The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-27
ROYAL WELCOME FOR
ADMIRAL SCHLEY
Elaborate Programme to be Ar
ranged in His Honor.
PRELIMINARY STEPS TAKEN
Special Meeting OF City Council Will be
Held Tonight to Consider an APP
propriation-Mas Meeting
Will Be Called

A royal welcome awaits Admiral Schley
on his visit to Birmingham November T.
the opening day of the Stats Fair.
The distinguished naval officer will be
ceved with all the honors befhtting his high
station and will be made to feel that the
people of Birmingham Jefferson county,
and the state of Alabama join with the
nation in paying tribute to his worth as a
man and a sailor
A magnificent demonstration will be ar
ranged, the initial step of which was taken
yesterday when Mayor Drennen called a
special meeting of the city council for to-
night TO lake the matter up.
Mayor Drennen met with the officers of
the State Fair association yesterday morn
ing, and the plans for the reception of the
distinguished guest were informally dis
cussed.
1t was the unanimous opinion that Biz
mingham should do her self proud on this
suspicious occasion and Mayor Drennen an
| nounced that he would call special meet
| ing of the city council to take official
action.
1t was suggested That the city appropriate
| 81 900 to a fund to be used in properly enter
| night be asked to vote that amount.
VIII Urge Appropriation
A joint meeting OF the beard of directors
of the Commercial club and the board OF
control of the Board of Trade was held
yesterday afternoon in the rooms of fhe
Commercial club to take steps toward as
sisting in the work.
Major f. Y. Anderson was called to the ,
chair and stated the purpose OF the meet
ing. Ross C. Smith expressed the opinion
that it would be best to call mass meet
ing of the citizens in order to prevent mis-
understanding, which might autse If one or
two organizations took separate action.
Simon I<lotz eff tne Board of Trade was
called upon and stated that his organiza-
ticn stood ready to cooperate with any or
ganization or wifi tile citizens in arrang-
ing a ibt:ing programme. Secretary Roun-
tree of THE State Fair association was pres
emit and was called upon. He stated that
the Invitation TO Admiral Schley to viist
Birmingham had been extended through
the city, the Board of Trade and the Fair
| association, but that in i.is opinion not
only the citizens of Birmingham, but of the
entire state should cooperate towards the
proper reception and entertainment oS 1.-THE
distinguished visitor. 1t WIS decided to
appoint committee to urge upon the city
council the appropriation of $1,000, and at
the suggestion of Major Anderson the COM
mittee was instructed to request the mayor
to call a mass meeting at which definite
plans could be arranged. The committee
was constructed as follows: Judge ]. ].
Banks, Simon Klotz, Ross C. Smith, F. Y
Anderson, Oliver ChaCdfoux, f. w. Barrett
G. M. Cruksihank. B. Steiner, john w.
O'NeiH, j. A Rountree, p. G. Bowman, H.
III. Sinnige and H. II. Mayberry.
Mass Meeting of Citizens
The committee will attend the meeting of
the council tonight and will urge the appro-
priation. &
If the council votes 81, 900 to the fund it is
proposed to further increase the amount by
subscriptions and an appropriation by the
fair association.
mass meeting will be called probably
for tomorrow night, when the details will
be gone into and the necessary committees
appointed and put to work.
While none of the details of the pro-
gramme have been arranged it has been
suggested that a committee of prominent
citizens be sent to Washington to meet the
admiral. lie VIII be escorted TO B1rmlnS-
ham in a special car, making a stop in At
lanta, and will arrive here on the afternoon
of November or the morning of the 9TH.
If he comes on the 9th grand banquet
will probably be arranged at one of the no.
tes for the evenings programme.
On the morning of the 7th the principal
part of the programme will be carried out,
which will consist of a magnificent demon
stration and parade and a public reception
at the fair grounds.
Elaborate Decorations
1t is proposed to decorate the city elabo-
rately with magnificent festoons and por-
traits of the distinguished guest which will
he furnished by special decorator, and
the merchants will be requested to decorate
their places of business with flags and
bunting.
The parade, which will be headed by the
Mexican band, will be the most magnificent
spectacle ever witnessed in Alabama, and
will be participated in by the city, county
and state officials, the fraternal organiza-
lions and civic societies and large portion |
of the national guard.
In anticipation of the enormous crowds
who will flock to Birmingham the diff |
ferent railroads entering the city, prepara- |
tions are already being made for extra |
trains. A special excursion rate will also |
probably he announced, and it is conserva-
lively estimated that fully $4,000 visitors |
will be within the gates of Birmingham.