St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-19
1T WILL BE ALL DOWN GRADE,
EIMIT OF TWO
MILES.
SuDGE KERR,s REPORT IN FULL.
Halls and Camp Fires Committee
@iaking Headway With Its
Work.

terday the important report of Judge c. ID.
Kerr, chairman of the parade and review
committee, upon the veXed question of the
best line of march for the veterans parade of
Sept. 3. Judge Kerr devoted much labor to
the investigation of this matter-so much, in
deed, as to temporarily impair his health.
The report indicates an earnest desire to Sc
lect route best for the veterans best for the
spectators and best for the city at large
Judge Kerr's recommendations have been
fully considered by the executive committee
and have been finally accepted. Col. H. S.
Dietrich of Chicago, Commander Walkers
chief of staff, was delegated to examine the
proposed route before the national organiza-
ton would accept it. Col. DIETRICH has walk
ed over the designated line and he declares
that without exception it is the best line of
march in every respect that has ever been
provided at any encampment except that at
Washington, when 5000 marched down Penn
sylvania avenue. Some of the advantages of
the line fixed upon that 1t is less than
two miles long, the limit fixed at the last
national encampment. 1t is down grade the
entire distance. 1t is over asphalt, with the
exception of a block or two. 1t is along
wide street to a great extent &iaded by
trees and high buildings and bordered by
wide sidewalks and frequent open spaces
where observation stands may be erected.
The grand reviewing stand will probably be
placed along the north side of the new post
Office in the space just granted by the govern
ment for of the G. A. R. during the en-
campment. That all parts of the city may
participate in the benefits of a parade the
mi thraa mar vii ia
place along different routes in each case.
These parades are: Tuesday, Sept. 1, the mill
tia; Thursday, Sept. 8, the regular troops;
Friday, Sept 4, the civic parade, including
the fire department, etc. There will also be
two or more evening parades in which bicy
cleE and others will take part. Judge Kerr's
report is follows:
Gen. E. C. Mason, President Thirtieth Ma
tional Encampment Committee, G. A. r.: Pur-
suant to the request of the executive COM
mittee, have the honor to report the follow
ing date and suggestions as touching the line
of march of the grand parade at the thirtieth
national encampment. Three principal OBJ
jects are to be considered in selecting such
line Of march.
First-The comfort and convenience of those
participating, in reaching the initial or start
ing point of the parade.
Second-The length of the route and the
character of the streets, as effecting the ease
body of men. This includes width of streets,
character of pavement and topography, wheth-
er level or up or down hill.
Third-The facilities existing, or which may
be prepared for a comfortable view Of the
parade by citizens and visitors. 1t is est-
mated there will be at least 10000 people
who will wish to see the parade.
Fourth-The. facilities for reaching their
quarters by the men in line after they have
passed the reviewing stand and been dismiss
ed. This involves their dispersal to quar-
terS before the StraAtS in that locality hava
become blocked by the crowds that have been
reviewing the parade.
Bearing in mind these purposes to be sub
served, l have carefully examined several
proposed lines Of march, and will give you
the data obtainable with respect to same:
First-Commencing at Seven corners, thence
down Third street to Sibley thence on Sbley
to Sixth street. thence on Sixth to Wabasha
thence on Wabasha to College, reviewing
stand on capitol grounds; column breaking at
College and streets beyond Distance Of this
route is 1.9 miles: Vacant lots on route upon
which tiers of seats may be erected for spec
tators, 600 lineal feet. This includes Smith
park.
Sidewalks will accommodate, allowing two
Ieet square for each person, $4,000.
Seats On vacant lots, fifteen tiers of seats
and two feet space for each person, will ac-
comodate 4,50O. Total, 54 500.
The pavement on Third street is not Of the
best, nor would the most favorable view of
the city be obtained on that route.
Second-Commencing at junction of Fifth
street, Third street and Pleasant avenue;
thence down Fifth to Sibley; thence on Sibley
to Sixth or Seventh street; thence on Sixth
or Seventh streets to Wabasha; thence on
Wabasha to College; reviewing stand at capi-
tel grounds; column breaking as in No. l.;
distance Of this route is 1.S miles; vacant lots
for sea s $50 feet. This includes Rice park
north side of court house grounds and Smith
park; number of spectators sidewalks 49,
OO0; number Of spectators seats on vacant
lots, 12,375. Total, $685.
Ihls route could not be adopted unless the
city, would pave Fifth street, between Wa
a. Dasna ana an Sibiey, with some suitable pave
ment If this is not done the route might be
varied by turning to the left on Wabasha to
sixth; thence down Sixth to Wacouta thence
on Wacouta to Seventh; thence up Seventh To
Wabasha, and thence on Wabasha to College
This would make the march 1.9 miles but
would accommodate but few more spectators
on account of there being so much less vacant
space between Wabasha and Sibley on Sixth
than there is on Fifth street
Ihlrd-Commencing at junction Of Sixth
street and Smith avenue; thence down Sixth
street TO Wacouta street; thence on Wacouta
TO Seventh street, thence on Seventh street to
Wapasha thence on Wabasha to College
reviewing stand at capitol grounds Length of
TINS route is Ia miles. Vacant lots for seats.
including 200 feet north front of United States
10 600 feet. ~
Sidewalks will accommodate a. 500
Estimating them at ten feet wide seats on
vaeant lots will accommodate II 25O. Total, 55.-
Fourth-Commencing at junction of Davton
and harrington avenues; thence on Davton n
Mackubin; thence Mackubin to Portland
thence on Portland to Summit; thence on
Si SuILi. 70 oiXth street; reviewing stand at
summit park. Length of this line is IL miles
vacant a lots on which seats can be erected
$500 feet. e''eu'
Sidewalks. being much wider than in lowe,
town, would accommodate 90, $50; seats erected
would accommodate 1850 Total 1O9 400
This route would furnish the best facilities
IoL lne coiumn dispensing without being i'm
peoed by the crowd of onookers. The prin-
clpal objections are the distance to the start
Ing point from the central and eastern narts
or the city, and that no part of the march
would be through the business portion of the
city. N 'Ae
Fifth-Commencing at junction of Davton
and Western avenues, thence on Western
avenue to Summit, thence on Summit avenue
to Sixth street, thence on Sixth street to Rob-
ert or Jackson.
Reviewing stand at north entrance to Fed
eral building, 200 feet front and 100 deem.
Length of this route is 1S miles, Vacant
lots for seats, 1900 feet
Sidewalks and boulevard II feet wide on
western, 80 feet wide on Summit and 10 feet
wide on Sixth, would accommodate SS 200
Seats would accommodate II, $50. Total
ZOE, ,450.
The route last named would be all down
hill and all on asphalt ravellents, except from
DAYTON avenue to foot of hill on Sixth street
and from Sibley to Wacouta on Sixth. Those
small sections would have to be made smooth
and suitable for such marching by the city.
The only objection to this route is the dis
tance that must be traversed from some parts
OF the city in reaching the starting point
In this connection, however it should be
remembered that to all comrades quartered
In sections of the city east northeast and
southeast OF Robert or Sibley streets they
would from start to finish of the march he
going towards their quarters and when dis
banded would be approximately half mile
nearer their quarters than they would be II
disbanded on Wabasha at or north of Col
lege avenue. This of course would he coun
terbalanced to some extent by the increased