Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-25
District National Guard Will Vacate
the L Street Armory.
RETURN TO CENTER MARKET BUILDING
Location and Economy the Chief
Motives for the Change.
TAKEPOssESsION FEBRUARY l

will the 1st of February move into new
armory. Brigadier General George H. Har-
ries, commanding the District militia, today
notified the owners of the building now
used for armory purposes at 446 l. street.
and of Convention Hall, used for drill pur-
poses. that the lease that has been in force
for the past three years, covering the oc-
cupancy of the building and hall by the
guard, and which expires the end of Janu-
ary, will not be renewed,
The future home of the brigade, or, at
least, the greater part of it. is to be in the
Center market building, occupied by the
troops from soon after the date of organi-
zation Of the guard. in 1887, until the date
OF the removal to the L street armory, in
February, 1893 The present armory will be
vacated within the next thirty days. and
the Old soldiers, who used to sit hour after
hour on the bridge leading to the arcade
ana the more youthful guardsmen who
want 10 sit on the bridge, will be hard at
work at their speciality before the expira-
ton of one calendar month
Although no intimtiCn of the move
p1'or 10 this announcement. has been given
TO more than half a dozen individuals. IT
seems to be assured that 1t will prove the
most popular and beneficial step ever at
tempted in connection with the volunteer
sn9 soi9iery OF the national capital Officers
ana men, discouraged because of the pre-
Valhng situation, WILL 1t is believed, assume
pleased expressions. and an awakening of
enthusiasm is anticipated all along the line.
Move or DwfndIe.
According to Gen. Harries the brigade
nad 10 either move into quarters down
town or dwindle. and sooner or later prac-
tlcaly go out Of existence. Before the
uitlmatum was reached today the PROPOSE
uon was most carefully discussed. The
1eeilns OF the entire brigade was given a
chance to develop itself through represen-
tative officers, and after an Inquiry which
extended through several weeks 1t has
been found that no difference Of opinion
exists. The move is to be made, says the
commanding general, for the good of the
brigade and for the comfort of the men
aIter investigating a series of complaints
affecting the l. street quarters and ex-
tending through three years. ~
The main point considered in reaching
the conclusion to move was that of Ioca-
tion The situation Of the L street armory
compared with the Center market loca-
ton was thought sufficient TO settle the
matter. The guard would gladly bear
with all sorts of Ills If the present building
was conveniently accessible, so it Is stated.
The L street building is away from the
lines OF travel, and the result has been
that the guard has been sliding downward
and backward to such an extent that the
situation assumed the proportions of the
problem that just had to be considered.
The National Guard service is voluntary.
Men cannot be compelled to enlist and will
not do SO, it has been demonstrated, SO
long as the armory is located where it is
at present. Furthermore, company COM
manders, to their CONSERVATION, have real
lied that desirable members of their com
mands have right along, been applying
for discharge because they have had to
suffer a good deal more than mere incon-
venience. The rooms at the L street
armory. according to the officers Of high
u +
isfactory
Drill Hall UnsatisfactOry.
Arrangements for the use of the drill
hall have also been very unsatisfactory.
Under the lease, the guard Is entitled to
the use of Convention Hall three nights a
week during about one-third Of the year,
and that only, it is said when the hall is
not in use for other purposes. A year or SO
ago Convention Hall was converted into an
ice skating rink, and in consequence for
almost the entire winter it was an impossi-
bility for the troops quartered in the arm
ory to indulge in any form Of drill beyond
the manual of arms, unless they chose to
don overcoatS and maneuver about the
streets, in the dark and cold Drills during
that period were generally suspended. and
the guard lost ground that required months
of hard work to regain.
Hereafter Central Hall, the large in
closure over the 9th street wing Of the Cen
ter Market, will be at the disposal Of the
National Guard exclusively, day and night,
winter and summer. There will be ample
opportunity for every company and bat
talon to drill to the extent they desire at
any and all times. The hall will be well
lighted and heated, convenient in location
and entirely under control of the guard.
For company quarters there will be front
rooms 18 feet inches by SO feet in dimen-
sions. These now exist. In the rear of
each room the Market Company is to con-
struct locker room 1S by 20 feet in dimen-
sions Each set of company quarters will
have but one entrance, and that from the
balcony, and each will be complete and en-
tirely to itself.
A new balcony is to be erected along the
front OF the building at the third story.
dependent entrances by this balcony the
balcony being reached by the main stair
way. All the rooms will be well heated
brilliantly lighted and placed In, frst-class
the preparations inoicate condition Of
things that will surpass everything in the
way OF comfort and elegance that the
guard has yet had. In the main building
will be four toilet rooms, modal in every
way.
Rife Gallery and GTmnasium.
At the street armory gymnasium facil-
tiles are nliserably poor. The rife gallery
is so situated that It IL only available after
p.m., the armory being closed Funtil that
hour. At the Center market b1ilding the
7th street wing is to be flosred over. max
Ing available q space equally a. large as
Central Hall. The south third ofsthis space
Is to be transformed into q rite gallery,
This will be independent Of the company
quarters and will be open all day. The
gallery will be larger than the present one,
and will include many new features, in
GLIDING pistol targets. In the 7th street
wing will also be an elegantly appointed
gymnasium. to meet growing feature Of
the local brigade. The gym1asium will be
spacious and will have attached locker
room, toilet room and SHOWER baths, with
plenty of light. heat and vkntilation, and
an entrance entirely distinct from any en-
trance from the company quarters. thus
ever has been. ~
The door Of the 7th street wing win be
OF concrete and corrugated iron, with q
covering OF wood. Between the gymnasium
and the rifle gallery the door will be
broken" to prevent vibration. Thus when
q game Of basket ball 10 In progress In the
gy gymnasium the game VIII not interfere
with the marksmanship OF any guardsman
shooting IN the gallery.l
Beneath the center Of the main building
u thoroughfare, which win be closed and