The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-03-13
Historic Chattanooga VIII
Royalty Entertain Veterans
Historic

Chattanooga, Tenn, March 13.-The,
city is preparing to entertain the larg-
est crowd that has attended reunion
of the Confederate veterans since the
organization of the association. 1t is
a matter of history that the first steps
toward organizing the Southern sur
vivors of the Civil War were taken in
Chattanooga. The New Orleans meet
ing at which the organization was ef-
fected, by the election of General John
B. Gordon commander-in-chief, result |
ed, in large measure, from agitation /
and others for an association of Con-
federates. The New Orleans meeting
elected General John B. Gordon to
head the organization and he called
the first reunion of the association for
Chattanooga July 3, and 5, 1890. I'm
| der all of the circumstances the people
| of Chattanooga feel that it is their
duty to exert every effort to make the
coming reunion brilliant success. 1t
is certainly their pleasure to do so.
The date of the reunion is May o.
main in which the work of the organ
ization may be done, but it is well I'M
der way. The various committees
have been appointed, and are at work
in their respective spheres. In forma-
ton gathered from all sections of the
South indicates that fully 100000 peo
pie will be here.
The passenger departments of all
railroads having lines entering Chat
tanooga, report that already there is
much interest in the coming reunion.
Inquiries are received every day about
rates, hotel accommodations and the
progress of the work incident to the
entertainment of the veterans and the
thousands of visitors that will be here.
The head Of the passenger department
of one of the largest railway systems
in the South, has served notice on the
people of Chattanooga that record
breaking crowd may be expected.
The Confederate veterans met here
in their first reunion in 1890, twenty
three years ago. Chattanooga at that
time was but poorly prepared to care
for the visitors. Hotel accommoda'
lions were inferior, local Transports
ton poor and the people were suffer
ing financially from collapsed boom
However that reunion was voted q
success.
The Chattanooga of today was bull
since 1890. 1t is now a city of 100000
with the best of hotel accommoda
lions and first class local transporta
ton facilities. 1t has twenty-siX no
tells, one of them a modern 12-stor!
building costing a million dollars. Thu
boarding house accommodations ar
all that are to be found in moderi
city of 100000 population. The hotels
boarding houses and private familie
will furnish entertainment for 10000
visitors. The restaurant service
first class and adequate to any de
mand.
The Confederate veterans will b
camped at Jackson Park, delightfr
resort almost within the business di!
tricts of the city. This camp has bee
named Camp Stewart in honor
the late General A. P. Stewart, tn
much beloved and noted Souther
chieftain, who won fame on the grea
est battlefields of the Civil War an
spent his declining years in Chatt
. nooga as a member of the Chick
manga national park commission. TT
motion to name the camp for him we
put by Mayor T. G. Thompson, an
was unanimously adopted.
Through the influence of the loo
congressman, Hon. John A. Moon, l
900 cots have been secured from Il
war department for the camp. Ten
have also been secured from the san
source to accommodate 10000 me
The camp site is admirable and Il
equipment will be all that the veteran
could desire.
Chattanooga is putting great enc