Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-19
TASK IS IMMENSE TO
PREPARE REUNION
BIRMINGHAM GETTING READY
FOR OLD SOLDIERS
United Confederate Veterans Will
Gather at Alabama City In June.
Accommodation Provided
for Needy Ones
Special to The Herald.

Special to The Herald.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala, April 1S.-Few
people realize the immensity of the
task of preparing for the annual re-
union of the United Confederate vete-
rams. For three months the work of
preparation has been going on, increas-
ing in size every day, while nearly the
same length of time intervenes between
now and the holding of the reunion in
this city next June.
Birmingham's civic pride is being ex-
emplified in the manner Of her prepara-
tion for this great event. Solid, sturdy
business men with heavy business cares
upon them are devoting hours of their
time to the making of the reunion a
success. 1t Is safe to say that 1t would
be impossible to contract with many of
them to devote the same amount of
time to an ordinary business PROPOSE
tion for salary of less than several
hundred dollars per month. And yet
the many committees, and especially
the executive and finance 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 fighters, and 1t
rarely happens that member OF the
committee is absent.
The first thing, that which is regarded
above all others, is the care and COM
fort Of the veterans. This is to come
first and the entertainment of the spon-
sors and other social affairs afterward.
Nothing will be left undone to make the
heroes of '61-65 feel happy and content
while they are Birmingham's guests.
Thousands of Veterans
There will be thousands of them, but
Birmingham will be equal to the oc-
casion. To those who do not feel able
to pay for their lodging and board, es-
pecial attention will 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 thousand cots will be placed
in the building and the only request
made of the veterans is that they bring
blankets Accommodations of all kinds
will be supplied, while everything pala-
table in the eating line will be provided.
Huge kitchens will be fitted up, while
expert barbecue cooks will be kept
steadily at work from til time the re-
union begins until the finish.
There will be no limit either as to the
amount of food. A veretan may eat
once, twice or a dozen times day If he
wishes, as the dining room will be open
all day.
The Hippodrome skating auditorium
will be used as convention hall. The
acoustics of this building are very good
and the seating capacity will accommo-
date more than 5000. The grand ball
will also be given in the hippodrome.
From the fair grounds to the hippo
drome is a ride of only ~ minutes.
General headquarters for the assign
ment of rooms and other work of the
reunion will be in the city hall, while
the different generals will establish
separate headquarters for their COM
mands. Reservations for headquarters
are being made right along, among
those being General stephen D. Lee and
General William r. Nickel, who have
reservations at the Hotel Hillman, |