Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-19
INTEREST UNIVERSAL
Large Attendance Assured at
G. A. R. Encampment.
LOW EXCURSION RATES
THE LOCAL COMMITTEES DELUGED
WITH INQUIRIES.
Col. Bingham's Communication Re-
garding Floral Decorations Of the
Public Reservations.

quarters received at headquarters even at
| this early day, the citizens committee on
the encampment of the Grand Army of the
Republic feels assured Of q wider interest
in the 1902 encampment than has marked
any similar reunion in years. Nearly every
mail brings either applications for accom-
modations for posts or queries as to the
hotel rates to parties OF 100 or more.
This morning. for example, Secretary
Buckley heard from Maine, Rhode Island
and Massachusetts, and from Chicago and
Cincinnati. When it is considered that
these communications are being sent
months earlier than is usually the case, the
prospect Of general attendance on the
part of the veterans is regarded as very
bright.
terest was received at headquarters this
morning. Copies of newspapers published
at various places in Illinois were shown
Mr.. Buckley, in which the Cleveland, Chi
cago Cincinnati and ST. Louis railroad, ia
miliariy known 1.-The Big Four was
advertising it's excursion rates for the
campment most extensively. 1t was stated
in the news columns Of these papers that the
railroad stations all through the states Of
Ohio. Indiana and Illinois had already been
emblazoned with Big Four posters setting
forth the attractions Of a trip to the
tional capital during the golden month of
October" This kind of advertising on such
an extensive scale, together with the ap-
proving reading notices in the newspapers,
cannot fall according to local railroad men,
to increase greatly the traffic to Washing
ton during encampment week. If the other
systems in the northeast and middle west
follow the Big Four's example the encamp
ment will surpaGS any of it's previous at
tendance records.
The Early Applicants.
The applications indicated above were as
follows: From William ]. Mansfield, adju-
tant Of the Wakefield, Mass, Post, G. A.
r., asking accommodations for an indefi-
mite number of men; from Henry Mccall,
commander of U. S. Grant Post of Chicago,
asking for quarters for an indefinite num-
Der, probably more than two-thirds of a
total enrolment of $50 and a drum corps
OF 10 members; announcements that the
Department of Maine and the Depart
| ment of Rhode Island had reserved head
quarters for the encampment; from Com
mander George G.. Klein of George H.
Thomas Post, No. l, G. A. R., of Cincin-
rati, asking accommodations for an indefi
mite number of men.
Floral Decorations of Parks.
Colonel John McElroy has received the
following letter, which is self-explanatory,
and forwarded it to Chairman B. H. War
ner of the citizens executive committee:
Dear Sir: Your two letters of April .
and have been duly received. 1t will be
impossible to carry out the extensive floral
decorations which you suggest owing to
lack Of funds. 1t Will be possible only to
construct such floral decorations as you
desire at the following reservations: Thir-
teenth street and Pennsylvania avenue,
Mcpherson and Farragut parks, Dupont
and Thomas circles, the Washington monu-
ment grounds and certain other parks and
park places, which you have not specially
designated. The circle north of the Cogs-
well fountain at Pennsylvania avenue and
9TH street is not under the jurisdiction of
this office. Directions will at once be given
to construct what Is referred to above and
should it be possible to do any more it
will gladly be done.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"(Signed) THEO. A BINGHAM"
This letter bespeaks notable adornment
of the parks of the District Of Columbia
during the period Of the encampment, but
it is not likely to be all the decoration I'M
dertaken. Col McElroy and the other
members of the citizens committee who are
especially interested in the matter will con-
fer with Col. Bingham and see what further
measures be taken by applying non
public funds to the decoration Of the parks.
1t is confidently expected that this feature
of the encampment will excite the pleasure
able comment of every visitor during the
week.
QOh1 ICAS 4OA xIdO4CS VI IlC a.
Mrs. Wall of Lawrence Kans., national
president Of the Ladies' Of the G. A. R,
and Mrs. Dennison, national inspector of
the order, have been in the city this week
making arrangements for the national con-
vention Of the order, in connection with the
national encampment. The order has an
active membership Of 5000, confined ex-
clusiyely to mothers. wives, sisters and
daughters Of veterans, and will bring sew
eeral thousand members to the city. The
headquarters will be at the Ebbitt House,
and the national convention will be held in
the Lutheran Church.
Maj. o. P. McIlrath, formerly of the 123d
Ohio, and member of Memorial Post,
Cleveland, Ohio, Is in the city looking for
quarters for Memorial Post, said to be the
largest and wealthiest post in Cleveland. 1t
will have 600 uniformed veterans in line in
the parade.
Maj McIlrath claims for Memorial Post
that it is not only the largest In Cleveland
but that it is the only one in the country
which shows growth of membership at
every meeting, and that 1t is the only one
that has IN its ranks the next President of
the United states-Comrade Mark A
Hanna"
Howard A. Cutler of the Washington city
post office has been appointed an additional
member Of the finance committee.
Third Corps Reunion.
The reunion committee of the Sd Corps
met last night at the Ebbitt House and Or
ganized by electing the following officers:
Maj. A. H. G.. Richardson chairman; w. H.
Doolittle and Morris J. Foote, vice chair
men; c. F. Benjamin. secretary; ]. T. STRAIT
ton. treasurer; and the following members
of the executive committee: Major Rich
ardson and Messrs Doolittle. Foote Benja-
min, Stratton, E. H. Martin, E. o. Pierce
E. ]. Sweet and Joseph Dickinson.
NEW RANK RILIS