Evening star., 1898-09-07


working. To this end and through the
aid of Mr.. B. H. Warner they have leased
the Dietz building. at Alb 9th street. and
will equip 1t in a comfortable and home
like manner. Cots and other furnishings
have been ordered. and attendants engaged
for service in the reading and dining
rooms, etc. The ladies will be glad to re-
ceive any assistance in the work. Mrs.
Calver will be in charge, assisted by Mrs.
James TaIfner, Mrs. Electa Smith. Mrs.
A. S. O'Dell and Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mus
sey. 1t is hoped to have the soldiers home
ready by Friday.
Request to Veterans.
Calvin Farnsworth, acting chairman of
the committee on Veterans Association
and in charge of Potomac Department. G.
A. R.. has formally requested the Loyal
Legion. Union Veteran Union, Union Vet
eran Legion and the Confederate Veterans
to take part in the parade in honor of the
return of the 1st Regiment The committee
urges the above named organizations to-
assemble under their respective command
ers at 8 am. September o. with right rest
ing on south side of Pennsylvania avenue.
corner Sd street northwest.
1t is also suggested that post command
ers assemble their respective posts at . a m.
head of column on south side of Pennsyi-
vania avenue, corner Sd street northwest.
Post commanders are urged to bring out
the full strength of their commands. The
G. A. r. turns out. Commander Farms
worth says. not only to welcome the list
District of Columbia Volunteers, but to
greet a past department commander, Ma
jor Urell. The comrades should wear their
uniforms and badges.
The last named order Is countersigned
by c. L. Patten, acting assistant adjutant
general, G. A. R.
A Pertinent Question.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
Are our merchants going to close for two
NI1
view the Boys" return?
ONE CLERK OFF LINE OF MARCH.
September 6. 1898.
Can Use boats.
1t is learned at the War Department that
there is nothing in the contract with the
Long Island Railroad Company which will
prevent the government from chartering
steamer to convey the District troops
from Montauk Point to Jersey City, pro-
vided that course is decided upon. The
reason why tho railroad has heretofore
been used for the transportation of troops
away from that camp is because IL was
considered by the quartermaster's depart
ment as the best method of transportation,
and not because there was any legal bar
to any other method of Transportation.
AS q matter of convenience all the New
England troops ordered away from Camp
Wikoff were taken across the sound to
Connecticut on ferry boats, but up to this
time the railroad alone had been used in
the case of troops going home by way OF
New York Jersey City.
Coils. Hecker and Bird of the quarter
masters department, who have direct
charge of all matters of transportation, say
that the War Department is disposed to do
everything it can for the comfort and con-
venience of troops on their Journeys back
to their homes, and that in every instance
the best facilities at hand are provided In
the matter of the District troops the usual
orders were issued to Col. Kimball, the
quartermaster in charge of the New York
district, including Camp Wikoff. He was
notified that the District troops had been
ordered to Washington to be mustered out
and instructed to confer with the com
manding officer in regard to their transpor
tation to Washington. All the details for
the transportation were left to Col. KIM
ball, and the officials here say they have no
knowledge of them.
Colonel Bird said. however, that no ap-
plication had been made to the department
up to today for the use of a steamer in
transporting the troops to Jersey City or
for sleeping to bring them from that
point to Washington. He said that unless
other arrangements were made by special
orders from .the, Secretary of War. the SOL
diers would make the entire trip from
Comp Wikoff to Washington rail
Under the general rule i'll such cases suf-
fcien cars would be supplied to enable
each soldier to have an entire seat through
out the journey, and he added that by
turning over the backs of their seats the
men could easily arrange comfortable
sleeping quarters for themselves, two men |
occupying the space Of two seats. He said
further, that sleeper would be provided
for every soldier who was not able to sit
up. Three or four Pullman sleepers are at
tached to every train for this special pur-
pose, as 1t is not the policy of the depart
ment to expose any of the returning SOL |
dfers to any undue hardship or fatigue on |
their way home. The regular seating ac-
commodainn OF the cars used for the
a nj ;@ Hn
the contracts with the railroad comma MES
they are compelled to furnish a car for
every 80 men in order to insure each man
an entire seat to himself. Colonel Bird
sald at clock that he had not heard of |
any change of plan for the Transportation
or the District troops. and he was not pre-
Dared at that time to say whether or not |
l. Is possible to furnish a steamer and
sleeping cars for the use of the men in the |
short time allowed before their departlre |
from Mortauk Point tomorrow Every
thins Will depend however. upon the decis- |
ion OF tie Secretary of War
transportation Problem.
Major Sylvester and Mr.. Theodore w.
Noyes saw Secretary Alger today in regard |
to better transportation for the District |
troops. They had long talk with the |
secretary, requesting that the District |
troops De furnished steamer from Mon !
tauk to Jersey City, and be given tourist |
or sleeping cars for the journey to this |
city. he Secretary said that he would at |
once issue an order giving the District regi- |
ment all the tourist and sleeping cars |
available at Jersey City upon the arrival |
or the regiment there AS to a steamer he !
would have to ascertain whether one could
be secured. If he found that one could he |
used he would issue order to that effect. |
Immediately after the interview with the |
COMMITTEES Secretary Alger went to his |
lunch, returning to the department at 80 |
o o.clock. This afternoon he will find out |
"hat can be done to fully carry out the re-
quests OF the committee, and will issue or |
ders on the subject
The quartermaster' department will do |
its best to make the District troops as com. |
iortabie as possible during their trip here
from New York. Efforts were made to OBJ |
tam a separate seat for each soldier but |
the department is in hopes of providing |
sleeping cars for the regiment as a New
York regiment Is scheduled to arrive with a |
train of sleepers before the time fixed for |
the departure of the District regiment
Police Ordered Out
Major Sylvester this afternoon issued the |
following order to the metropolitan police |
force: |
"On Friday morning, September o, 1898, |
the 1st Regiment. District of Columbia Vol |