Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-12-16
AN ARMoRY SCHEME.
manufacturer ana Corporations 10
be Asked for Financial Summary

Manufacturers ana Corporations 10
be Asked for financial Support.
The subject of an armory building for
the use Of the National Guard Of Delaware
stationed in this city is again before the
public. II in brought up by the fact that
there Ia now an opportunity to secure an
armory building at figures which are not
likely to be equaled for economy at any
time in the future. The board Of trustees
appointed by the Legislature TO secure
and control an armory for the militia of
Wilmington is composed of Adiutant-
General J. Parke Postles, William
I. Porter, L. G.. Bradford, Esu..
e. 4. Warner and Il, n,
Cause. This board has made two
efforts since It's organization to secure nm
armory. The first WAS for building to
be located on the sand lot at Thirteenth
and Orange streets. Tho second was for
the old Wilmington rink on Eleventh
street near Madison. The failures were
for lack OF public support. The last
scheme IL to secure the Citizens rink al
Fourth and Washington streets. II is a
weli-dehned, tangible plan, but one
which must he pushed without delay
or the opportunity will pass. The pro.
matter of transforming the rink into q
market house. and that is probably what
will be done unless the property IL pur-
chased from them. The armory trustees,
through the president of the board, Gen.
Postles, have been in communication with
the owners of the rink, and it has been
learned that the building and ground can
be had for the purpose of an armoty for
about 100000. strong effort viii be
made To get it.
TO accomplish this financial support
will be required from the public. The
ability TO acquire the building depends
upon the way the scheme is received by
= the public. If it thinks the militia de.
serves and ought to have an armory it will
now be asked to subscribe to fund for
the purchase of this building The man
ufacturers and the corporations of the
city have naturally an interest in sustain.
ing the militia. There is no hope of cor.
porate action on the part OF the city
in the matter, as il the usual
custom in such cases in other
cities. II the trustees cannot raise
enough Of this purchase money by sub
scription without loading the militia or
ganization with heavy interest charge
1t would be iDjudicious to secure nm ar
mory. There are many necessary ex-
penses that will have to be borne by the
militia after an armory is secured. This
Is the best location that has vet been
under serious consideration by the board.
II is not 80 far up town, lies in an eleva-
ted position and has natural parade
ground in front Of it.
The above statement of the case is SUBJ
stantiaily that of one of the members of
the board of trustees. The board and
the members of the militia generally are
now feeling the public pulse on the
matter, and the direction of the movement
will largely depend upon the encourag.
ment received. The militia has developed
to about as high mark in this city as il
is possible to reach under the existing
circumstances. Should an armory be
procured it is almost certain that there
would be another company and one more
gattling gun in very short time.
The board Of officers of the First Bat.
talon, First Regiment, d. N. G., held u
meeting Monday evening to consider the
question of raising funds for the purchase
of the Citizens rink for use as an armory.
There were present ut the meeting Col.
Wood, Captain Mitchell and Lieutenants
Floyd and Hanna of A Company, Captain
Wickersham and Lieutenant Fisher of q
Company, Captain Condor and Lieu
tenants harkins and Glynn of i Com
pany and Adiut.,nt Harlnar. The prop
osition OF the owners of the rink was con-
sidered. 1t is hn offer 10 sell the rink
to tho board OF armory trustees
for 100000, of which $4,000
is to he paid in cash and the bal
ance in 9 per cent mortgage. The
board Of directors estimated that the
annual expenses, should the rink lie pur
chased ON this plan, would foot up So, 600,
for interest, light, attendance, water rent,
coal, insurance, city and county tax and
sundries. The annual appropriation to
the companies from the State is only
81 200, 80 that the idea of shouldeTiug
this amount of expense is out OF the
question. The board therefore concluded
subscription. The final decision was that
il $l5, QUO can be raised by subscription,
and NO more, the board will purchase the
rink and the nliitia companies will assume
a mortgage OF $4,000.
Whatever is done will have 10 hi
prompt, because the owners OF tha rIi'd
have SseSiNFsN+ a. Il,snnRs ot y, either hN
sale or conversion into u market house.
US already stated. The building can I've
obtained now, Il Ia claimed, fully $6 COZ
cheaper than an aimory Of similar size
could be built, and the opportunity is
considered golden one. The time isrlpe,