The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-03

Parade Not a. Great a. IL should be
1t is o-..y - C1.S Low until n
North Carolina State Firemen's Asso-
citation convention and tournament
opens in this city, and much is yet 10
be done before the complete success OF
the event, so far as Wilmington's part
of the work is concerned. is assured.
In fact, The Messenger very much
fears that ever some of the special
committees, as we'll as a very large per
cent. of the people of the city have not
yet fully realized the Importance and
magnitude of the event, which is al
most at hand, and how very much for
the credit and benefit of the city de-
ponds upon the completeness Of the
preliminary arrangements and the ac-
commodations provided for the many
thousands of people who will flock here
from every part of this and adjacent
states.
PEOPLE COMING FROM EVERY
DIRECTION.
1t is a fact tina as many or more
visitors will be within our gates" on
this occasion as ever before In the
history of the city. There will be thou
SollA2 u AA@ ~ oAN AASN
have no connection with the
ton, attracted here by the very low
railroad rates which have been grant
ed and the delightful sea breeZes, etc.
The Messengers travelling agent writes
us that wherever he goes he finds that
practically everybody is coming to the
tournament.
Much should be done for the enter
tainment Of all these people so as to
make their stay here as pleasant as
possible, so that when they &c back to
their distant homes they will feel con-
strained to sing the praises of our peo-
pie for their great hospitality. h
will do more than thousands and thou
sands of dollars spent in some other
| methods of advertising the city.
SOME THINGS THAT SHOULD BE
DONE.
OF course the hotels and boarding
houses will be wide open to the WISH
tors. But it would be we'll for a board
ing house directory to be arranged so
that visitors could find homes with the
least possible trouble.
Another very important matter is
providing ice water tanks or barrels
equipped with faucets and dippers con-
veniently stationed about the city on
street corners, so that during the tour
| nament events and in fact at all hours
| of the day the people can quench their
L lulISl. III = VI lIiolS lIllpo IN llldll
nan would probably at first think,
for it is a fact that very often people
at a great gathering like this will suffer
intensely for lack of water.
ICE WATER FUND STARTED.
The Messenger proposes to take a
subscription for an ice water fund.-
to be used in providing these barrels,
employing men to keep them filled and
| meet any other necessary expense.
~rco-~I
to donate $1.00 toward this n and
other contributions will be acknowledge
ed as received.
1t is very probable that the two ice
factories here will donate nearly if not
all the ice necessary to provide the
watering places" and there are doubt
less BUSINESS men who have barrels
which they could loan for the purpose
of holding the water, as they would not
be injured by the service. There are
also probably a number Of enterprising
merchants who will prepare tanks of
ice water in front of their places of
business at their own expense as an
advertising medium. By all means, let
steps be taken in this and other i'm
portant matters at once.
THE FLORAL PARADE.
Another matter regarding the success
Of which The Messenger feels consid-
cradle concern is the floral parade. a
feature Of the tournament which, if
properl supported, would prove es
p~ecially pleasing. But there is not the
interest being manifested in it that
there should be. There are two or three
and possibly a few more who are work
ing with commendable vigor for the
parade, n are determined hat it
shall be a success. They lack support,
however. and it is absolutely neces-
sary, if it is to be a success, that the
ladies n gentlemen, too, who are in
a position to do so, shall rally to the
support of the faithful few" and enter
he parade with decorated vehicles,
The Messenger would repeat and es-
pecially urge upon it's Wilmington
readers that not only the committees
but the people generally must bestir
themselves if this city is to derive all
the credit and consequent benefit OBJ
tainable from this great convention
and tournament n sustain "tradi-
tional lower Cape Fear hospitality"
CONTRACT FOR GRAND STAND
AWARDED.
1t will be of interest to note in this
connection that on yesterday the con-
tract for the erection Of the grand
stand, from which the tournament
events are to be reviewed. was award
ed to +. A. Applegate. 1t will have a
seating capacity Of 1900 and will be
located on Market street between Sew
enth and Eighth. The committees gen.
orally are working faithfully for the
success of the departments of prelim-
mary arrangements entrusted to them.
The work Of repairing and generally
improving the various fire stations in
the city progresses very satisfactorily
and all will be in apple pie order be-
fore the tournament.
Hook and Ladder Truck No. l was
brought out yesterday for he first time
since~ receiving extensive repairs at the
Wilmington Iron Works. About $40I
was spent on the repairs n it is now
as good as a new truck. Extension lad
ders have been ordered and will be here
in a few days.
Can You Tell Why