Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-09
GA. R. IN M|NNEAP Oils
Active Preparations for Annual
Encampment.
NEXT ENTERTAINING CITY
Workmen Busy on Tops of Stores Ar
ranging Decorations.
A BLAZE OF GLORY AT NIGHT
Opening Concert Next Monday-Each
of Twenty-Five Army Corps to
Be Represented.
e.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi, August Z, 1905.
Although the Grand Army encampment is
only a few days away no city has an
nounced its candidacy as the next enter
tanning city. AS usual thing several
cities are after the encampment for the
next year. This year all seem to be con-
Quoting a gumshoe campaign. Prominent
veterans in Minneapolis have heard OF no
other city that has made any public offer
or that Is planning to open a campaign
during the encampment.
1t is believed that all are working quietly
and will spring their plans after the open
ing of the encampment. 1t is probable that
the next encampment will be held in the
east. Last year the G. A. r. met in Denver
and this year Minneapolis, another western
city, is entertaining.
The streets of Minneapolis are busy with
active preparations for the Grand Army
encampment. Already the heavy structural
work for Lincoln court on 7th street is be-
ginning to appear and in a few days the
contractors will be busy carrying out the
general plan of the court. The carpenters
will be followed by the painters, and cleo
tricians, and later by the decorators. Plenty
of time has been allowed and everything
will be ready for the opening next Monday.
The main pillars at either end of the court
will require the most time. The bases OF
these are in place and the superstructures
will be rushed.
Merchants Are Busy.
Merchants in the center of the city and
in the East Side retail district are planning
their decorations. A birds-eye view Of
the business center any pleasant day will
show workmen busy on the tops of all the
large retail stores preparing the decorations
that in ten days more will be put in place
on the fronts of their respective buildings.
A surprise is in store for everybody, for
the displays will be most elaborate. Huge
G. A. r. emblems, notices and other cleo
trical effects and some entirely new dis
plays are in process of construction and
many are already finished and will be ready
for hanging next week. One large depart
ment store will display a magnificent cleo
trical effect In colors across the entire front.
II will consist of a huge American flag car
ried out in colors and will be equally effect
i've day or night. The alternating stripes
of red and white in the flag three feet
wide and thousands of electric lights will
make the display blaze Of glory at night.
Private Grand Stands.
Plans are on foot for a large number of
private grand stands. The executive COM
mittee will have a grandstand capable of
seating 5000 people about the old city hall.
The Salvation Army has granted the use
of the Nicollett and Hennepin avenue 'front.'
ages for the erection of the stands and the
proceeds of the sale of seats will be turned
into the treasury. For these stands the
committee has secured the seats used in the
stock amphitheater at the fair grounds. They
are strong and well adapted to the purpose
and can be put in place T, and removed at
Congregational Church will have large
stand in front of Plymouth Church at
Nicollet avenue and Sth street.
Extensive decorations are planned by ].
A. Fillmore & Co., for the interior of the
auditorium, where all sessions of the Grand
Army Of the Republic will be held. The
exterior will be simply decorated, but the
treatment of the interior will leave nothing
to be desired.
Decorations for Concert.
All decorations for the interior will be in
place Monday evening for the grand open
ing concert. so that everybody who attends
will have an opportunity to see them. Only
the finest Of everything will be used Hun
dreds Of flags, miles of bunting, pictures Of
heroes of the civil war and army emblems
will be used In profusion. Each of the
Twenty-Five army corps Of the old Union
army will be represented by large repro
handsomely draped and the entire interior,
corridors, assembly rooms and main audi
forum will present a beautiful and inspir-
ing spectacle.
The huge flags that will be hung across
Nicollet and Hennepin avenues over the
line Of march have arrived. They are the
largest flags in the city, and will form a
most effective decoration. They will hang
across the street four to the block. On
Nicollet avenue the flags will hang over the
center Of the street and on Hennepin they
will alternate from side to side to clear the
trolley wires.
Executive Arrangements.
All executive arrangements and the
management of the grand parade on Wed
| nesday will be in the hands Of Mime
sofa man. One of Minneapolis newer
citizens, formerly Gov. Samuel r. Van
SAINT, will be marshal of the parade. Gov.
Van SAINT Is a veteran himself, and as for
me- governor of the state is well known
everywhere. His staff will be largely
drawn from the ranks Of younger men
and tho officers of the National Guard.
The staff will have lot Of active hard
work on its hands the day of the parade.
During encampment week the court
house chimes will be rung. National airs.
stirring patriotic melodies and familiar
tunes will ring forth at every hour Of the
day. Prof. John H. Lyons, organist of
Holy Trinity Church. has been engaged
| to play the chimes every day of encamp-
me1t week.
The long distance band to appear in
come from Vermont. The Lyndonville
Band. numbering thirty-two men, will
attend in body and march with the YER
mont department.
Badges Are Arriving.
The badges for the delegates and other
visiting bodies and for the local commit
tees are beginning to arrive, and all will
be on hand in a few days. The official
delegate badge is a handsome affair that
will be a pleasing souvenir for the visit
ors. The committee badges are handsome
and artistically gotten up and will be
priced by the workers on the local COM
| mittees.