The National tribune., 1897-09-02
THE 31ST NATIoNHL ENcHMpMENT.
Editorial Notes.

Encampments and taken n prominent part
in their proceedings. He is one of the very
ablest men in the Order, and his masteTiul
common sense and long experience have
been greatly relied upon in the higher
councils of the GAR. For years he held
the important position of Chairman OF the
GAR. National Pension Committee, and
fought the Disability Bill through several
Congresses to final success. About one year
ago he underwent very severe surgical
operation, from which he still suffers very
greatly. He was present at Buffalo, but
very weak and unable to take more than a
small fraction of his former share III the
proceedings.
The absence of Mrs. Florence Barker, of
Massachusetts,, from the councils of the w.
re. was deeply depored. OF all that
noble band of women there is none more
admired and loved than she. OF stately,
commanding presence she has the intellect
and ability that fit such an outward SEEM
ing joined to unsurpassed kindliness of
heart and womaniy tact. Hers has been one
of the very strongest influences that founded
the W.R.C., and has carried it forward to is
present magnificent development. She has
been a tower of strength in it from the very
first, and accomplished much for it that 1t
would have been impossible for any other
woman to have done. She was deeply sad
dened nearly year ago by the loss OF her
husband-Col. Thos. Z. Barker, the gallant
commander of the 18th n. H., and now she
is herself Frustrated by disease. The low
ing sympathy of all the comrades and
their wives 60 out to her.
Buffalo certainly excelled in one thing:
The pictures of Grant, Lincoln, Sherman,
Sheridan, etc, were absolutely the worst
ever seen in any city. And they were every
where.
The weather was simply perfect. There
could be no suggestion of improvement IN
this respect. The days were bright and in
spring as Summer could make them, but
the air was deliciously cool and invlgorat-
ing. Never, at any National Encampment
have been the meteorological conditions
quite SO satisfactory as at Buffalo. Added to
this an abundance of fresh green heritage,
well-kept lawns, beautiful parks, ETC., and
crupulously clean Streets and the outdoor
enjoyments of the days spent there could
not be excelled
Buffalo was simply overwhelmed with the
crowd. No one had anticipated snch a rush.
1t is to be sincerely hoped that the Clncin-
natl committee, which was present there,
studied all this carefully, and got grasp on
the necessities of the situation which Will
result in adequate preparations for the next
National Encampment. There will be
great many more at Cincinnati than there
were at Buffalo, and the people there should
start out with the firm idea that they are to
entertain the largest assemblage in the his
tory Of the city, and make all their plans
with that In view.
But in spite of being overwhelmed, Buffalo
did very creditably in all respects. Her
police arrangements could not be surpassed.
There was the best of order at all times and
in all things, with no show of hurry Or rush
or confusion, and no complaints from anyone
of i'll treatment. The police were present
all the time where they should have been,
were courteous, firm ahS seemed to
thoroughly know their business.
There was trouble in overcrowding the
hotels, particularly the 1roquois, at which
were National Headquarters, and there was
difficulty in getting anything to eat in spite
of the high prices charged for entertainment.
certainly to have expansiveness enough in
kitchen and dining-room to properly pro-
vide for all the guests to whom it lets rooms.
But it did not.
The railroads were even more fragrant
offenders in the same direction. There was
no reason why the crowds should not have
been handled easily, promptly, and COM
fortably Yet there was a bad congestion in
the yard at Buffalo, and every train entering
had to suffer more or less inexcusable delay
in discharging its passengers. For ex-
ample, the Pennsylvania train, which carried
a large contingent of the comrades from
Washington City, was due at Buffalo at about
8 p. m. Yet it was midnight before the
weary passengers got into the depot. There
were other similar tiresome and unnecessary
delays on other roads. AT Williamsport, Pa,
the comrades were given a very poor dinner
for which they were charged a big price for a
good one-75 cents. Tie supper at Geneva
so cents-was better, but the comrades have
been given much better meals ON former
occasions at lower rates. The railroad
company should certainly reform its dining
arrangements at WilliamspOrt. On the re-
turn trip the comrades left Buffalo at s
o'clock in the morning and did not reach
Washington until near midnight, though
there was this time no congestion in the yards
to lay the blame on. Still worse, under the
excuse that the lost time was to be made up
which it was not, but increased the pas
sengers were not allowed any opportunity to
procure food, and had to 90 the whole 16
hours without anything to eat but the train
boys stale and costly wares. If these were
the unavoidable accidents of journey no
one would complain. But they were all the
direct results of bad management. 1t must
be remembered too, that the comrades were
charged $11.20 for a round-trip ticket to the
National Encampment, where it is the custom
of the roads to charge but $40 for a round
trip ticket to Niagara Falls, which has more
privileges than were given Encampment
tickets.
These things considerably marred the
pleasure of attending the Encampment, be-
cause they were not necessary hardships Of
travel, but things that should not have oc-
CURED. There are similar complaints from
other roads, which implies that the rail-
roads, withdrawing high rates, do not give
the comrades the care and efficient service
ordinarily rendered to passengers
To return to Buffalo: Without doubt, the
crowd upon the streets during the parade
was the largest of any city in which the En-
campment has been held. The line of march
was fully three miles long, and every foot
of the distance on both sides was densely