Evening journal., 1904-01-08
III Ready for the Board
of Trade Banquet To-
night to Boom Canal to
Connect Two Bays
Decorations Most EIabO-
rate Ever Seen for Din
ner in This City-List
of Guests

For no like occurrence ever held in
le city has there been the energy ex-
ended as on the banquet that will be
iven by the Wilmington Board OF
trade TO discuss the inland ship canal,
ID the Peacock building tonight.
The object Of the dinner is to inter-
st the country at large in the project
( connecting the Delaware River and
chesapeake Bay by a ship canal to ex-
lend from Delaware city to Chesa-
,eake City, a distance of fourteen
niles, thus reducing the distance be-
vs. zen these two important waterways
between 800 and 400 miles. With the
|srge number Of senators, representa-
ives and prominent men TO be present,
here is but little doubt that the ban
iuet win accomplish this purpose.
Elaborate Decorations.
The decorations for the affair are
Elaborate, the big room having been
|'onverted into a banquet hau by the
AID OF fes;oons, silken flags and potted
1lants.
The first striking thing that will
greet the guests upon their arrival,
|vin be the word welcome in electric
bulbs at the landing on the big stair
base This is surrounded by the Stars
|and Stripes. shields and bunting with
he model of ship beneath.
Many special arc lights have been in
|;talled which will make the room as
light as day. over the head OF the
POSTMASTER a cluster OF incandescent
lights has been placed.
The. color scheme is green and white,
long festoons reaching from one end
of the room to the other and inter-
woven at the centre. These will har-
monize with the pink table decorations
pnd the tri-colors about the walls.
Big Maps on the Wall.
Directly behind the POSTMASTER will
be found two large maps drawn upor
muslin and occupying almost one side
of the room. These maps clearly show
the advantages of the canal at &
glance.
one Of these is intended 10 demonstrat
the military advantages OF the waterway
It shows the League Island Navy Yard
Navy Yard. Annapolis sn'
Norfolk. The other is to give the ad
vantages from a commercial point of viey
and demonstrate how the canal woul'
help Philadelphia. Camden. Baltimore
Annapolis. Norfolk and VIII
mmgoon from this tradesmen's point O
view. The maps are separated by sin
American flags in the centre of which &
placed "a coat Of arms of the state o
Delaware. on the other side walls Ameri
can flags will be draped.
IN ahe eastern end of the room the Phil
harmonic orchestra. partly hidden b
palms and potted plants will play durin
the evening.
Along the western end Of the room IN
head table will be laid. where the toast
master and other speakers will sit. Their
are seven tables extending from this dow
the room. Each table Will be designate
by a letter and a chart of the whole wi
be handed each guest, designating hi
pace upon his entrance.
The cloak rooms will be on the first fioo
where the guests will assemble and go
the banquet room in a body.
At the end of each Of the large table
a member OF the entertainment committe
will sit TO see that all are served.
II. NJ. colder is the caterer and he has
staf of hfty-sevcn walters and twenty
kitchen. which has been curtalned o
from the main room.
Everything is in readiness for the al
rival of the guests. They are eXpcotc
about seven o'clock. Two hours will I
taken 70 serve the dinner, after which n
speechmaking will begin.
william Lawton. president OF the Boar
OF Trade. T. Allen Ilnles md Josiah MAJ
vel ieit for Washington 1his morning Il
lie purpose OF cscoriing the special CUES
70 this city. on arriving In washingto
they vin be Joined by United states Sci
ators J. Frank Alice and L. IIelsler Ba
ond Congressman Henry A. Houston. n
party will leave the Capitol city short
after o'clock In a special car ana VI
ssrive IN this oity eAortly after { o'clocl
Special Car Service.
The Wilmington City Railway Compar
has arranged TO slve the street car sersii
needed. Upon the arrival of the tnvlts
guests at the Pennsylvania station IN