The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-02-21
NEW MARION RANGE.
How the Butts Are Planned TO
Safety in Fourth Regiment
Shoots.

The Fonrth Regiment is soon to hav 9
n of the finest rifle ranges in the coun-
try. Under plans drawn by Abram P.
Brown the new butt $ will be on an entire
ly different plan from any others which
have heretofore been built, and Mr..
Brown says that all danger from bullets
will be obliterated.
The new range will be situated on
Wales avenue. near the Marion station,
and will stand in the place of the Marion
Rife Clubs range The old butts have
been torn down and none of the old TIM
Der will be used In the erection OF the
new ones. In the old butts the man who
changed the targets WAS in constant dan
ger or being struck by the splashes from
the bullets after having hit the targets,
as there was no covering overhead. The
bullets, too, when they struck the woo d
in front would force through several
inches, and in the old timbers may now
be seen bullets which have been forced
through by one another by as much as
two feet. Some nearly ploughed holes
through the wood, which was but TWO
feet ten inches thick. The club was
afraid of an accident lately. and put the
lightest possible bullets in their rifles,
until these too began to go through the
thoroughly wornaad rorten t;mbels, aud
cher they had the inside or The butts
lined with very light iron- But this also
was In s sufficient.
The dimensions of the new butts will
b e 81 x ID feet, and the lower ends of the
targets when raised Will be eleven feet
from the ground. The walls of ethe butt
will be made perfectly bullet proof. most
particular attention being given to the
front wall or defense. This will be con-
structed of heavy timber placed close to-
- ar ~ EcAnr,rAIu hn1fnl ia still H.
5 feet 1915 inches through. The outside
Will be lined with two inch boards and
the inside with half inch Iron. Then saw
dust will be filled in between the crevices
and the whole form an impenetrable fort
iication against bullets. Ample room
will be left inside for the arranging Of
targets.
The targets, six in number, will be 4 BY
6 feet. and will be arranged IN pairs.
There will be three In a row facing the
rough, and one behind each of these, so
hat when one in front is let down an
other n pops up behind 1t. By al ar
rangement of ropes and puileys as the
front target is pulled down, 1t forces the
one back of it up, and vice versa, the
rope is just short enough to admit Of the
transportation. Ii it Is desired to take
both targets down, the rope may be un-
fastened and both descend Immediately.
The length of the range is 900 yards,
and another of 500 yards Is contemplated,
The point from which the marksmen
shoot is inside the clubhouse, there being
three windows, 3x3 feet. and q judges
window. Mr.. Brown says he expects
having the butts finished inside of a
week, when a board walk will be built
from the house to them. The house and
butts are to BIS painted a dark brown and
the name of the regiment will tand out
in conspicuous letters.
The house itself is very comfortably
arranged for shooting, there being a
scorers stand and benches. The sight
from the windows is excellent, and a
good bead may be drawn on any target.
1t is the intention of the regiment TO
have some interesting shooting matches
on the premises during the coming sea-
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