The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-07-28

sion.
There has been a general movement on
foot during the past few days to make
this day general holiday In Portland
Many of the merchants believe that it
should be so observed. The provision
dealers and grocery men in particular
would like to close for the day or for a
portion OF the day at least In order to
give their employees an opportunity of
seeing some of the celebration and to take
part In 1t. The wholesale dealers will
generally observe the day SO it is under
stood, while many of the retail dealers
will close their stores for portion of the
day at any rate
Chief EIdridge of the committee in
charge Of the tlrenen's muster, says that
the indications are that there will b3
very large procession of tiremen, He has
heard in addition to those who have al
ready applied for position in line from
the hose companies at South Portland
and Berlin, N. H, who expects to take
| part in the show.
The Knights OF the Golden Eagle in
Portland have invited the commandery
at Lewiston and Auburn to come to
| Portland for this day and help them to
celebrate They will probably accept an
invitation to parade on August 7th.
1t seems to be the general opinion that
many merchants and others will attempt
to win the prizes offered for the best
decorated buildings during Old Home
Week. City hall will be gay with bunt-
ing and electric lights, while both Con-
gress and Middle streets are to be hand
somely decorated.
Gen. j. l.. Chamberlain, who is to
serve as chief marshal of the procession,
is bustly engaged arranging the details
of the parade. He will have not large,
but a very representative staff, so it is
understood. Many distinguished men
have already accepted Invitations to serve
with him on this occasion.
Chief of Police George w. Sylvester
has been hard at work making arrange
ments for the police protection of the
city. This will require great deal of
hard work and careful preparation.
| A larger crowd is expected here than
the city has seen in years, and he will
be required to see that the streets are
properly policed. Doubtless many spec
iaI officers will be placed on duty for this
occasion. 1t is understood that platoon
of mounted skirmishers and policemen
are to head the procession, making quite
a cavalry in itself.
INVITATIONS GONE.
The invitations to the Old Home Week
in Maine have been exhausted. The
secretary has sent out over 5000 of these
invitations in the last two months and
the stock has now run out and it is i'm
possible to get more. Some of the invi-
tations were sent in very late and though
the fact that the names must be received
early in order to get the Invitations away
was widely published, many people put
off sending in names until the last min
ute, and the result is that some people
who expect them are to be disappointed
For this they have only to blame their
delinquent friends in this city who GER
tainly lad plenty of notice. Some com
plants are received that Invitations have
not been received where names were sent
TO the secretary weeks ago. There are
very few of these cases, but with such a
large number of names to tabulate, adj
dress ana mail, it cannot be wondered at
that few have gone astray. This part
of the labor has been very great, but has
worked very well. Replies have been
received by the hundred, but of course it
has been utterly impossible to answer
all of them. When information has been
sought the secretary has endeayored to
give it when this has been possible.
Many applications for rooms have al
ready been received and great many
more are expected. Good rooms in good
localities from 81 to s. a day with or
without meals are needed. A list of such
rooms is to be kept at the Office of the
secretary and every effort will be made
to give information or furnish addresses
of those who have rooms to those who
apply. This is merely to accommodate
the visitors and of course the secretary
Of the committee cannot on any case
guarantee the character of the people who
apply for rooms or the quality of the
rooms to which people are sent.
A letter from Col. f. r. Boothby,
general passenger and ticket agent of the
Maine Central Railroad, has been received
by Hon S w. Matthews, secretary OF
the Old Home Week Association, saying
that reduced rates may be secured in
connection with clubs from St. Paul,
Minneapolis, Chicago and Buffalo; west
of Boston, however, other than from the
points mentioned, no reduced rates have
as yet been secured for the reason that
there seems to be no concentrated effort
on the part of the people desiring to come
to Maine to obtain reduced rates.
From Boston there are summer excur-
sion rates, for instance, while the regular
fare from Boston to Bath is s} %, round
IL. IL.