New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-12
THE CREEDMOOR RANGE.
TRANSFERRING IT 10 THE STATE.

SfAce D tcAm OF Br1vfSh VoiunVecfs feo W 40
Heay Halford. came here and at Creeanool
furnished the fair escutcheon OF Americas '"m'
bv outshootins a team Of National Guardsmen'
thc mbbc cencrallv has taken little interest In
Crcedmoor Although defeated in the contest
With military rifles. the American ri6cEaen had
the solace OF knowing that with match rifles
that ia with rifles with sights Capable u ehe most
doltrsse adjustment and particalarly constructed
20 secsre accurate shooting ut long mango they
st,B held the head. But solacc docs not con-
stitute boom"
For years Creedmoer hasn't had boom"
r-nfskr most othrs sports, shooting is inter
estng only ~ those participating IA n. For the
spectator Its charms are exhausted 1t is
4 monotonous sport, q FASH q report puff Of
smoke the whistle OF the bullet the hoisting OF
q signal at the target to indicate where the
bullet has struciy-thats ell there is IN Il Tor the
spectator. An element Of the erotesqne IS intro
duced which temporarily relieves tho nonotony,
when at the long distance ranges. the ambitious
riaemea reclining on his hack or On his stomach.
attests how fesrfully and wonderfully he rs
made, by all manner Of cantortion acts in his
efforts to secure steadincss. But even this pals,
for certain weakness. inherent in human nature,
prevent one from laughing at the same thing
more than . assea times or so.
pReFFcTvvcv OF vHR NATIONAL GUARD.
IN the absence of any International contest
which even II it were between pie-caters, would
srouae certain Of interest and enthusiasm.
the public has ceased to pay much attention TO
what is done at CrcedmOor and the notion gen.
orally prevails that that most useful of exercise to
soldiers rife practice, Is falling into decadenees
and that things In . bad way at CreedmOor.
But it is quite otherwise. The international con-
tests fulfilled their mission. They awakened an
interest in shooting among those Tor whom it is
most desirable that they should learn to shoot
well-the citizen soldiers While, since thu inter-
national contests have stopped, the number Of
civilian rife clubs have declined. rifle practice on
the part of the National Guard has steadily in
creased and each succeeding year the rate of
proficiency has advanced. In 1875 the number Of
qualified marksmen In the State among members
of the National Guard 633; In 1885 it
s,4OO; in $50 $500; and in 1887 4. 700. So
measured by results which tell fer the public
good, the year just closed has been the most sue
cessful in the history of Oreedmoor.
10 appreciate these figures IL must be remeIn-
bered that there actually fewer troops In the
State than there were in 1875.
Another example OF the progress made is worth
citing. In 1919 the 9Th Regiment was regarded
rs having attained remarkably high standing
when All Of its members had attained the grade
OF qualified marlsmen. A. the annual meeting Of
the National bafe Association, General Wingste
thus summed up the situation:
Riae-shooting as a mere amusement appears to
be at standstill but rite-shOoting as a part Of
military instruction has never been more popular
efficiently conducted than has been the case
at Creedmoor during 8s7 As this was the main
purpose for which that range was established and
this association formed, we have every reason
no lfE <.f bio
year"
Now the proposition has been made by the
directors Of the National Rife Association to turn
the Crecdmoor Range over to the State, merely
retaining for itself the privilege OF holding It's
annual meeting there for week in September
OF each year. General John b. Woodward. the
president OF the association, General Rodney c.
Ward and General George w. Wingate have
drafted bill which has been presented at Albany
by General Hustled authorizing the State to take
order, and providing appropriation of $25, 900
Tor acquiring the lands at present leased by the
Association.
HISTORY OF THE FAMOUS RANGE.
To understand the causes that have prompted
this snggesiGn. briul rvfvr-Icc The history
OF the range is necessary. 1t is situated some
distance from the main line of the Long Island
railroad, with which II is connected iy a small
branch track. Queens is the nearest station TO
IL on the main line. 1t takes about an hour TO
reach II from New York. Creedmoor was purchased
Rihe Association, the Legislature appropriating
100000 to assist in the purchase the distinct
understanding that 1t was to be used in instruct
Ing state troops in ride pracUce. I he members
Of the association still gratefully remember the
aid receiv'd from Tia, tribune in securing the
passage Of the bill. The range as purchased CON
the association put up twenty targets an embanlS-
down trees, graded the ground Dasef and 'd IN
short, coyerted ii into handsome rife range
But as the members OF the National Guard began
TO practise in increasing numbers the number Of
targets proved insufficient, and In 1875 the As
ISOLATION leased additional fifteen acres adjoin-
Ing the main tract and here erected eleven short,
range targets. hotel was also put up and other
shelters erected for the accommodation OF those
practislns 1t is esta.ns'sd that altogether the
improvements cost $50. 900 The lease of thr
land on which these eleven targets erected
will soon cXpiic, and cannot be renewed For
the land itself $4,000 Is asked The Association
cannot afford to gay that much money, and in
the interests of rife Practice cannot afford to give
up the targets.
There has arisen another demand upon the ne
sources Of the Association which has exhibited
alarming powers OF expansion. During the last
two years the owner OF the land In the Of
the eastern portion OF the range; or the main
range, has assorted that he has been prevented
from reaping the fulncss thereof bv reason OF the
occasional incursor OF stray bullets. fired by
ratio MI kSrnen among the State troops in their
class practice. In sS6 the farmer content
to cry duits on payment Of $50. But in 1877
he demanded $500 for the crop Of stray bullets
to the cult vatjon OF which he is apparently dis
posed to devote himself assidnonsiy The Asso-
citation is not prepared TO meet this growing exar-
ton. For these pecuniary reasons the ASsocia-
ton proposes to turn the whole range over 10
the State for the State purchase land that
can hc leased ut fair valuation and can grappie
with the farmer who finds stray bullets val
pahle.
DETAILS OF TU- PROPOSED PTA~.
We come TO the State" said General Win
gate to q reporter OF THE TRIBrSr = not as beg
gars. as is usually the case but rs donors. We
say 10 the State, 'Tuke this land with the i'm
trevemenfs upon IT, worth 100000: MAKE OF II
State range for the benefit Of the National
Guard Practically il is that ALREADY. Only let
US haye the of the range for one week a year
for our rife eomnrtitians as the British Rife
Assorrgticn uses Wimbledon Park Mar would
u nirnich 1s.lna tho