The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-09
c. A. R. DEMANDS.
ON HOSTESS CITY
MONEY AND ORGANIZATION ARE
FIRST REQUISITES.
Commercial Club Will Start Soon to
Raise $4,000 Guarantee from Bust
ness Interests-Wil Also Confer with
Railroads as to Reduced Rates Aug
ust Date Is Favored.

To make the Grand Army Of the Re
public encampment Of 1906 the acme
of the long series Of splendid gather
ings which have marked the history of
the old soldiers organization, will be
the aim of Minneapolis. Every cir
plishment Of this purpose. Minneapo-
lis itself is ready with its natural at
fractions for the hosts which accom-
pany the Grand Army veterans to the
annual encampments. 1t has facilities
to care for the gathering, and only
three things are necessary to make the
Minneapolis convention the historic en-
campment of G.. A. r. history. The
first is a guaranty fund Of $4,000; the
passenger associations; the third, local
Organization.
Steps will be taken at once to secure
subscriptions from the business inter-
ests; the railway associations have been
sounded with favorable intimations; or
ganization on the part of the CONNER
cial club, to cooperate with the differ
ent veteran organizations, VIII take q;
Of the new club year, Nov 1. :.
In twenty-one years since its last G.
A. R. encampment Minneapolis has adj
vanced with tremendous strides from a
| population of $4,000 to 100000. Its
| facilities for housing delegates and for
taking care of the regular meetings and
the campfres have increased in like
ratio. Eighty hotels will accommodate
will be made to shelter the veterans at
the big armory and in the schoolhouses
Several hotels are being built.
The success of the encampment III
attendance will depend to large ex
tent on railroad rates and advertising
and also upon the central situation 81
Minneapolis. At Cleveland, in 1901
900, at Denver this year the reported
census was 100000: Minneapolis is ex
pected, \ under favorable auspices, tt
entertain 100000 or more.
No Counter Attractions.
A circumstance which will tend t.
make the Minneapolis gathering a rec
rates, the city will be the Mecca Of al
the travelling public. Neither the Y
P. S. G. E. nor the Epworth League vii
hold conventions, no exposition !
planned, and there will be clear fel
for the encampment. With an averag
expenditure Of So day person fo
, necessities, the five days of the er
campment, from mere pecuniar
standpoint, will more than reimburss
the business interests for their sui
scriptions. Inasmuch as a thirty-da
extension is usually allowed on tn
tickets the situation is better.
l The first step will be to confer wit
,, the roads and the business interests {
l to the best time for the encampmen
: It is the opinion that this will be tt
first week in August. =,
e Wallace G. Nye,. secretary of II
: mercial club, said today: "The clu
:; before Jan. 1, will solicit subscription
d necessary to make this encampment
s great success, and it will then be l
5 to the people of Minneapolis to Sc
q whether it will come or not. In 9th
s words, if sufficient sum is not secure
: by the first Of the year in the sha]
). Of subscriptions to assure the prop
g care Of this gathering, the city w
3, probably lose the convention, as tt
council Of administration will want
IS know by that time just how well fitt'
we are to care for it.
l. "That convention coming next ye
l. will find the city in the be
4, position in its history, and it will
4, more to attract attention to the il
$, portance Of the city and it's futu
3. than any other gathering that cou
z be secured, not excepting. national
e, litical convention. It is important tn
l. the announcement of railroad rates
q, made at as early date as possible, a.
Il, if the convention is held in mldsu
r. mer, this encampment will be the MI
ID ca next year Of the travelling public
Unity in Decorations Desired.
To obtain unanimity it is suggest
by Mr.. Nye that the decorations be
charge Of the general committee a
;e that the expense be taken from the g
to eral fund. Convention cities have vi
with each other for years in product
l!g the best effects and it will devolve up
&c Minneapolis to beat the record.
r. In convention halls the city will
IN we'll supplied next year. The armc
ees has a main floor 100 by 160 feet,
IN largest west of New York, approach
ne only by the st. Paul armory with dl
UT floor Of 120 by 120 feet. In additi
or there is a dance hall Of large dim
ne sions and a banquet room for $50. 7
e 1,a courthouse central hall, with two
Nc A.. R. halls, will provide space for
~ ~ business gatherings. The armory v
Of be an ideal place for campfres, as "
a. a. as the new Auditorium, with it's la
~ main room and other features.
NV A feature of the parade will
N. doubtedly be provided from Fort SI
i'd ling. Colonel Sweet, commander
or the post, is veteran Of ffty-fve b
". ties of the civil war, is a memb Der
lie the Loyal Legion and in full sympa1
me- with the Grand Army. Undoubte
he would consent to parade the ent
llv garrison. This would include a re
es. ment Of ten companies of infantry,
est battalions OF field artillery ana SOU
ed ron of four companies Of cavalry.
Il.