Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-04-21
A PROPOSED ARMoRY.

From an authoritative source it is learned
that tomorrow evening meeting of the Off
GERS Of the First Artillery Regiment will be
held, at which proposition will be made
that is probably the most important ever
brought before the regiment. From what
can now be ascertained, it appears that
we'll defined an will be presented for secur-
ing to the regiment large, safe and in all
respects excellent armory. If the plan can
be carried out-and just now, say officers OF
the regiment. there seems nothing to prevent
1.-THE armory will not only be secured, but
the city will also be advantaged by having
one of the largest public halls IN the State,
and there is no town or city in all California
that is in such urgent need of good and
very commodious hail as Sacramento. 1t Is
this consideration that is one of the moving
reasons to the action that is proposed shall be
taken. 1t IS held that what is needed here is
very large hall upon ground floor, that
shall BE- fitted up with galleries and concert
stage or platform, that such room may be
used for public receptions, State and other
conventions, masquerades, regimental drills,
4th of July celebrations, school festivals,
balls, parties, fairs, ETC., where an assemo!age
of from 1000 to 1000 people Is expected, AS
it now is, the only place available Tor large
gatherings is the Pavilion, and the miserabiy
defective acoustic properties of that room,
with its worn and unyielding floor, the I'M
possibility of heating it, and the cost OF deco
rating, staging and seating it, combine to
make it place rather to be avoided than
otherwise. The men of the regiment
have long complained bitterly about the
discomforts and risks incident to drilling In
the Pavilion, and the poor accommodations
afforded the companies that have OF neces-
sity to keep their armories there, and Whlcn
have to be removed on the recurrence OF each
State Fair. The proposition is to take the
offer that is made for the rental of prop
erty on Ninth street, between 1 and j. The
building is as yet incomplete, but the con-
tract, if closed calls for the landlord to COM
plete it, and that can be done Immediately,
or at least 80 that the regiment can occupy 1t
on the 4sh of July. If completed it will
make hall on the level of the high grade,
but sufficiently far from the line of the street,
160 by 60 feet, with galleries around three
sides, and capable of seating not less than
from $500 to 5000 people, while the floor
space will accommodate an entire regiment in
line The present plan is TO cut eff the front
so feet for four company armories, giving
each room, above 80 By 80, and below 80 by
20. with 20foot front entrance, and to cut
off for stage space 20 feet deep by 50 feet
in width, or such sizs as may be deemed
necessary. The rentals the companies now
pay for armories, if aggregated, will
about pay for the rental of the new place.
The low grade foor will be included in the
lease, and be utilized for the storage os guns
of the artillery, harness, tents, camp equip
age, etc. The cost Of fitting up the hall with
seats and permanent decorations, and of
lighting it and keeping it in repair. clean and
ready for sub-letting, it is estimated will be
met by the rental income from the public
uses to which the hall will be adapted. The
gentlemen who have figured on the matter
are careful business men, and are confident
not only that the regiment will incur 20
financial risk, but that the new armory will
be source of profit to it, as such hall is so
greatly needed here. The entire matter will
be discussed at the meeting tomorrow night,
and there is, from the present expression,
every reason to believe, by those best IL
formed, that the plan thus roughly outlined
will be adopted, and that inside of two or three
months the regiment will be housed in an ar
mory in keeping with its importance and worth.
The city of Nevada has an armory hall that
is very nearly as large IS the one proposed
here. If the regiment carries out the pro-
posed plan there will be no excuse for worry
ing Secretary of State Burns any more for
the use of the State Capitol It may be here
stated that that officer some time ago it.
formed the reporters that the Capitol will not
again be granted to parties for any private
purpose. The Secretary says he has broken
away from the old practice just as soon as he
could, and that having now done 80, he in
tends to adhere to his decision II will be
granted hereafter only for State Conventions,
Gubernatorial receptions, assemblages of the
people on important State matters and occa-
sions. but that the last private ball, fair or
exhibition has been held there while he is in
ofica.