Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1911 — TROOPS GIVE NIGHT SHOWS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TROOPS GIVE NIGHT SHOWS

Big Lighting Arrangements for Chicago Military Tournament July 23-30. One of the big problems 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

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 prena'ed 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 %-inch steel wire cable, stretching 600 feet across the arena, between 60-foot poles set back of the seats on the east and west sides, and secure y 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 threewire 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

firmly attached on one side, the othei end will be drawn up with block anc tackle and made fast. In addition tc the flaming arc lights there are to be 52 ordinary 450-watt arcs suspended from a second row of poles which an set behind the tiers of seats to bract up the larger poles supporting th< tiers of cables. The task of hanging the 80 flaming arc lights on the raised wires is n< small one, as each lamp weighs ap proximately 34 pounds. At this ratt the total weight of the lamps alone b over 2,600 pounds. The problem wil be solved by using a trolley repaii wagon, to the raised platform of which is to be attached an extensior ladder. A man must climb this laddei to a height of 45 feet above the ground in order to hang the lamps 35 feei above the ground. This rig is to be used daily in trimming the lamps anc is to be on the grounds every eveniiij in readiness to attend to any lamj or circuit should occasion arise. The illumination of the arena by these Hghts te expected to be very satisfactory, the total candlepower applied there and on the grandstands being something like 342,000. Subscribe for The Democrat

Hospital Corps Removing Wounded.

Infantry in Firing Line.