The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-04-15
Crccimnrc- Its Location and It's Press
ent Condition..

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} save time.
Crrchmnrc Its Location and It's Pres.
ent Condition..
For years the military-loving English
man has had cause to be proud of hi,
magnificent camp of instruction for tar
get practice at Wimbledon and fol
years the annual contests between the
hundreds of volunt GERS for the prizes OF
fcrcd have been one Of the features of the
London season, while the winning Of the
Elcho Shield, Queens prize, and Other
trophies by any particular section of IIei
Majesty's dominions have been made the
occasion of almost universal rejoicing
In this country the reverse is the case,
notwithstanding the magnificent person
mel of our citizen soldicry. The latter
indeed, as a class, have pluck and endur-
ancc second to none, and while not be-
lieving in passive obedience, are suscepti-
BILE to drill and easily made trained SOL
diers, which the history Of the war shows.
This, however, is not enough. A man to
be an Al soldier must. in this age Of long.
range firearms, know what his weapon
is capable of doing and be able to do it
well. 10 do so a man must have prac-
tice. With this in view, the National
Rifle Association obtained charter
from the State Legislature in 1872.
Since then the Association has worked
with m1ch energy, and finally, after due
delibcration, purchased tract of land
measuring seventy acres. 1t is situated
upon the Central Railroad of Long ls-
land, twelve miles from Hunters Point,
and within thirty minutes ride of the
"hirty-fouTth street ferry, which is about
the same distance from New York that
Wimbledon is from London. The fol-
lowing is an extract from the last report
of the Association on grounds:
These grounds are admirably adapted
for the purpose for which they have been
selected. As level as q billiard table,
they afford twenty separate ranges each
of which can be used from 100 to 1000
yards, and without the use of the elevat-
ed firing stands, found necessary upon
most English and Canadian ranges. In
addition, ample room is left for "pool"
targets and a running man." as well as
for camp purposes and distance drill. The
only objection to them is that their be-
ing plain has compelled the Associa-
ton, in order to insure safety, to con-
570 teer fo%HkRa feo%HRaqt%snt tt,,,.. 20 feet high and
bic yards of earth. Owing TO the fact
that the Central Railroad Company had
heavy cutting near the range, which
left largo quantity of earth on their
hands, the Association has succeeded in
closing contract with them to erect the
embankmcnt for $4,000, being about II
cents cubic yard, which is an extremely
low price. The first contract was for
two cmbankmcnts, one Of 800 and one of
$50 feet in length, separated by an in.
tcrval Of 100 feet, for which 81, 900 was
to be paid but it has since been consid-
cred best to fill up this interval and make c
the embankment continuous, the railroad
company having offered, in consideration
of the injury they had caused the Associ-
alton by their delay in completing the
embankmcnt, to do this extra work for
c60O additional.
The cmbankmcnt was 10 nave Dvuu
completed last fall, but in consequence
of some trouble with the railroad, it can
not be completed until late next spring
The work of laying out and fitting the
range for the Association has been done
under the direction Of Captain William
Price, Of the Ordnance Department
United States Army, and Mr.. John A
Church, Of this city.
The system Of instruction adopted by
the National Association is the same that
has been so successfully followed at Vim
blcdon. la laying out the grounds twen
ty separate ranges have been made, mint
10 be operated upon the "Scoble' or sunk
en- pit system Of marking, and eleven up
on the "iIill" or side system. In addi
tion, it is proposed to have two "pool'
, targets and running man" at range
Of 100 and 200 yards. The targets
themselves, with their appurtenances, are
composed Of iron slabs, six feet by two
made to bolt together, so as to allow o
their size being altered or diminished a
pleasure, as well as to be converted int,
extra mantlets if required. Finding tina
q there were no American establishment
f familiar with the manufacture of target
and appurtcnances required upon tn
range, and also fading that they coul'
be purchased at much lower price il
England, the Association purchased las
August fifty target slabs, one double an
4 one single manilct (the fourteen slab
Q comprising which being also available 70
targets, seventeen ringing centres, eight
cen t.igacr-tcstcrs, together with mum
bcr If other articles, at an expense c
S4,lj3.47, which articles have since al
. rived and are nov on the grounds O
s Creedmore, and will no doubt all be i
position for the inaugural meeting i
!. May.
The Association has been received wit
A a cordial welcome hy those who know tn
q many advantages 10 be gained by being
member of the National Rifle Associi
# tion. Not only will its members hay
a n fine place to shoot at, but there will b
camping facilities that will be of grea
,e advantage to companies or battalions VIII
Y may wish to improve themselves in thei
knowledge of camp details. The loc'
q ton is healthful, aud Creedmore may
N a few years become as popular as Wimbl'
10 don. Already the Association has se'
,r cral very valuable prizes to be shot 70
including a Gatling gun as regiment
!. prize, twenty-five gold-mounted rifles Il
,o individual prizes, while the President {
"A the Association will present at the inaul
" ural competition a trophy of silver va
!, ~ ued at $500. General Shaler has ais
q promised something in the same style
be contended for by the First Division
y upon conditions to be hereafter announces
II II The Association have adopted "A series
:, ~ regulations to govern their competition
,, in craftsmanship, which have been al