The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-22

No small task has been imposed upon
DR.. Ralph Jenkins. Chairman of the Inau-
gural Floor and Promenade Committee. in
working out satisfactory plans for the
management of the inaugural ball. DR..
Jenkins has finally completed his arrange
ments, and the manuscript Of the instruc-
tiors to the members of his committee is
now in the hands of the printer. These
printed instructions, accompanied by
charts and diagrams, which will simplify
the comprehension of the arrangements,
will be ready for distribution early next
week
The programme will commence at the
Pension building, at $50 o'clock, on the
night Of March I. when the promenade
concert will be given, rendered by the Ma
rine Band. Lieut. William H. Santelmann
conducting
The President will arrive at $3.50 p. NJ.
He will be conducted to the room set apart
for his use. on the first gallery floor, where
he will stay long enough to permit the
laying aside of wraps, and the preparation
OF the Presidential party for the grand
promenade which will Immediately follow.
About 800 members OF the committee will
clear a space, marching across the ball
room floor from west to east, and post
ing members of the committee on both
sides of space fifteen feet wide through
the middle OF the room. as way is made
The narrow path for the promenade, bound
on both sides by members of the Floor and
Promenade Committee, shoulder to Shout
der viii lead through the two centre pill
lars Of the four giant columns, which de-
fine the limits Of the west bay of the
building, winding about the fountain
which lies in the middle of the floor, with
a circular line, which leaves space on
either side, passing through the two cen
tire columns Of the east bay. and widen
ing out into a large and almost complete
circular loop in the east bay Itself. The
guests Of the ball will view the promenade
from behind this wall Of committeeman.
The appearance of the President will be
the signal for the Marine Band to play
Hail to the Chief" The Presidential
party will march from the west end of the
floor to the east end. passing in going and
returning the fountain on their left hand,
and in the eastern bay, passing along the
inner edge of the space or loop, with the
sentinel lines of committeeman, on the
right hand. The President will, on the
completion of the promenade, go to the
reviewing stand provided for him, over
looking the ballroom floor from the first
gallery. The President, il is expected,
viii remain at the ball about an hour,
part of which time will be consumed at
the banquet rendered by the Inaugural
Committee
In the eastern bay the dance floor will
be situated and will be neatly covered
with crash. The dancing will commence
Immediately upon the conclusion of the
promenade An excellent arrangement for
cla ri ha fha
promenade has been devised by DR.. Jen-
kins. Within the centre of the eastern
bay the aids who have held the line for
the promenade will push the line OF guests
backward and through the pillars toward
the western end of the building The
task will be made easy because of the
fact that small circular space in the
centre Of the dance floor is already
cleared and held by members OF the COM
mittee within the loop arranged for the
promenade. This circle will be rapidly
increased by widening out until the
entire floor is cleared. Other men,
bers of the committe, released from
their duty of holding the path open
for the promenade, will increase the num-
bers of the clearing force and give their
assistance to hold the space as gained.
The ball will come to an end with the con-
clusion of the programme Of dance music,
probably between and o'clock on the
morning of March 5.
A special meeting of the Floor and
Promenade Committee for final instruc-
tions and rehearsal will be held at the
Pension building at 2 O'Clock on the Sat
urday preceding the ball. Entrance to the
Pension building on this occasion will be
by the regular ticket for the ball and spe
cioi committee badges.
The number of strangers who Will visit
Washington to attend the Inauguration is
estimated at 1872 600 persons by Michael l.
Weller. Chairman of the Committee on
Public Comfort His figures are based on
what has occurred in the past, and the
correspondence received concerning pros
pective visitors on the present occasion.
The records of the visitors to past inaug-
urations as kept by the railroads wing
entrance TO the city, and the records of
the Committee on Public Comfort OF
which he was chairman eight years ago,
and other sources of informa tion ind cate
that there were about $4,000 strangers in
the city in 1887, and in 1893 about 113 600
The correspondence received in regard
to visiting troops and civic organiza-
lions, and of private individuals who pro-
pose TO attend the approaching Inaugural
ton. figured up by a system of which Mr..
Weller alone has the key bring him to
the estimate of the anticipated attend
ance this year quoted above. Mr.. Weller
has taken into consideration the in