The Washington times., 1902-07-13
LARGEST OF ALL THE
G. A. R. ENCAMPMENTS

business men who have interested them
selves in the reunion OF this year to
make this encampment even more note
| worthy
Three days. October 6. :. and S-Mon-
day, Tuesday, and Wednesday-have
been chosen by Gen Ell Torrance and
his associates of the G. A. R. executive
committee as the period OF the national
| convention. The entertainment of the
veterans and their guests, however, will
| cover an approximate week, beginning
with the Thursday or Friday preceding
the convocation of the delegates.
The Fireworks Display.
Monday has been set apart for the
first days session of the convention and
special and elaborate display of fire.
: works, at which all the officers of all
the organizations then assembled in
! Washington and the President of the
United States are TO be present. On
! Tuesday the convention will continue
and conclude its annual session. while
the general visitors to the city will
view an attractive and picturesque
| parade by the Sons of Veterans, who
meet simultaneously with the G. A R.,
regiment of militia from the District
| of Columbia and several battalions of
| regular troops-engineers, marines,
cavalry. and artillery-from the bar
racks about Washington.
! The third day has been set aside for
| the parade of the veterans, a seuti-
mental desire on their part that none
| but soldiers who have seen service at
the front should participate. having
been recognized by those who framed the
program. In the evening it is probable
President Roosevelt will tender General
Torrance and his associate general Of
hcers Of the auxiliary organizations n
reception at the White House, the dis
play OF fireworks will be presented a
third time, and several smaller recep-
tions will be rendered the officers of
the women's organizations by local
chapters OF those bodies.
Will Be Largest Crowd in History.
All the advices received in Washing
ton-either by members of Congress
whose constituents are Interested in the
encampment or by those who have
charge of the encampment prepara-
tions-indicate that this gathering in the
Capital of the Nation forty years after
the period of service at the front is
exciting extraordinary interest through
out the country. The expert testimony
OF the passenger agents whose roads
reach Washington, directly or Indirectly
is that the crowd will surpass even that
of 1892
The officers of the local Grand ARMY
posts speak confidently of a larger post
attendance than at any other encamp
ment In the history of the society. Gen
eral Torrance refers to the encampment
as likely to prove the most interesting
the most significant, and the most mem
orabie reunion of veterans in his knowl-
edge of the order, and that knowledge
began almost with the foundation of the
Grand Army of the Republic.
The whole city will be Handsomely
dressed for the occasion. A conspicuous
feature of this decoration will be that It
consists almost exclusively of American
flags hung at an angle from all buildings
along the line of the veterans march
and from most houses within reach Of
the business section of the city.
Government Buildings to Be Left Free.
Local opinion is strong against the dis
tortion of the beautiful architectural
lines of the public buildings. On other
occasions the splendidly proportioned
Treasury and the Patent Office have been
marred by flags hung more or less grace
fully about the cornices or allegorical
pictures painted more or less skillfully
But this year the strong, fine lines of
Greek and Romanesque architecture will
H-,g, l. -. ~
cept for groups OF flags about that
which always flies from a governmental |
building they will be entirely without |
decoration.
The parks will make up for this de- |
iciency. There are perhaps 100 reser-
large and small within easy |
each OF Pennsylvania Avenue, ard |
-hese are all being transformed into
.ncampment decorations. Near General |
iancock's s statue at Seventh Street and |
Market Space, for example, the trefoil
If the Second Army Corps has been
lone in vari-colored flowers A triangle
n solid cOlors in another park desig-
lates General Thomas old command, the
Fourth Corps. About the Pension Build
ng are dozen floral badges, among
which the most conspicuous is that of
he Ninth Corps, designed by General
0uFNSlut, Win It's bUlelu, aDcnOr ana
annon admirably modelled in coleus and
,egonia plants.
An Illuminated Court of Honor.
These decorations will converge on
ourt of honor which is to be built in
he space inclOsed by Lafayette Square
nd the grounds OF the White House.
several wei! known architects are at
york preparing a design of Greek pillars
nd covered reviewing stands which
hall have the genera. effect of a peri
tyle with semi circle OF Ionic columns
eading to the doors OF the Executive
lansion, which, by that time, will have :
cen completely remodeled.
At night this space will glow with
of colored lights, illuminat-
ne the smoke which will ascend from
eYeral pyre-urns and transforming
hat is now an open plaza into a struc-
lre OF the most delicate beauty.
AT night the whole downtown section
the city VIII take on the peculiar
harm which attached to the Buffalo !
Aposition when its buildings were out
ned with thousands OF incandescent
ghts and its fountains transformed 5y
ne CLEAN of many colors
The Capitol Illumination Unique.
Plans are being laid for such an IL
umination Of the high white dome OF
he Capitol that from every point OF
levy In shall stand ou, IN charm rcIfef