Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-25

from enacting any laws that VIII be detri-
mental to st. Louisiana others who are
constantly on the lookout for aew factor
les and other businesses which might come
to the city. The members of this league
number several hundred. Each pays 500
dues every year to It's support, and the as
ISOLATION has So many ricn men that it
can on short notice raise large amount
of money.
st. Louis Convention Preparations.
Just now the league is busy about mat
tiers relating to the convention. A number
of convention committees have been APP
pointed, embracing the leading men of the
city, and every detail that will contribute
to its success is being provided for Mr..
Clark II. Samson, the head of the commit
tee on arrangements, has told me some
thing of what is being done. The people
are evidently bound that ST. Louis shall be
seen at its best. new system of street
cleaning has been adopted, whereby a
man and cart will be kept busy on every
block all day long going about and picking
up any dirt that may fall. The city is to
have new street signs at every corner be-
fore next June. and the municipal council
has ! am tod, appropriated large sum
for this purpose. The league has adopted
such plans will give the crowd no
trouble in finding quarters. The bureau of
information will have an office at the de-
pot, and uniformed messenger boys will be
sent with those who visit it to their hotels
and boarding houses. New places for the
accommodation of visitors are now being
registered at the rate of thirty and up
ward daily. Some of these are several
miles out and others are close to the de-
pot. Those who want rooms in private
houses without board can get good ones
for about 81. per day, and good restau-
rants are to be found almost everywhere.
"The Biggest on Earth"
This Business Mems League is aided by
the Mercantile Club, which is another big
ST. Louis institution, and together they
are so enthusiastic over the greatness of
their city that you wonder if, after all,
Chicago has not moved from Lake Michi-
gan to the Mississippi Among their
claims are that st Louis is the largest
city on the largest river Of the world that
it has the biggest railroad station, the big
gest hardware house, the biggest drug
house, the biggest tobacco factory, the big
gest lead works and the biggest brick
yards that are anywhere to be found on
this big round earth. AS to the United
States alone, they claim the largest brew
cry, shoe house, saddlery market and street
car factories, while they boldly state that
they have the biggest mule market and the
finest street cars. The city has excellent
streets, and it was the first town in the
United States to light its alleys by cleo
tricity. 1t has water works which nave
cost, or will cost when finished, $S.Ooo,ooo,
and it claims that it's water is pure and
palatable 1t may be both, but strangers
who have no better stomachs than mine
had better temper each glass with finger
of whisky until they get used to it.
1t is said to be a healthy city. and ought
to be- as far as drainage is concerned, for
it has more than $1O,OOO,OOO invested in
sewers. 1t Is well-educated city, and is
far in advance of all the other cities in the
south in culture and educational facilities.
1t has one public library Of $4,000 volumes,
and the Mercantile Library has over $4,000
more. The Washington University of st.
Louis has more than $1.000,O0O invested in
buildings and grounds, and the public
schools of the city contain $4,000 scholars.
All told, st. Louis is very wide-awake
town. and the people who come here in
June will find much to surprise them.
FRANK G. CARPENTER.