Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-05
\ PEEP INTO THE FUTURE
What a State Herald Reporter
 Had a Look at.
SOME MAGNIFICENT FLOATS
Awaiting Finishing Touches and Occupants Trades Displays Promise to Be Fine
 Other Carnival Notes.

The only thing now needed to make the Birmingham carnival a success Is propiti- ous weather, and this has been assured by the weather prophet.
 A State Herald reporter, in company with President Lesser and Secretary Braun, went out to the warehouse on Tenth avenue and Eighteenth street where Mons. De la Motte with large force of workmen was buslly engaged in putting on the finishing touches of a number of the floats to be used in the several parades.
 In one of the buildings were stored eighteen floats, all ready for the appoint ed time, except a few touches here and there of the gilder's brush. To one fa- miliar with such sights 1t was easily to be seen that the parades promise to be on a scale of grandeur to excel the fondest an- ticipations of the most ardent enthusiast who boasts of being a member of the Birmingham Carnival society.
 The floats without the necessary per sons to portray the characters intended to be placed upon them are excellent in design and would prove a grand sight alone Of course the State Herald is not at liberty to describe the floats, but 1t is allowed and warranted in doing so to say that those who honor Birmingham with their presence on Monday and Tuesday, March 1 and 2, will go away feeling am ply repaid for having come here. The floats are not cheap clap-trap affairs, but are beautiful in design and costly beyond the imagination of any cn the outside.
 Much pains were taken in getting up the designs and great expense has been undergone to have them meet the re- uuirments of the committee on designs Besides the costly floats the committee on designs have had to go to great ex- pense in the purchase of appropriate cos- tunes for the many attendants upon Rex Vulcan IT.. to say nothing of the gorgeous costume in which his majesty will be ar rayed upon arriving in the Magic City.
 TRADES DISPLAYS.
 Not only will the carnival floats be marvels of beauty, but those to be used by the merchants and secret organiza- tions will be in perfect accord with them. The artist in charge of the work of erect ing the floats has all the work In excel lent shape and will not only do creditable work but those entrusting him with their orders will be pleased. Some of the de- signs in course of construction are beau tiful and will show up splendidly under the glare of calcium lights. The float of the Birmingham Packing company which will be "Beuf Gras.. is massive affair and will be a great attraction, one dppTODTldle u lHt ODJtCl lOI NHlCn IL ID designated Other floats are ready for the parade and the processions will be not only large, but attractive beyond comprehension:
 INFORMATION BUREAU AGENT.
 MT. c. I. Smith has been appointed spe- cial agent to solicit the names of all per- sons who will be prepared to accommo- date guests during carnival week. He will make house-to-house canvass and report the results to the bureau of in- formation where the names will be en- rolled in a book to be used for this es- pecial work. The people are urged to make all possible arrangements for guests and give same to MT. Smith upon appli- cation.
 THE COLISEUM.
 Work on the coliseum will begin as soon as all the lumber can be gotten in readiness, as the weather prophets have guaranteed good weather in spite of the prophetic ground hog. An immense force of hands will be engaged for this work and the building will be up on time for the great events for which it is be- ing constructed.
 CARNIVAL BUTTONS.
 A pretty carnival button has made its appearance on the street, the design be- dng a carnival flag with Birmingham S tcolors. The button was designed by S1rand Marshal McCrossin and is very Eeat They sprung into favor as soon Sas they were seen.