The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-01
A CANVAS-COVERED CITY.
Big Tents of the Wallace Shows
Pitched in washington.

There was unusual activity on North
Capitol Street yesterday shortly before
noon. Gayly colored wagons. drawn by
from four to six splendid horses, came
down the street and were driven on the
large vacant tract of ground at the in
tersection of North Capitol and L ::treetg.
In trice the men who were seated OF
the wagons sprang to the ground. opened
the doors OF the vehicles, and drew out
long grey rolls of canvas. Other wagons
came up and the blue poles so familiar
to circdsgoers were laid around the
ground in different places. Coils of rope
of all thicknesses were placed where they
could be laid hold Of without moments
delay.
Then men with sledge hammers arrived.
and in groups Of four and SIX fel! to work
driving huge stakes into the srodl.d. Their
hammers played a tattoo on The iron
bound tops of the stakes which penetrated
the earth easily and swiftly. More can
vas was laid on the ground and then
spread out. More poles we're placed in
position, and finally before the residents
Of the neighboring streets had time to
realize what was going on. the pig tents
OF the Great Wallace Shows, which will
exhibit in this city today and tomorrow,
were standing, a huge spread of canvas,
so large as to cause the two-story houses
on neighboring streets to seem insignia
cant in size.
The Wallace circus is a city in itself
Every possible comfort and convenience
of the public and the employees is pro-
vided for and every requisite ior the pro
duction of first-class entertainment is at
hand. There are nearly 800 men cen
nected with the organization. OF these
fully sixty travel in advance of the show
securing sites for the performances in the
different towns visited, properly adleT-
Using the show and making all p,epara-
lions for its advent. Sleeping Quarters
for every man and woman employed are
provided in special train i physician
specially employed, looks after the health
Of all the employees and a Veterinary sur
geon takes care of the sick animals
corps of wheelwrights repair the wagons
that may meet with accidents. Skilled
carriage painters touch up the places
where the brilliant colOrs on the beauti-
full wagons have been married.
Countless numbers of people inspired
by the interest that is always attracted
by a circus, visited the grounIs yesterday.
Their numerous questions were politely
answered by the attendants about the
grounds. Late at night the workmen
were still engaged in IeTtecting ;he thou
sand and one details that go to render
the performances highly satisfactory in
every particular Exhibitions Will be
given beth today and tomorrow afternoon
and evening Doors Will be open at
and I O'Clock, and the performances Will
begin promptly one hour later.
The big free street parade will contain
many novel features and promises TO be
better than any ever seen here. The parade
Will leave the grounds this morning at 10
o'clock sharp and VIII cover the following
route: Turning into NJ Street the line viii
proceed west to Seventh Street, south in
Seventh to X Street, west in X Street,
to Washington Circle. around Washington
Cicle 20 Pennsylvania Avenue, east in
Pennsylvania Avenue TO Fifteenth Street,
south in Fifteenth Street to Pennsylvania
Avenue, again east in Pennsylvania Ave
nue. to Four-and a-half Street. north in
Four and half TO d Street, east In d to
Third Street north in Third to X Street.
east in to North Capitol Street, thence
to grounds.