The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-22
HOWITZERS ARM0RY.
JT yrIL PROFANITY BE ERECTED IN
REAR or REGIMESTAL AFHoRY.
Only Two sites Have Been Visited by the
Committee. But the One on Marsha"
Street Seems to be More Desirable.

The necessity for such buildiDs was
clearly demonstrated at the recent meet
ing Of the Committee en- Grounds and
Buildings by Captain Hutchinson. Lieu
tenants Starke and R4rrett, OF the How
tiers, and Messrs. Frank II. Mcclure
and Frank d. Hill. OF the Howizers' AS
ISOLATION.
The arguments brought forth on that
occasion were more than convincing. 1t
was conclusively shown that for num-
Der Of years the Howltzers have been
waiting patiently to see the city make It's
promise good. From time to time the
statement had been made officially and
unofficially that the city would furnish
new quarters to that old and famous or
ganization. Up to the present time nothing
has ever come Of IT, and the members OF the
Howitzers have been ridiculed by visitors
from other military organizations In this
State whenever they had the audacity to
allude to the promise made in certain
quarters. Fortunately. however, the stu
alton has changed considerably OF late in
favor of the plucky cannoneers When
Captain Hutcheson on last Tuesday even
ing made the statement before the Com
mittee on Grounds and Buildings that his
command would 90 TO pieces unless some
thing definite was done in the line OF Sc
curing a new armory during the next
thirty days. 1t startled the members OF
the committee, and they decided at once
to do all they could to avoid any such
calamity.
The Council Is All Right.
The members Of the City Council out
side OF that committee whom / had an
opportunity TO see since last Tuesday
have expressed themselves as very much
I'm favor of granting the request of the
Howitzers, which they deem to be very
Just. The citizens at large and the tax
payers Of Richmond fully appreciate the
position of the Howitzers and l nave
yet to hear Of any one who Is opposed 10
| the scheme Of constructing new armory
for the famous artillery company. the
| only objection that has been uttered was
the condition OF the city treasury. But
even this difficulty has been almost OBJ
| liberated when it was demonstrated that
| the plan of constructing a new armory
would ceranly not involve the city In any
| greater expense In cash than from per-
| haps four TO five thousand dollars.
| When the subcommittee on Grounds
| and Buildings. and similar committee
| from the Howitzers started out on Friday
afternoon 20 inspect some sites offered
to them they actually only visited two
| localities. The first one was what is
| known as the Greenhow property, on the
/ west side Of north Tenth street between
| Marshall and Clay streets. and the other
| is a site occupied at present by three
two-story brick dwellings, on the south
side OF Marshall. between Seventh and
| Eighth streets. Immediately in the rear
| Of the armory OF the First Regiment.
| OF both properties Messrs. Frank ID. Hlll
! &, Company are the agents. and Mr. Hill,
who took part In the tour Of inspection,
| assured the committee that the owners OF
either piece Of property would be willing
70 accept their compensation In city
bonds Since then, an agreement has
! been made 10 that effect in writing be-
| tween the interested parties.
The Greenhow property. which was Wis
tied first, impressed every one very IA
vorably. It has 50 feet front on Tenth
street and is 100 feet deep There Is an
| old-time family residence on the place
built OF brick and wood, which, of course
would have to be torn down, but II i
| said to contain about 100000 bricks Whlci
could be readily used for the new stru G.
ture. These bricks. together with thos'
taken from the old Howitzers' armory
would be amply sufficient for the com
Melton OF the new building. Inc Ole
| Greenhow residence stands on an eleVa
ton. but II would hardly be necessary Il
do much excavating. in as much as al
entrance from the adjoining alley could b
readily secured for the guns. The WISH
ING committee was very fayorably I'm
dressed with the surroundings, ana !
looked 10 an observing outsider as
r. were utterly unnecessary 10 visit an.
other sites.
The committee however, went TO tn
property on the south side OF Marshal
street. I'm the rear Of the regimeptal ar
mory. There they found an available
area Of 6S IL feet frontage and 80 fee
depth. The bricks OF the three building
standing there now, together with thos
N the old Howitzers' Armory, would b
amply sufficient TO erect a three-stor
structure which would comply with a
wants. II was explained that the groun
4 floor could be arranged for the STORM
away OF from eight 10 twelve guns
which could have an easy exit on Mar
shall street, by four doorways or te
feet width each.
The next floor could be fitted up a
a drill room, and, by taking down par
OF the rear wall OF the Regimental Al
mory. and substituting for IL sliding door
the new drill room and the big arm ma
of the First Regiment could be throw
1
satisfactory arrangement could be mao
btween the commandments OF the two NIL
tarv organizations. II was also held OF
that II this location was selected III
CITY would hereafter never be In wan
Of a sufficiently large assemblage room
no matter what sort OF gathering was
take place.
Company Rooms.
An additional third story would contain
| the company room, store-rooms and
. | room for the staff Of the artillery bat
| tallion. Should this plan be adopted bi
| the Council, II would only be natural U
accent the same architectural outlines a.
have been represented in the armor!
building OF the First regiment, with
| tower. containing private stairway ol
the eastery end Of the building
IL was thought at first that prooaoi
= objections would be raised by neighborin
. property owners, especially BY st. John.
German Lutheran church. which woul
2 ne adjacent to the new armory, but u
70 the present time no serious opposiuo
has been raised from any quarter.
All who visited the Marshah hues
property the other day became thorousnl
CONVINCED that for obvious reasons ina
{ was the proper site for an armory
( the Howitzers. While its purchase prle
would he nearly twice as mucn as una
e ~ the Greenhow property, the many 40
! vantages Of the Marshan suee'
! would fully compensate for TINS eAI
outlay OF money Besides u mas 70
considered by the city authorl.lss s"s