The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-26
GOSSIP FOR THE
LOCAL GUARDSMEN
Company B Passes Resolutions Urging
Z Erection Of a New Armory.
THOSE WlLD.EYE WAR STORIES

Drew Many a Smile from the Officers
of the Thirteenth Reg
thing About the Strength the Ma
tionaI Guard Would Add to the
Regular Army 80 An Interesting
Interview with General J. T.. s.
Goblin, OF the Third Brigade.
At a regular meeting of Company B,
Thirteenth regiment, Wednesday even
ing. Feb. 90, 1898, the following was
adopted as the unanimous sentiment of
every member present:
The time has come when a new armory
is not only advisable but an absolute
necessity, for the present and future well
fare of the regiment, as the present
building is not adequate to our needs
either in size or convenience. We are
heartily in favor of the present site, be-
lieving on account of its central loca-
tion, it will materially help the attend
ance at drills, and If supplied with pleas
ant company and reading rooms, as it
should be, 1t will be better patronized
and appreciated by the members. Furth-
ermore an armory on the lot occupied
at present would be more desirable as
place for public gatherings, and would
increase the revenues more than enough
to justify the additional expense.
We earnestly hope the trustees and
public-spirited citizens will give this sub
ject the consideration it deserves, and
that in short time we shall have an
armory, worthy of the leading regiment
of the state; a pride to the city; a mon
ument to the good judgment of the trus-
tees and the generosity of an appreciative
public.
]. w. Kambeck,
Captain Company b.
Il. T.. Berry,
First Lieutenant.
W. c. Scott,
Second Lieutenant.
The project of securing a new ar
mory has been undertaken with great
earnestness by the local guardsmen,
but there is a difference of opinion as
to where the new structure should be
located. Many favor the present site,
which is very central, while others be-
lieve that one less central would answer
all purposes just as well, while the diff
ference between the market value Of
the land now owned by the association
and the amount required for an armory
where land is less valuable, would fur
nish a good-sized nucleus for a fund
for a new building.
The trustees have taken up the mat
ter of securing a new armory and an
other meeting will be held today to
consider the matter. Plans for a mod
ern armory were prepared several years
ago and some pledges secured con-
ditioned on the entire amount neces-
sary being secured. That was found
to be an impossible task at the time
and the idea of erecting a new armory
was then abandoned for the time be-
ing. Whether or not better success will
attend the agitation this time remains
to be seen. One thing, however, Is
quite certain, the necessity for a new
armory is generally realized and ap-
preciated by the people of the city.
The present antiquated structure has
outlived it's usefulness.
The five Thirteenth regiment armory
trustees will meet this evening in the
office of Lieutenant Colonel c. C. Mat
ties to discuss the new armory project.
The captains of the city companies
and three headquarters representatives
will be present.
According to one of the trustees, they
have outlined no definite plan, but one
of several has been quite favorably
discussed and will likely be adopted.
This plan is one of subscription. 1t
involves the appointment of solicit
ing committee whose members shall be
all of the trustees, commissioned Off
GERS Of the regiment down to the rank
of captain and several influential civil
ians.
1t is proposed to prepare a list of
corporations, companies and individ-
ua1S who Onpbt cnntribIItn o,,5
the new armory fund. Each name on
the list will be assessed what should
be the proportionate share of that par
ticular corporation, company or indi-
vidual, and the amounts will be as
signed certain members of the COM
mittee for collection. The amounts
will be made to total the sum actually
needed to build the armory.
The trustees do not have in view any
fair, entertainment or similar enter
prise.
The officers of the Thirteenth regi-
ment have had many a quiet smile dur
ing the week over some of the Wild
eyed war stories printed in the local
columns of papers of this city. There
is little doubt that in the event of war
with Spain the National Guard of
Pennsylvania would be called upon to
assist the regular troops and it is equal
ly true that the soldier boys would
promptly RESPOND to a call for their
services, but it is nowise certain that
there will be any necessity for invok-
ing the aid of the state troops, nor is
there any truth in the reports about
secret orders sent out by General Snow
den to have the national guard of this
state ready to move on twenty-fou
hours notice. The situation has not
yet reached such a serious stage as to
warrant any such order.
In the National Guard throughout the
union there are 114,3 officers and men,
whose general training is such as to ad-
init of their being at once put into the
field-provided the state or national
government will furnish the necessary
equipment.
The different arms Of the service are
divided as follows: Engineers, "a; cav
airy, 1896; heavy artillery, 1,O54 light
artillery, 50l9; machine gun batteries,
PIG; infantry 100,2l1: signal corps. us;
hospital and ambulance corps, $40.
The authorized strength of the Ma =
tional Guard, that is, the strength the
force would have if every officer and
enlisted man allowed by law We're COM
missioned or enlisted, varies from l5, 900
In New York to 5S5 in Montana. In five
states-Arkansas Maryland, Nevada,
Tennessee and Wyoming-there is no
~. NI,n 10,