Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 169, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1911 — TROOPS GIVE NIGHT SHOWS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TROOPS GIVE NIGHT SHOWS

Big Lighting Arrangement* for Chicago Military Tournament July 23-30. One of the big problem* which will confront Manager John R. Young of the National Military Tournament, to be held on the lake front in Grant Park, Chicago, July 23 to 30, will be the lighting of the immense arena, 400 by 600 feet, so that tne evening performances of the soldiery can be viewed with ease by the thousands of spectators. % Around the great arena have been arranged 40,000 seats, 30,000 of these

Hospital Corps Removing Wounded, being absolutely free to the public. Realizing that the great bulk of the people would be unable to attend the week day afternoon performances, Manager Young immediately prepared a night program and let the contract to the Commonwealth Electric company for the lighting of the big arena with flaming arc lights.

The details of this enormous undertaking are now being worked out by Manager Young and a representative of the company’s contract department. So far the plan of the construction work provides for the following: Eighty “Aurola” flaming arc lights of 3,500 candlepower each are to be set 50 feet apart, suspended on spans of double %-lnch steel wire cable, stretch? ing 600 feet across the arena, between 60-foot poles set back of the .seats on the east and west sides, and securely anchored to stand the great strain.

The poles are to be set in position, the supporting cables laid across on the ground between them, the threewir* electric circuits run from each side to the middle on each strand and fastened in place, and then, one end of the supporting cables having been

flrmly attached on one side, the other end will be drawn up with block and tackle and made fast. In addition to the flaming arc lights there are to be 52 ordinary 450-watt arcs suspended from a second r6w of poles which are set behind the tiers of seats-to brace up the larger poles supporting the tiers of cables. The task of hanging the 80 flaming are lights on the raised wires is no small one, as each lamp weighs approximately 34 pounds. At this rate the total weight of the lamps alone is ©Ver 2,600 pounds. The problem will be solved by using a trolley repair wagon, to the raised • platform of which is to be attached an extension ladder. A man must climb this ladder to a height of 45 feet above the ground in order to hang the lamps 85 feet above the ground. This rig is to be used dally in trimming the lamps and la to be on the grounds every evening in readiness to attend to any lamp or circuit should occasion arise. The Niuminatlon of the arena by these lights is expected to be very satisfactory, the total candlepower applied there and on the grandstands being something like 342.000.

Infantry in Firing Line.