford this
amount from their depleted stipends
and from this cause would be compelled
io give mp the hope OF meeting old friends
and comrades. and OF recalling old remi-
iscences, and of recounung the scenes
o. The memorable past. I hope there
core. that a strenuous effort will be
made which. i feel satisfied that you
ana those associated with you Will do,
O. get the rate AS low as possible quite
a number viii so from this section IL the
Tate is low. and very few II not / hope
therefore. that you may be successful! in
Your endeayors. ana that we may all
meet again az Richmond. The number,
sH you know. is getting fewer and fewer.
es we meet at these reunions. and. as
ihlt Is 70 be az the Old capital and there
s 20 occur at the same time the laying
90 the cornerstone 20 our Presidents