The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-25
TO SOON RAISE STARS
SPANISH TROPHIES TO BECOME GRAND FLAGPoLE IN JULY.
Wire Rope Manufacturers Donate Necessary Stays, and Committee Will Now Decide Upon Date
 of Flag Raising.

The huge mast of the Spanish war ship Don Juan de Austria and the spar of the spanish ship Oquendo will be raised on the grounds of the State Capitol in July and the American flag that signalized the conquest over Spanish arms by American soldiers will be foated at the topmast pinnacle of the immense fagpole.
 The ceremony of raising the first American flag that fioated over Cuba. will take place about August 1, and will be full of interest to the entire State.
 Through the generosity of representa- tives of New Jersey wire manufacturers, who were in Montgomery yesterday. the Flag Committee of the Commercial and Industrial Association was enabled to de- eide definitely upon completing the work of raising the mast and spar, and to be- gin preparations for making the occasion memorable in the history of the State. The representatives of steel rope marlu- lecturers donated all of the steel stay rope necessary to support and maintain the big mast, thereby insuring its erec- ton.
 By an act of Congress. passed through the efforts of Congressman A. A. Wiley, Captain Richmond Pearson Hobson, 1t will be remembered, was permitted to pre- sent to the State of Alabama the most of the Spanish war ship Don Juan de Austria, sunk by Admiral Dewey in Manila bay. and spar from the Spanish war ship oquendo sunk by Admiral Schley > in Santiago Bay.
 Transportation @ Problem.
 These trophies of the Spanish war reached Montgomery in December but not until the Flag Committee, of the Commercial and Industrial Association of which Captain A. G. Forbes is~ehair- man. had overcome what appeared to be unsurmountable obstacles. The Don Juan de Austria mast measures 9S feet in length and railroad freight men who looked at 1t in the Brokolyn navy yard shook their heads. It could not be transported to Montgomery, they said. Its transporta- ton would involve the greatest danger to freight trains and the rate of freight would be so high that no man or set of men would care to pay it.
 This information was conveyed to Cap tain Forbes's committee and the com mitteemen were more firm in their re- solve that theF great stick of Norwegian pine from which proud flag of the Cas- tillians had flown, should find its resting place in Montgomery. The committee cherished hope that the mast could be shipped to Montgomery in time for its erection upon the lawn of the historic old State capltok during the Street Fair in October, while thousands of visitors thronged Montgomerys streets. In this hope they were disappointed. and it was announced that at a fater date the Spanish mast would be raised with ap- propriate ceremonies. ssNAs
 Finally Arrived Here.
 Finally the Pennsylvania Railroad Company came to the relief of the con- mittee. It was announced that this com pany would furnish two of it's mammoth flat cars to transport the mast to Mont gomery providing 1t was shipped sub 1ect to owners rick The freight the company said would reach close to 1850.
 The Flag Committee appealed to Gov ernor Jelks for financial aid from the State in bearing the expense of bringing the mast to Montgomery The Gov ernor manifested much interest in the matter but said he had no fund upon which to draw. At this juncture the Commercial and Industrial Association placed $500 at the disposal of the com mittee, and the great mast was shipped to Montgomery Because of its immense in delivering 1t upon the lawn at the State house from the depot.
 The spar of the war ship Oquendo was shipped to Montgomery ahead of the big mast The Oquendo spar, which is 30 feet long has ben stored in the barn of the Montgomery Street Railway Com pany since it's arrival here.
 1ltLIO MOuey h0a1ueO.
 When the Flag Committee had paid $S5o freight on the Don Juan de Austria mast. it was discovered that not more than enough money was left in it's treasury to pav the contractor for raising the mast and putting it in position.
 Captain Forbes. chairman of the com notttee went to Pensacola, Fla. where he laid the matter of erecting the mast before the eommaRdant of the United States navy yard and sought his advice. If was learned that it would be necessary to have several hundred feet of steel stay rope to support the mast after its erec- ton. The commandant furnished Cap tain Forbes with drawings, showing how the mast should be placed, and how 1t should be supported.
 Returning to Montgomery Captain Forhes reported to his committee that 1t would be necessary to purchase steel stay ropes amounting to about S75 before the mast could be raised.
 This was several weeks ago The committee felt discouraged. To them It appeared that the work of raising the mast would involve endless expense.
 Steel Wire Donated.
 Arthur M Whaley of Atlanta, Ga. and c. A. Dumas of New Orleans. La, rep