New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-28
WILL THEY GET NEW GROUNDS
GUARpsMEN PLEASED AT THE THOUGHT.
DIFFERENT VIEWS ON THE PROPOSED RIFLE
RANGE IN VAN CoURTLANDT PARK.

DIFFERENT VIEWS ON THE PROPOSED RIFLE
RANGE IN VAN coURTLANDT PARK.
National Guarismen of this city. the members Of
the 1st Brigade were pleased yesterday when they
read in the papers that the Board of Estimate had
voted $4,000 to the Park Commissioners to lay out
and maintain the parade ground aud re-range for the
National Guard in Van Courtlan1t PARK. Oeheiai
Louis Fitzgerald commander of the brigade mas
always strongly advocated that his command should
have a more accessible parade-grOund and Hne-rahge
than Creadmoor, and guarlsmcn say that the %uoh
of the Board Of Estimate IL another victory or uelr
General Some doubt was expressed to whether
the National Guard would get the grounds after all
as there were legal points involved which the Board
| Of Estimate could not touch General Fitzgerald
heard the objections yesterday and made this state
ment:
In 1883 the Legislature passed an act appointing
a commission 10 select locality In the AAlNtE ana
XVIII Wards for parks. That act provided for Tie
establishing OF parade and rifle grounds in Van
Courilandt Park and made It mandatory on this city
10 purchase and keep the grounds I'm order when
the supreme Court approved the OF the commission.
notified the Park Department Of it's duty TO secure
the necessary apportlonment TO carry out that law and
then | went before the Board of Estimate and stated
| the facts. While Mr. Hewitt admitted the facts in
the to the law and also the prOprey OF setting
aside the necessary funds prepare the property,
be- nevertheless, said that the CITY OF New-YOrk fur
rishcd only its anol les and fairgrounds. but
also paid its share toward the maintenance of others
in the State. Therefore, the least that the State
could do would be 10 care for these grounds. The
Board voted $4,000 for preparing the rifle and range
grounds, and $4,000 for keeping the grounds and
roads I'm order. 4 bill will De prepared for the Legs
ature providing for the issuance Of bonds to do the
whole work expect to have field day in the early
spring. The LIST Brigade includes eight regiments and
two batteries total of 5000 men We get all our
men TO .he grounds in less than two hours As my
| efforts have been confined to making my command
mobile and easy to handle without delay, the acqus
ton Of these grounds IS step in the right direction
Several members Of the National Rife Association
were spoken to or the subject They feared that the
| Guardsmen would not get the range because there
were Some points involved which the Board of Esti-
mate had not settled Who will keep the range
running - asked General Robbins. Who will pay
its annual expenses? The State won't. because It IS
city property, and will the city pay them!7
u think that General Robbins is right said
another National Rifle Association man. but no one
can crcise the act Of the Board of Estimate becal.c
II acted within the statutes. Now the parade ground
IS necessity. There won't be any extra expense I'm
keeping that In order, because CAL be fixed up lust
p other parts Of the park are-that is he grass Will
have TO be cut ETC. But "a to the backgrounds Ju.
see here This city IS growing at a rate which in five
or ten years will bring IL up TO these parks. People
viii frequent Van Courtlandt Park. there will be-
houses around il. and when some ono gets shot the
CITY won maintain any rfe-rangc mere any longer.
! But the point involved now IS that II Will require
s',OOO or $1,000 to keep the range in condi-
| non, pay malheis and support restaurant. The
Board of Estimate had 10 conform with tie law, but
| Ihe question VIII ultimately come to the Park Com
missioner, for settlement and they VIII say. shall
! v" cNpend $4,000 or $4,000 OF The cy's money for
NE benefit OF this association and believe that they
| VIII refuse 10 pay n OUT
! General Wineatc regarded the acquisition Of the d
rae ground as one of the most important steps which
The National Guard had ever taken. and hoped that the
/ result would be that thorough tactics would be
! introduced.