The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-21

Manila.
The following letter, evidently
prompted by the news of the hattie op
manila, was received at The Globe
ONCE yesterday. The writer wants the
people of the city to pay the moftgage
on the armory building, which is the
hoGne of Companies c., D. E and Fl on
Sixth street. The list Of killed and
wounded includes several st. Paul men
and 1t is evident from the reports of
the battle that the st. Paul men wera
IN the thick Of the fray, and distin-
euLshed themselves. The suggestion
that the citizens manifest their graft
fude and admiration for the bows In
the Philippines seems very appropriate
and 1t may be that the people OF the
city will respond to the appeal for
money to pay the mortgage on the
arn1ory
To The st. Paul Globe:
The Thirteenth Minnesota regiment has re-
ceived it's baptism of blood at Manila; several
OF Its men are reported killed; a number are
wounded; all have behaved with gaIlantry
and have reflected honor upon their state
The city OF St. Paul especially has cause to
be proud Of its four companies, for they au-
pear to have been in the forefront OF bat
Tic and to have borne the brunt Of the Span
Ism attack. A majority OF the wounded are
ST. Paul men. This is therefore time most
hitting for the city Of st. Paul to show its
appreciation of their services, and what could
De more substantial and gratifying act OF
gratitude to the boys at the front than to
pay the mortgage which rests upon their
armory and present 1t to them on their re-
TURN from the Philippines free OF all incum-
brance2
The armory on Sixth street is mortgaged to
the Proyident Life Insurance company for
Se'ON. 1t should be an easy matter now to
raise such sum In St. Paul. The citizens Of
chicago have undertaken to raise 100000 to
pay mortgage on the arnory of the First
Illinois regiment and certainly st. Paul can
40 as much In proportion as the Windy City
The armory was erected In 1888 and with
the land on which 1t stands it cost the armory
association $4,000. OF that amount $4,000 was
subscribed by the members of the four com
panies and mortgage was given for the bal
ance. The men have tried time and again
to pay the debt, but without success The
annual interest at per cent amounts to $3.50.
By an arrangement with the city the latter
pays rental for the armory which barely
covers the interest on the mortgage and the
running expenses These include insurance,
heating lighting, repairs and the salary of a
janitor.
II the armory was free Of debt the associa-
dlon could carry out plans for a new building.
Inc present armory La old and entirely un-
Is very vulnerable to attack. In time of riot
1t could easily be entered by mob and looted
OF every stand Of arms before a force sufi-
cient to resist could be rallied to its defense,
The city Of st. Paul should have an armory
commensurate to its Importance. Adjoining
the arrnory Is vacant lot running to the cor
ner Of Exchange street. The vacant property
belongs to Ex-Gov. Alexander Ramsey It
could be purchased and the present armory
could be removed. and g new building COW
ering both lots could be erected at an expense
Of about $4,000.
When the regiment went to San Francisco
the Armory association left its affairs In
the hands of Gen. w. B. Bend, ex-Lieut. Col
Price and one other, but Con. Bend Is the
acting executive and financial head of the
committee.
Let the business firms. the men Of wealth
and the patriotic citizens Of all classes who
are friends to the boys at Manila, step for
ward now and subscribe to a fund to Day
the mortgage the armory.
Red Cross Member.
st. Paul, Aug. 10, $685.