The San Francisco call., 1908-04-07
PARADE A BIG FEATURE
Fleet Festivities Program to Be
Given Out Tomorrow

Final details of the official program
for the reception OF the fleet came up
for discussion at e special meeting OF
the feet committee yesterday, when
Frank J. Symmes made a report on his
recent visit to Magdalena bay in be-
half of the committee, and recon-
mended several minor changes. They
were taken under consideration and
will be made public Wednesday, when
the complete program, revised and ar
ranged just as IT will occur. will be
given out for the first time.
Fifteen thousand men will take part
in the big parade. according to General
John A. Roster, grand marshal, who
also reported. Roster said that the
parade would be the biggest military
and naval demonstration ever occur
ring in San Francisco, eclipsing even
the military display during the Spanish
war. The parade will begin at 8
o'clock on the morning of May Z. 1t
will start from the ferry building, pro-
ceeding up Market street to Van Ness
avenue, thence to washington street.
where the soldiers will countermarch
in review and break formation.
The parade will be preceded by a
platoon Of mounted police, followed
by General Roster and his staff. Then
will come 5000 federal troops under
General Funston, including all branches
of the service. Following them swill
come Secretary Metcalf. Governor Gill
lett and his staff of Al members, city
officials and naval officers in carriages.
Eighty companies of sailors and ma
rines. comprising 5000 men. will head
} the second division, and after them
will come the Fifth regiment of the
national guard. II companies with 500
men. Two companies of naval militia
viii be headed by Captain George w.
Bauer.
In the third division will march vet
Grams of the Mexican war, the Grand
Army, California Grays, pioneers,
Phelps squadron Of the Naval Veter-
ans association and $500 members of
the Native Sons and Daughters with
three big floats, two of them repre-
senting the cruiser California and the
state seal. Carriages profusely deco
rated with flowers will be a feature OF
this division.
The committee has under consid-
Grafton the question of whether to
erect grandstands for the public par
ticularly women and children, at con-
venient points on Market street and
Van Ness avenue. It was proposed by
Chairman Phelan that the committee
might defray the cost of building them
by charging SO cents or a dollar for
the seats. The proposition of having
them erected by private contractors
will also be considered, and bids, it
was stated, would be received by the
committee. Because of the great length
of the parade and the poor facilities
for the crowds who will line the
streets, Phelan said that the stands
would be almost a necessity. This
matter, too, will be considered Wednes-
/ day.
1t was definitely decided, however,
that there would be no reviewing stand
for Secretary Metcalf and the navy Of
fcers. Instead, they will be driven
from the line of march at points on
Van Ness avenue and will review the
parade from their carriages.
Mayor Taylor will be asked by the
committee to issue proclamation re-
questing citizens to decorate their
homes with flags and bunting while the
fleet remains in the harbor
The mining town of Rawhide, New.
has come forward with a bid for one
day on the official fleet program and
a proposition to take 5000 sailors on
a trip TO the mines. give them a roll
licking frontier entertainment for a
day and return them to the warships.
II. d. Cowen OF Rawhide presented the
plan in letter to the committee and
said that the citizens of Rawhide would
stand the entire expense. Cowen said
that he and Tex Rickard. the Goldfield
prizehght promoter, would deposit s1O.-
I 900 in a San Francisco bank to guar
antee that they would carry out the
program