The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-21
THEY WANT RECIPROCITY.
The County VIII Clear the Rifle
Range, but Wants Hall street
Opeued


Opened.
There Is a sort Of reciprocity arrange
ment IN prospect between the county COM
missioners and the military organizations
OF the city. The military want the
county 10 clear on the land between East
Savannah and Greenwich Point on which
they propose TO establish a state rife
range. and the commissioners want Han
street opened up through the park ex-
tension.
A committee consisting of Col W. W.
Gordon. Capt. George T. Cam and Lieut..
George p. Walker, from the general COM
mittee in charge Of the establishment OF
the range. appeared before the board
yesterday afternoon.
Col. Gordon said that the committee
was representing the militia of the city,
which desired 10 get up state rife range.
NO assistance. he said. would be re-
eeived from the United States. and the
state would only give what was needed
In the way of ammunition. targets. and
similar paraphernalia and supplies. The
military. he said. was in need of funds to
put up the range, and the committee de-
sired to see II the county could not give
them some aid in the way Of drainage,
levelling up the ground and throwing up
the butts. The convicts, he said, were
working in that neighborhood now. and
this work would to some extent be in
line with what they are doing.
Capt Cam said there was little work
to be done In preparing the ground for
the range. 1t had been estimated, he
said, that the work which the military
wanted done would cost at the outside not
more than $3.50. He said there was some
underbrush to be cleared and some level
ling to be done on a space 100 yards wide
and 1000 yards long. The pits. he said
would be six feet deep and from six to
eight feet wide. He said the military had
to stand the expense Of getting up the
range. and they had no other means than
to apportion the amount needed among the
different companies.
Il am in favor Of helping the military
In this matter" DR.. Charlton said. but
at the same time l think the military can
do us some good too. We would like to
see Hall street opened up through the
parade ground. 1t Is a great inconven-
fence to drive all the way around the
park, and fail to see that 1t will do any
injury, as stanchions can easily be put
up to prevent vehicles from going onto
the ground. It would be Of great advant-
age TO the city without being of any dis
advantage TO the military"
II think we can clear up the range for
would like to see that street opened"
Tho committee has no authority" Col.
Gordon said, "to say anything about that
matter, any more than to submit any
proposition with regard to the matter that
you have to make, and we are willing to
do that"
Commissioner Carson said he did not
see the connection between the matter Of
the commissioners having the ranges
cleared and the opening of Hall street
through the parade ground. He thought
that was a matter for the consideration
of the city council.
II put it on the ground that the city and
the county are one, and are together in
this matter" DR.. Charlton said.
I'VE want a sort Of reciprocity treaty
between the military and the county,"
Chairman Dale said.
Capt Cam stated that the military was
anxious to get the range completed as
soon as possible, as II was desired to have
II for use by the middle OF April, so that
the necessary practice on the long ranges
could be had this season.
DIR. Charlton said 1t was necessary to
know first just what the work was going
to cost and he was referred by Lieut..
Walker to the inspectors of rifle practice.
who were ready to give estimates and
county commissioners would show a will
lingness TO do the work. The matter was
then referred to the committee on drain
age, with power to act.
Now" remarked Chairman Dale, 'if
you can only give us Hall street"
well, we can submit your request to
the military" Col, Gordon said. THE
only trouble would be about the military
having the use of the entire park when
1t was wanted. But you have gone about
1t in the right way, and it may be they
would see fit to give right of way for
Hall street under certain conditions"
Yes" Chairman Dale said. "it's better
to coax than try to drive. The military
can't be driven"
The idea is to get right of way for
Hall street through the park which could
be used by vehicles. 1t was suggested
that stanchions could be put at either end
and the street closed when the military
was using the parade ground, as it could
still retain the title TO the property. Now
that the ball has been set in motion, there
may be negotiations which will lead to
the opening of the street for public use,
when the parade ground is not occupied
by the military.