The Saint Paul globe., 1899-09-04

on the City, the Center or the
Greatest Interest Elaborate
Preparations Made to Mark the
Visit of the President-Big Parade
Tuesday-The New Commanders.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept 9-The thir-
tieth annual encampment OF the Grand
Army of the Republic will begin tomor-
row. The vanguard of the veterans has
reached this city, and found the people
with outstretched hands. Never again,
perhaps, will Philadelphia be the scene
of a national encampment of the G. A. r.
Of the valiant men who defended the
cause of the Union there remains but a
remnant. and with the depletion of the
ranks the welcome is the more heartfelt
and enthusiastic.
Admiral Sampson, with his fleet of fight
ing ships, arrived here today, and this
event marks the beginning of the weeks
celebration. The city is crowded with
strangers, while the incoming trains from
ali sections are bringing thousands upon
thousands to help swell the throng. In
anticipation of the coming OF the host of
triot1sm of the veterans who freely offer
ed their lives in defense of the Union,
Mayor Ashbridge issued a proclamation
in which he recommended the veterans to
the loyal and patriotic interest of the
people," urging the decoration of stores
and dwellings in every street in the city.
The city has borne its share of the work,
and the citizens of Philadelphia, by con-
tributions of cash and in welcoming ban
ners, have shown their interest in the
great reunion.
AVENUE OF FAME.
The route of the veterans parade, which
takes place on Tuesday, is one solid
blaze of color and light Not a building
but has It's front encased in the red,
white and blue. The avenue of fame,
which extends from Walnut to Cherry
street on Broad street. distance of five
blocks, with the city hall as the center,
is the most magnificent piece of decora-
ton ever attempted in this city. There
are two classes of columns. The larger
and more ornate are about fifty feet in
height, and are placed at the corners.
The smaller columns, about twenty-five
feet high, stand on each side of Broad
street between the large columns. The
corner pillars are massive, beautiful, and
at the base of each are alternated in
heroic size two soldiers and two sailors.
Numerous electric lights decorate the
columns from the bases to the eagles at
the top. The columns are connected by
festoons of bunting and laurel, and
strands of incandescent lamps give a
brilliant effect at night.
The north and south ends of the city
hall will be Illuminated with massive cleo
trio light pieces, thirty feet in length 1ep-
resenting the G. A. r. badge Rows of in
candescent lights extend from the top of
PENIS statue, ffty-ive feet above the
street level, to the roof and around the
structure, giving the effect of an immense
EoIumn of brilliant light.
Camp Sexton, near Belmont, in Fair
mount park, contains sixteen hundred
tents. 1t is intended to accommodate
those posts of the Grand Army which pre-
fer to camp out rather than be quartered
IN halls, armories or private houses. The
tents will shelter ten thousand veterans.
PARADE PLANS.
The big parade on Tuesday will be in
ten divisions. Post No. 1 from Rockford
Ill, the oldest post in the Grand Army,
will head the line. AS the veterans pass
around the city hall, they will be re-
viewed by President Mckinley, who is
expected to arrive here Monday night ac-
companied by Secretaries Root and Gage
and Postmaster General Smith. There
will be over $4,000 men in line.
A feature of Tuesdays event will be
the chorus of 1900 school children, who
will occupy a portion Of the grand stand
on the north side of the city hall. AS
the parade passes this point the children
will sing patriotic airs.
OF all the military organizations to at
tend the encampment probably none will
attract more attention than Boyd's girl
cadets of Topeka, Kan. These young
ladies are daughters Of veterans, and are
commanded by H. N. Boyd, color ser
geant of the Seventh Illinois cavalry dur
ing the Civil war. They will grace the
line of parade on Tuesday.
A question of absorbing interest to G.
A. R. veterans which will be decided dur
ing the encampment is the election Of
commander-in-chief and other officers.
Two candidates prominent in the field are
Albert D. Shaw, of Joe Spratt post, Wa
tertown, n. Y, and Judge L. Raschieur,
of st. Louis. Private" James Dalzell, Of
Company H, One Hundred and Sixteenth
Ohio, is also g. candidate. Others urged
by their friends are Col. w. c. Johnson,
and Brig. Gen. Charles Miller, of Venan-
go, Pa.
ALLIED WOMEN.
A feature of the encampment not to be
overlooked is the gathering of the various
organizations of patriotic women closely
allied to the Grand Army Of the Repub-
lie. The National Association Of Army
Nurses of the Civil War will meet and
elect officers, and the Ladies of the G. A.
r. will take similar action.
The naval veterans will enjoy the dis
tinction of giving the first street parade
during the encampment Their display
will take place tomorrow afternoon and
will be a unique feature of the demon
stration. The old salts who fought un-
der Farragut will tramp shoulder to
shoulder with the younger veterans of
the Spanish-American war.
Next Friday the naval parade will take
place. Admiral SIMPSONS fleet will be
anchored in the Delaware river opposite
the city and long line of vessels will
pass around the fighting ships. President
Mckinley and cabinet officers will review
the war ships from the revenue cutter
Gresham. Members Of the committee Of
the imperial Russian navy stationed here
experimenting the building Of a battle
ship and cruiser will participate in the
naval pageant