The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-22
TALK ABOUT AN ARM0RY.
What the Several Indianapolis Mill
tary Companies Think About 1t.
Probable Cost of Suitable Building, and
the Funds Available for the Purpose
"A Place to Hold Big Meetings.

Ing eHcdluplnenU GnaJ is just over WAS origin
ated with the intention of making of the profits
the nucleus for fund out of which te build an
armory- Though the net profit is likely to be
much smaller than any one three weeks ago
could have thought possible, the original inten-
ton of the gentlemen who had the affair in
charge has not been lost sight of, nor have they
changed their minds. They still favor
the building os an armory and believe that suf-
tcient car be raised without great delay diff
Guilty to do it. journal reporter started out
yesterday to see what the military companies
Of this city that had taken prizes at the encamp-
ment thought about it. He first interviewed
the three captains. Captain Ben. A. Richard
son, of the Zouaves; al cannot speak for the
Zouaves. We hold meeting tonight, and the
matter will be brought up at that time. We are
little in debt, not nue., and we have taken
$500 in prize money. If the other companies
will put their money into armory we will.
This city needs an armory, and think it will be
better for us to put our money into a building
than to invest it in banquet aud wine supper.
1t could be made stock company, and If the
military companies put in their money and take
stock, have doubt number of citizens will
put in their money and help build the armOry,
which would be permanent improvement as IL
ia a necessity TO the city,
Captain G. W. Johnston, of the Indianapolis
Light Artillery: $50 far as FIN concerned
wouldn't object to every cent that the artillery
has taken, 81 1850, going into an armory. Our
company has no debts, except a few little bills
connected with the encampment. Besides this
$1,000, we have some money, and We have
number of subscribers we took when we Organ-
lied the company, who are ready to pay In
when the armOry becomes an assured fact"
Major j R. Ross: eyes, the Light Infantry
took 50, 100; that includes 5000 taken by the
drum corps We are little in debt, and will
have to fix up our quarters, hall and reception
rooms, that rent them. The lease
will expire next June. | can say nothing about
the armory project until after the meeting of
the company's board of arbitration, which will
meet on Thursday night. The Light Infantry Is
not badly fixed. We have good hall and can
fir it up as to make it the most desirable hall
in the CITY,"
Lieutenant -colonel j. A. Closer: 81 am In IA
vOr of an armory, and know, If rightly man
aged, money will be forthcoming to build il. If
the military companies all of one mind, and
desire an armory, citizens, all the business IN
terests of the city, the railroads, etc., will help
them. The City Council and the board Of
county commissioners ought each make an APP
preparation for abe purpose II nothing else,
they shonld, at least, give enough to make It
practically free from taxation. A building, such
need for armory, with the grounds
about II, could be procured for from 1000 to
100000. 1t should have two stories in front,
that would be for storing arms and for quarters
for each of the companies, with ample military
accommodations while in the rear, and but one
story high, should be the drill-rOom This drill
room should be seventy-five by so feet, with
galleries npon three sides, and capable of seat
Ing 1000 peOpl6-mOre than double the capacity
of any room in this city. Such building, such
room, could certainly be made TO pay
fair interest on the investment, as it could
readily be rented. II would be so much better
than any accommodation we now have here
that s9ngerfests, church fairs, State conventions
and even national conventions could be taken
care of. know of six gentlemen who will pnt
81 900 each into building of this kind. Brick
and mortar do not cost much, and large and
good building could be built and the ground
bought within the figures have given, There
are four companies here now. One year from
now the Richardson Zouaves and the Tecumsehs
ought-to put up better drlll than the Light In
fantry put up year ago To-day the Light In
fantry can beat the Crescent Rifles. Yes. we
need an armory and with the proper push and
management we can have it,"
Colonel Eli Lilly: "If the people of the city
will meet the military companies half way, we
will have an armory here in less than six
mont his that will seat national convention,
either Democratic Republican, and he a
and ought not to be Incorporated under $780,
600. 1t should be made big enough to fur
nish accommodations for regiment of troops,
with drill floor not less than 100 by $50 feet,
and an artillery annex. The drill room should
have galleries. The building should be two
stories high in front, with the drill and
assembly room in the rear. We have been
thinking of this armOry building for
some time, and were recently in correspondence
with both the Republican and Democratic ma
tional committees, and got the assurance that il
we could furnish building capable of seating
1000 people, we could have at least one natiOpal
convention. The choice would be between this
good hotels. We would have no trouble about
hotel accommodations, and an arnory of, the
kind have endeavored to describe would fix
the thing"