The National tribune., 1906-12-20
Absurd Rnilrond Trust Talk.
(From the Saratoga SUM-

Taking the position that Saratoga is
| unable to entertain the Grand Army OF
| the Republic, the Western Railroad
Trust has thrown itself open to fair
challenge not only of its motives. but
of its honesty or intelligence. Saratoga
has on frequent occasions shown that it
was better able to entertain big gather
ings than New York City itself, the larG-
est city in the Western Hemisphere and
the second city in size in the world.
Any one who has actually witnessed the
horse show so pre-cmDt the little re-
serve accommodation that New York
has to offer extra guests in the FAN
knows why this Is 50. During Horse
Show week ii Is sometimes difficult for
an ordinary traveller to get accommoda-
ton in the biggest city in the country.
The reason for this is that the great
cities are always crowded with large
| floating population. 1t is estimated that
at least 00.000 strangers are in New
York City every day of the year, and
this natural excess of population so oc-
cupies the hotels that to throw 10000
or 10000 extra people into that great
city often overflows IL, even tho the
popular impression is that its capacity
is ineEhauStible. The same, fact is true
in degree of other prosperous cities. The
city of Cincinnati, in particular, is not
noted for the size or number of its no.
tells, nor for its accommodations for Il
great assemblage. while 1t is noted for
its commercial importance: and for its
crowded business conditions
The Grand Army has frequently held
its Grand Encampmen Ins places with
less accOmm odations and more restrict
ed railroad facilities thaH Saratoga. For
instance, years ago. when the member
ship was much larger and more active
than now, the Grand Encampment was
halH n ,-.+ i1v. tIYa
then a city of 10000 Inhabitants, with
meager hotel and private-house accom-
modations compared with Saratoga, sit
uated on single railroad of far less
capacity than the ID. e. H., and yet
there was no complaint of its entertain
ment Of the Grand Army. The Grand
Army Encampment has been held in
Louisville and other cities of the third
or fourth class again and again. and to
advance now the argument that It Is
necessary to hold the Encampment for
reduced membership in a large city
carries It's dishonesty on It's face.
AS matter of fact, Saratoga is better
equipped to take care of a big crowd
than any city in the country. In Sep
| tember, when the Grand Army proposes
to come here Gf the Railroad Trust
does not overrule it, Saratoga is empty.
Its great hotels and thousands of cot
tages and boarding houses are prepared
to give up their capacity to a visiting
convention. The season" Is over the
Summer guests have departed, and Sar-
atoga's total capacity is at the service
of the Grand Army If 1t comes here. On
the contrary, September Is the month
when the cities fill up with returning
citizens and business visitors. when the
hotels are crowded and when in any
city In the country the Grand Army will
suffer for lack Of accommodation. from
unhealthy and dangerous conditions and
probably from heat and enforced over
exertion which Will claim many victims.
We repeat that Saratoga can enter
tain The Grand Army not only better
than any large city In the country. but
that It can do so with better regard for
the veterans health. pleasure and COM
fort Our hotels and boarding houses
are built for comfort and sociability,
with broad verandahs and well ventilat-
ed rooms. Our streets are long, broad.
finely macadamlzad and shaded with
trees century old. Perfect atmos.
phere, perfect drainage. the best sewer
age system in the world, score of great
heating giving mineral springs. proximity
to the greatest historical and scenic re-
gion in the eastern half of the country
these are the unmatchable advantages
of Saratoga as a meeting place for the
Grand Army this year. If the Railroad
Trust has It's way. the members of the
Grand Army will be robbed of the most
pleasure BILE and patriotic opportunity
ever offered them.