Page:Final Report of the Northwest Territory Celebration Commission.pdf/37

 was necessary to move their considerable fleet entirely out of the Muskingum River, erecting guard fences, and concealing modern appurtenances to make the primeval picture complete.

Many, many thousands (the second largest crowd ever in Marietta) of people watched this historic event despite the rain and disagreeable weather.

To the writer, this day and event stands as the highest spot in the celebration. Had the day been pleasant, over 100,000 spectators would have witnessed the landing. But if the day had been attractive, the accurate historic reproduction would have been lost. As it now is, in all likelihood the photographs taken on April 7th, 1938, are as descriptive as the actual scene on April 7, 1788,

The boats built and used by the pioneers were on display at Marietta during the summer and attracted as many as 10,000 visitors in one day. They have now been purchased by the Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society and it is hoped that especially the "Union Galley" and the pirogues can be permanently preserved as examples of the early American boat builder's art.

After Marietta, where the group remained for three days, the trek throughout the States of Northwest Territory was begun. The truly historic reproduction was over, but it remained for the commission and the States to take the celebration to the 24,000,000 people of old Northwest Territory.

Under celebration plans, the States, through their respective commissions now became directly responsible for the itinerary and maintenance expense of the caravan.

Estimates of expense had been prepared, and each State Commission had agreed to pay $92.40 per calendar day to cover this cost,

Each state Director worked up an itinerary in conformance with requirements and enlisted active support of local civic groups in each city. This will be more fully covered under "Local Participation".

It quickly became apparent that there were to be many more applications for showings than there were days available.

Much pressure was brought toward a "Number Two Company" so to speak, to take care of all the requests. This was objectionable from the standpoint of historic dignity, as well as from the standpoint of states commissions' budgets. With Michigan not participating (despite the desperate efforts of a number of her civic and historically minded citizens) some thirty additional showings became available, and by imposing upon the caravan group for some noonday' programs, the itinerary was finally determined with fair satisfaction to all, and with almost no point in the Territory more than twenty-five miles from a pageant stop.

Because of the distances between stops throughout the states of the territory—averaging about forty miles—it was necessary to use trucks for transportation of the caravan party.

The limit of sustained ox team travel is about twelve miles per day. By the use of trucks several towns along the route could enjoy some sort of ceremony, and the party still reach the next stop town in time for an afternoon parade as well as the evening program.