The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-04-17
BIRMINGHAM'S
GREAT TASK
STUPENDOUS PLANS FOR
RECEPTION OF CON
FEDERATE VETERANS
BY James .. Keeling.


Birmingham April l6-Few people
realize the immeusity of the task OF
preparing for the annual reunion Vi
the United Confederate Veterans. For
three months the work of preparation
has been going on, Increasing In size
overy day, while nearly the same
length of time interyencs between now
and the holding of the reunion In Birm-
ngham next June.
Brmingham's civic pride Is being
exemplifed in the manner of her pre-
paration for this great event. Solid,
sturdy business iHen with heavy bust
ness cares upon them are devoting
hours of their time to the making of
the reunion success lt Is safe to
say that IL would be impossible TO con
tract with many OF them TO devote the
same amount of time to an ordinary
business proposition for salary of
less than several hundred dollars per
month And yet the many committees
and especially the executive and fl
nance committees. have been holding
meetings two or three afternoons a
week for the last eight weeks planning
for the best way of entertaining the
old hghters ami Il rarely happens that
a member OF the committee Is absent.
The first thing that which is re
garded above all others, Is the care
and comfort Of the veterans. This is
TO come first and the entertainment of
the sponsors and other social affairs
afterward. Nothing win be left I'M
done TO make the heroes OF 'Gl-65 feel
happy and content while they are
Birmingham's guests
There will be thousands of them,
but Birmingham will ba equal TO the
occasion To those who do not feel
able to pay for their lodging and
board, especial attention VIII be paid.
One OF the largest buildings at the fair
grounds will be converted into a hotel
for their accommodation. This hotel
will bear the name of John b. Gordon
Several thou3and cots will be placed
in the building and the only request
made of the veterans as that they bring
blankets. Accommodation of all kinds
will be supplied, while everything pal
atable in the eating line viii be pro
vided. Huge kitchens viii be fitted
up, while expert barbecue cooks viii
be kept steadily al work from the time
the reunion begins until the finish
There viii be no limit either as 20
the amount Of food a veteran may
eat once. twice or dozen times a day
If he wishes. as the dining room viii
be open all day.
The hlippodrome skating audi
t0rium viii be used as a convention
hall. Tie acoustics of TINS building
are very good and the seating ca
pacity viii accommodate more than
5000 The grand bail will also be
given In the HippodrOme From the
far grounds 10 the Hppodrome b a
! ride Of only twelve minutes.
General headquarters for the as
sianment OF rooms aud other work Of
! The reunion viii be- In IRE city hail.
while ths different genegals viii estab.
hsh separate headqum l..s Tor tEeir
commands. Reservation for headquar
ters are being made right along
among those being General stephen
- Lee and General William n Mickle,
have reservations az the Hotel Hill
man, while General Tylor has re-
served headquarters a the New Nor.
/ ris Hotel for himself and the suryiv-
/ ing members OF FORESTS cavalry
fReQuasts Tor reservations are being
I received daily.
Regimenial reunions viii be held
IA Capitol park. rs six acres of beau
uul lawn making an ideal place for
such occasions Il Is Only fvc blocks
from the corner of Second avenue and
T@entieth street. IKE business center
OF town. and seven blocks irom the
/. Hippodrome skafing auditorium, the
convention hall
There will be a number of enter
talnments for the pleasure OF the vet
Grams. The customary BAH will be
held IN the flippodfome, while AZ
least two concerto az night are being
arranged TOR Special entertainment
viii also be provided al the fair
grounds AZ Night for the veterans reg
iatered al the Fair Grounds hotel
while al least one aiternoons enter