Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-04
Camp Next July.

TALON, made vacant by the resignation of
First Lieutenant S. X. Jacobs.
Camp Next July.
District National Guardsmen, it would
seem from all Indications may look for
ward, with every assurance that their
hopes VIII be realized, to a particularly
bright future. l. is safe to say that an en-
canpment will be held Text July. The
| camp held last June was made possible
| Crder the apprcpria iion for the fiscal year
erdlng June 3D. 1877 There has been no
congressional apr opriatinn for National
Guard camp for the year ending June "a
lS''S. Therefore, in keeping with what has
developed into a CUSTOM an appropriation
Ter camp is due for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1899. AS stated, the camp will be
held in July. which is in every way re-
garded as more suitable month for an
outing under carv&s than the month Of
june The appropriations heretofore for
camps Of instruction have been 5000. For
the camp that it is proposed to hold rext
July Congress Will be asked to appropriate
SlO,3O. In the past there has always been
deficiency. There are to be no deiiclen-
cies Hereafter and tie indications are that
the next appropriation will cover the figure
stated. 1t is not at all unlikely that Fort
We shington will again be the camp ground
Congress will be asked to increase
slightly the appropriations for other de-
partments of the National Guard, such as
printing, incidentals, and the like.
Promise of New ArmOry.
Although nothing Of an official character
can be secured in the way of confirmation,
there is every prospect that the home OF
the District of Columbia National Guard
will be removed from the present armory
building, generally regarded as unpopular,
to more desirable site down town. OIL
GERS Of high standing unhesitatingly de-
clare that if the guard was housed in
suitable building in the neighborhood of
the intersection of 18th street and Pennsyl-
efficiency of the brigade, especially in nu-
merical strength, fully 80 per cent. One
company mnander has said:
with such an armory, and in a proper
location, 1 will guarantee to strengthen
my command to one hundred men within
month after moving in; and, Furthermore,
l will maintain it permanently at that fig
ure."
There is no doubt that the majority of
officers CT high rank of the District militia
are heartily in favor of a move down town.
1t is equally TO be depended upon that
energetic steps are to be taken to secure
the necessary legislation for the erection
of new armory for the local brigade in
furtherance OF the plan proposed last win
ter.
1t is set forth by those interested. as
has heretofore been stated. that every four
years the government loses at least $4,000
in clerk hire while the pension Office build
ing is in tine hands of the inaugural COM
mittee to say nothing of other expenses
and inconvenience. Therefore. 1t is ar
gued would it not be economical to erect
an armory for the District National Guard,
to contain hall of large dimensions, that
would be at the disposal of the authorities,
not only for inaugural balls, but also for
gatherings and conventions that might re-
ouire an auditorium of large dimensions?
Near the Old Armory.
Some site in the vicinity of 7th and B
streets, near the Pennsylvania railroad de-
pot, has been suggested as suitable. This
location is in tine center of the business
portion OF the city, and. In addition to
being near a railroad depot-the one used
in reaching the rife range at Ordway-
several lines Of street cars pass close by.
The idea is to erect an armory one story
in height, with an ornamental frontage,
perhaps, of two stories. the hall in d.
mansions would be not less than 400 by 800
feet. The quarters OF the troops of the
National Guard would surround this big
hall. with entrances connecting directly
with it. The building could be erected at
q cost not to exceed $4,000, so 1t is main
tanned, and those who are interested close
ly in the project say that the building Of
such an armory would be a clear saving
to the, government. to say nothing OF
great Improvement over existing condi-
unteer soldiery Ii concerned.
It Is believed that National Guard on
cisb in ali sectiolp q the country WIN