The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1913-04-16
CONF EDERATES
HOLD REUNION
Chattanooga Making Elaborate
Preparations
Something of the Arrangements TO
Care for the Confederate Veterans
Big Attendance Expected.

largest crowd that has attended q re-
union of the Confederate veterans and
Sons of Veterans since the organiza-
tion of the association. 1t is a matter
of history that the first steps toward
organizing the southern survivors of
5he Civil war were taken in Chatta-
nooga. The New Orleans meeting, at
which the organization was effected,
oy the election of Gen. John B. Cor
Ion commander-in-chief, resulted, in
arge measure, from agitation started
aere by Capt. j. F. Shipp, and others,
Cor an association of Confederates.
The New Orleans meeting elected Gen.
John B. Gordon to head the organiza-
tion and he called the first reunion of
the association for Chattanooga July
3, and 5, 1890. Under all of the cir
cumstances 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 Of
90 inclusive. Only two months re-
main in which the work of the organi-
zation may be done, but it is well un-
der way. The various committees
have been appointed, and are at work
in their respective spheres. Informa-
ton gathered from all sections of the
south indicates that fully 10000 peo-
pie will be here.
The passenger departments of all
the railroads having lines entering
Chattanooga, 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 rail
way 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-
tions We're inferior, local transporta-
ton facilities poor and the people were
suffering financially from a collapsed
boom. However,, that reunion was
voted a success.
The Chattanooga cf today was built
since 1890. 1t is now a city of 100000
with the best of hotel accommodations
and first-class local transportation fa-
cilities. 1t has twonty-siX hotels, one
of them modern, twelve-story build
ing costing a million dollars. The
boarding house accommodations are
all that are to be found in a modern
city Of 100000 population The ho-
tells, boarding houses and private
famiies will furnish entertainment
for 100000 visitors. The restaurant
| service is first class and adequate to
my demand
The Confederate veterans will be
camped at jackson park, delightful
resort almost within the business dis
tricts of the city. This camp has been
named Camp Stewart" in honor of
the late Gen, A. p. Stewart, the much
beloved and noted southern cheftain,
who won fame on the greatest battle
fields Of the Civil war and spent his
declining years in Chattanooga as
member of the Chckamauga National
Park commission. The motion to
name the camp for him was put by
Mayor T. c. Thompson, and was
unanimously adopted
Chattanooga is putting great energy
| into the preparation for the reunion
and every indication is that it will be
one of the most delightful meetings
the veterans have ever enjoyed.
The environments of Chattanooga
are ideal for reunion of the Confed-
crate veterans. The battlefelds are
the chief points of interest, of course,
but they are not all by any means.
Chattanooga is modern city of 1O0,-
600 population, with a greater number
of manufacturing plants than any city
In the southern states, turning out
more than seven hundred different
products that go practically all over
the world. 1t has a number of sky
scrapers, and other modern buildings.
The climate is ideal. The mountain
scenery is not eXcelled in any other sec
tion of the south Some years ago
Prince Henry, of Prussia, spent a day
in Chattanooga and made trip to the
top Of historic Lookout mountain.
After viewing the panorama from that
eminence, he exclaimed: "There is
nothing finer in all Europe" Every
tourist who has travelled in European
countries passes the same eulogy on
these mountains. The Confederate
veterans, however, know what they
, are. Thousands of them fought over
this field, and it will be a pleasure to
them to revisit the scenes of the car