Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-15
THE STATE GRANGE
Calls Patrons to WaterviIIe by
the Hundreds.
Reception in the Evening, With Enter
tainment at Opera House.
Regular Business Sessions Of Grange
Will Begin, Today.

Waterville, Me, Dec. 14.-(SpeciaD.-
Something like 700 Patrons of Hus-
bandry probably spent the night in the
city after arriving on some train dur
what may be expected in the way of
attendance when the meetings are
fairly under way. There were no events
scheduled for Monday excepting the
reception in the evening. but every
train coming into the city during the
day was loaded. Something like 5O'
We're assigned stopping places by tn;
committee in charge OF this, during
the day.
This process was q very interesting
one, the whole work being reduced to
a carefully prepared system that
worked very smoothly. The commit
tee was stationed in the Board of Trade
room on the first floor in the City build
ing and was the first place sought by
every Patron on arrival in the city
Arrangements We're made for having
word telegfaphed ahead of each train
stating the number that were aboard
so that the committee at the City hal
knew just what to expect usually a!
hour or 500 before it came. The con,
ductors on the trains reported to tbs
station agents at q convenient distance
from the city and the agent at once
telegraphed to Ticket Agent Dodge il
this city vino forwarded the messag
TO the committee. In this way some
sort of preparation could re made fOl
each train load and the work done
much more quickly and smoothly.
Something like 500 arrived on the
afternoon express train and although
not all Of these applied for lodgings thu
larger part did and they We're supplied
in about half an hour, There mus
have been 200 applicants in this time
and they we've all cared for before the
arrival OF the afternoon local trains.
The way this work was done was
pleasing thing to watch. Ex-Mayoi
HlaisGell is in charge. being chairman
of the committee. and he has very
able corps OF assistants made UP of ]
"A. Patterson. Mr.. and Mrs. Frank r
Hitolfas Mrs Grace Sprague and Mis-.
T,ottie Ludlow. The last named i
stenogranhe" for Hon Warren C. Phil.
brook, president of the Board of Trade
and prepared the card index for thost
that had been assigned rooms SO wa
perfectly familiar with the system. The
room has two doors on one side an6
desks partitiolcd it off about equally
AS the people arrived they passed il
ono door and those who had been as.
signed rooms passed directly to the
desks of Mrs. Sprague and Miss Luh.
low. Each name was in the card inde2
with the lodgings that had been as
signed and other information. AS soor
IS a name was given it was found ir
the index and the applicant turned over
to ono Of the guides and the small boo
of information given. The guide ther
took the visitor in charge. passing GU
TIE second door and to what ever,
part OF the city the lodgings were 10
Gated.
Those who had previously applied 70
rooms were handled by Mr.. and Mrs
Hitchins and Mr.. Patterson. who del
CuL the rooms to them as fast as callef
for. the guides showing them the way
1t was one of the best natured crowd.
you ever saw in your life. After tho
arrival of every train the room woul
be packed to suffocatOn for time anG
each member of the committee beseige
by anywhere from a dozen to so appli
cants. But they soon got used to Z
and brought order out Of the chao'
very rapidly and turned off each crow
very smoothly. Occasionally some ap
plicant was not satisfied with tn
lodgings furnished and came back 70:
new assignment but almost invari
able was soon perfectly satisfied as tn
supply of rooms was excellent at TIL
start As they fill up it will be NOR
difficult to suit every one but no very
serious objections are anticipated.
All the afternoon people We're flock
ing TO the City building at frequent in
tcrvaIs while nearly all of the tim
there was steady stream of others
coming out in charge of the guides
There We're also people all over thu
building on the inside. looking the va
rious rooms and the Opera house over
or sitting i'll groops chatting away
about subjects of interest.
More decorations We're CONSTANT!
appearing through the business sec