Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-04
VISITORS NUMEROUS
Railroads Bring Large Crowds
to Encampment.
THE EARLY COMERS
ROOMS IN THE HOTELS TAKEN
MONTHS AGO.
The Principal Thoroughfares Show
Signs Of Great Activity-At
the Depots.

the Depots.
The great influx of visitors to Washington
because of the Grand Army OF the Re
public encampment has begun in earnest
Every train on the railroads that enter the
national capital was crowded today, and the
Baltimore and Ohio and the Pennsylvania
depots suggested scenes that usually attend
presidential inaugurations, when the roads
are taxed to their fullest capacity to look
after the crowds that come to the city.
Before o'clock in the morning about 200
passengers stepped from the Chesapeake
and Ohio regular Cincinnati and Washing
ton express and walked sleepily through
the train shed Of the 9th street station.
These persons were the vanguard Of the
great throng which is to be emptied into
the national capital this afternoon, tomor-
row. Monday and Tuesday.
Their number was limited, as a special
party en- route to New York city had long
ago engaged the sleeping accommodations
Of three cars. But the remaining beIths
were sold within half an hour after the G.
A. r. rates became available to the dis
tricts west Of Cincinnati. This party OF
200 represents, therefore, only those per-
sons who live west Of Cincinnati and were
able to reserve sleeping accommodations
on the first train out Of that city.
For reasons of administration the Chesa-
peake and Ohio officials refused to run the
train in sections. But their second train
will make up this deficiency. According to
present plans it will consist of eleven sec
lions of ten cars each. by tomorrow"
said Mr.. w. s. Bronson, assistant general
passenger agent of that road today. the
regular trains of the Chesapeake and Ohio
will be run in sections of ten cars each at
intervals Of five minutes. or whereabouts,
and at a rate of from fifteen to twenty-five
sections to the train
This flood of traffic babe fair to over
whem the officials of the road. Half Of it
was unexpected. This afternoons train. for
example, was to consist of only four sec
tons. But the fact that the traffic is all
through from one terminal to another,
and that there are consequently few inter
mediate Interruptions has enabled the gen.
eral passenger agent to provide for the
whole number of extras which the Cincin-
natl office deems necessary.
Very Heavy Traffic.
The train from the west over the Penn
sylvania, that reached Washington at 1:15
this afternoon, was run in four sections
and it was necessary to add coaches to each
section to carry the extra passengers. The
earlier trains were also in sections and
the crowds about the depots were greater
than at any time in months
The traffic over the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad was heavier than in many months
Extra help was employed to assist in TAX
ing care OF the passengers who arrived, in
getting them to carriages and street cars
Trainmasters, ushers and other employees
about the depots said that the traffic was
larger than on the Saturday before the
Grand Army of the Republic encampm ent
ten years ago. According to their opinion,
1t presages greater attendance of visitors
to the city during the coming encampment
than ever before. - .. n.
At all the downtown hotels business was
doubled in many places quadrupled. Extra
clerks We're required to look after the In
to Washington at the present time is the
absence of commercial drummers. Their
regular visits to the city have been aban-
doned for week. They realize that In such
q crowd as will take possession of Washing
ton by tomorrow their business cannot be
transacted with any degree of satisfaction
The traffic on the railroads tonight and
tomorrow will be enormous. Those of the
veterans and their families and friends who
have come to the capital up to this time
are mainly from the west. The influx from
New England and the east will begin Mon
day. This is due to the fact that Washing
ton can be reached easier than by those
who live at longer distance.
Handling of Freight Impeded.
The handling of freight, with the excep-
ton of coal that can be had and Is needed.
has been impeded to a considerable extent
and will be until later In the coming week.
The railroads have decided that passenger
traffic shall be paramount to all other bust
ness.
Street fakirs have arrived in all the,'
glory. They may be found on every street
corner. and they have every hing to offer
for sale that has a bearing toward the
Grand Army of the Republic. Souvenirs ic
Sharl Of h,rtfn had nd Of
every description are offered for sale, and
the fakirs are already doing a landottice
business
There is not a hotel In the city that has
not a long list of private residences or
boarding houses to which they are sending
persons whom they cannot take care Of.
Nearly every hotel room engaged
months ago. In each room Is a printed
will have to be vacated by 10 o'clock Mon
day morning.
A pleasing feature CT the influx to the
city is the number of newly married couples
who have taken advantage of the cheap
rates to pay a visit TO the national capt. al.
1t Is not hard to tell them from the rest of
passengers who arrive on every train.
They invariably want to see the Capito oil
building or ask for the nearest way TO
reach the Washington monument.
Many special trains have been arranged
for by state departments parties that
have engaged sleepers. Many persons will
thus chartered. The cars will be removed
to the yards of the several roads after
their arrival, and those who have tickets
may sleep there.
Extra Tracks in Use.
At the 9th street station extra tracks
have been improvised for this purpose ad-
joining the long train shed. The Baltimore
and Ohio has also constructed extra track
age at its station.
The streets of the city this afternoon
showed conclusively the increase in the
number of persons in town. Strange faces
were noticed on every hand. 1t Is esti-
mated that by tomorrow afternoon at least
100000 strangers will have been brought
to the city by the railroads. and that by
Monday afternoon fully double the number
will be here.
Cafes and restaurants are already doing
great business. many Of them being taxed
to their full capacity. Western dealers
who supply meats have been for several
weeks increasing their supplies for the city
in anticipation Of the big crowd that must
be fed. There is more fresh meat in the
fndo har sir -,