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

Eight Thousand noII,r. Naaaa
to- Clear the Building md Prese,+
Free Home to the Men Mt
Manila.
The following letter, evidentIv
prompted by the news of the hattie 30
Manila, was received at The Glohe
office yesterday. The writer wants the
people of the city to pay the mortgage
OH the armory building, which is the
home of Companies C, D, E and H. on
Sixth street. The list Of killed and
wounded Includes several ST. Paul men
ana 1t Is evident from the reports Of
the battle that the st. Paul men were
IN the thick of the fray, and distin-
eulshed themselves. The suggestion
that the citizens manifest their graft
tude and admiration for the boys 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
arnlory.
TO The st. Paul Globe:
The Thirteenth Minnesota regiment has ra
oeived it's baptism of blood at Manila; several
of its men are reported killed; number are
wounded; ell have behaved with gallantry
and have reflected honor upon their state.
The city Of st. Paul especially has cause to
De proud OF its four companies, for they an
pear to have been In the forefront OF bat
tie and to have borne the brunt of the Span
ish attack. A majority OF the wounded are
ut. Paul men. This is therefore time most
fitting for the city Of st. Paul to show its
appreciation of their services, and what could
be more substantial and gratifying act Of
gratitude to the boys at the front than to
pay the mortgage which rests upon their
ar1nory 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
me Proyident Life Insurance company for
raise such sum In st. Paul. The citizens of
Chicago have undertaken to raise 100000 to
pay mortgage. on the armory of the First
Illinois regiment, and certainly st. Paul can
do as much In proportion as the Windy City.
The armory was erected In 1888, and with
the land on which it stands it cost the armory
association SIS. 0CO. Of that amount $4,000 was
subscribed by the members Of the four com
panles 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 $780,
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
janitor.
If the armory was free Of debt the associa-
ton could carry out plans for new building
me present armory is old and entirely
suitable for It's purpose. 1t Is too small and
is very vulnerable to attack. In time Of riot
1t could easily be entered by a mob and looted
of every stand Of arms before force suffl-
Gent to resist could be rallied to its defense
The city of st. Paul should have an armory
commensurate to its Importance. Adjoining
the armory Is a vacant lot running to the cor
ner Of Exchange street The vacant property
belongs to Ex-Gov. Alexander Ramsey. 1t,
could be purchased and the present armory
could be removed. and a new building COW
ering both lots could be erected at an expense
of about SEE. 900.
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 Gen. 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 fund to pay
the mortgage on the armory.
Red Cross Member.
St. Paul, Aug. 10, 1898.