Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-11
TO GET TROOPS HERE.
A COMMITTEE GOES on TONIGHT
TO PRESS THE MATTER.
HAS HIGH HOPES or SUCCESS.
secretary AIger Has Expressed APP
probation OF Advantages offered
by Richmond-wiI Ask for the
Third-Rough Riders En- Route.

A committee. composed of members of
the Richmond Chamber OF Commerce and
the Young Mems Business Association
will go to Washington to-day to consult
with the Secretary OF War regarding the
removal Of troops from Camp Alger tc
Richmond.
Mr.. L. q. Morris, first vice-president OF
the Chamber Of Commerce, yesterday APP
pointed Hon. ]. Taylor Eilyson and Colo
mel W. o. SHELTON members of this COM
mittee, and Mr.. r. A. Lancaster will
represent tho Young Mems Business AS
ISOLATION. Mr.. r. A. Dunlop, secretary OF
the Chamber of Commerce, at the direc-
ton of Mr.. Morris. yesterday wired Con-
gresham Lamb to meet the committee
in Washington Friday morning. The COM
mittee will leave for Washington tonight
will visit the department tomorrow, and
will probably return to Richmond to-
morrow night.
REMOVAL IS CERTAIN.
1t Is the announced intention of the de-
partment to remove a large portion of
the troops at Camp Alger to another
camp. The sanitary conditions at the
camp are not at all satisfactory. The
water supply is especially a source Of OBJ
lection, 1t being not nearly sufficient.
There is also great scarcity of shade.
The Richmond committee will urge upon
the Secretary Of War the advantages
which this city, especially Forest Hill
Park, offers. It's abundant supply OF fine
water, its ample shade, fine natural
drainage, large areas suitable for drill
grounds, and the ease with which II may
be reached, both by the railroad and by
car lines, will be brought to Secretary
Ayers attention, and it is believed he
will incline favorably to the request to
send the troops here. The Secretary
showed last spring, when visited by q
committee from this city on a mission
similar to that of the one which will cal
upon him tomorrow, that he fully appre-
ciated the advantages offered by the
country in the vicinity of Richmond as a
military encampment.
An army officer has recently been sem
to Aiken, s. c., for the purpose of In
specting the locality there and reporting
upon its adaptability to the purposes Of
an encampment IL is believed that IL re
quested Secretary Alger will send this
officer, or another one, here for the same
purpose. The committee will, at least, en-
deavor TO have the Secretary do this.
WILL ASK FOR THE THIRD.
The committee will especially insis
that the Third Virginia Regiment be
sent here, and If possible, the entire bril-
gade. While it is not probable that any
more troops will be sent TO Porto Rico
yet the Third has been selected to go, ant
If IL is desired in the future 10 send Il
thither, or to Cuba, Richmond is only
a few hours from Newport News. Thu
committee will leave with very high
hopes Of success.
Rough-Riders I'm Richmond.
A large number of Roosevelts Rough
Riders were In the city yesterday fol
several hours.
They were on their way from Tampa
10 Montauk Point, l.. l., to help prepare
the camp for General Skaters fever.
stricken army. Five sections carrying
the troopers passed through yesterday
and last night over the Atlantic-Coas
Line, the first second, and third early II
the morning, the fourth arriving shortly
before noon and remaining until about
o'clock. The fifth section did not get II
until 1915 this morning, and went over
the Belt Line without coming into the
city
The fourth section stopped at the cat
tle-pens, near the Broad-Street ball park
In order to give time 10 water and feec
the stock. The men improved the time
TO stretch their legs, and for a few hours
the blue-shirted, brown-trousered fellows
roamed about the city,
THEIR NAME SUITS THEM.
The appearance Of the men showed the
name of Rough Riders 10 be o. good one
and the manner in which they handled
their animals indicated that the riders
were used to horse flesh OF the widest
and wooliest variety. The animals were
very wild, but the troopers handled them
with the greatest ease. The pack mules
gave little trouble, being so well used To
command and to following their belled
leader Both the mules and the saddle
animals. however, offered very great re-
slstance when the men were trying TO
get them back into the cars after they had
been given water.
CHOCTAWS AND CHEROKEES.
A great many people from the city
gathered about the train after the STOCK
mad been attended to- and were mucn ln-
terested by the conversation of the troop
ers as we'll as by their unique appearance.
Seven full-blooded Choctaws and Chero-
KEGS were In the troop, as well as seyeral
half-breeds. Among the soldiers, also,
was Mr.. Baird, who was born on Clay
street in this city, and Is the son OF the
late Rev. DIR. Baird, Of Virginia, Pres
byterian minister. The men in the fourth
section are nearly all from the Indian
Territory, though a few are tenderfeet
from the East.
A cart-load of cantaloupes was pur-
chased by the spectators about the cars
and presented to the men, the donor
claiming the privilege to toss his gift to
the beneficiary on top or the car, and
the latter invariably caught 1t In fine
style.
CAPTAIN z. Bruce commanded the men,
who belong TO NJ Troop. Major Dunn
commands the entire detachment left In
Florida. and which has,now gone North.
The number left behind at Tampa, in
Guiding the detail to look after the stock,
and the recruits who reached Florida too
late 10 20 TO Santiago, numbered 5So.
.r,-.a. hoya oil heen sent North.