The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-29
DON'T BELIEVE 1T WILL WORK.
FIRST REGIMENTS OCCUPANCY OF
GUARDS ARMORY.

vantageOus.
Many who have given II careful cOnsid-
Grafton, believe it will be impossible 10
so arrange the financial details OF the
proposed plan for the joint occupancy Of
the Guards armory by the Guards and
the other companies Of the First Regi-
ment as TO admit of it's being carried out.
A number OF officers Of both the Guards
and the other companies were seen yes
terday, and nearly all coneurred in the
belief that the sugges ton. excellent in
Itself, is made impraciicable by the heavy
debt that encumbers the Guards prop
erty.
An ex-oficer Of the Guards formerly a
captain, said the most logical and prac-
teal solution Of the difficulties with which
the corps finds itself hedged about would
be an application for a receiver. allowing
events thereafter to shape themselves as
they might. Such was The opinion of an
other ex-ohicer, ard he did moi hesitate to
say that the best thing, to his mind, would
be to allow the Penn Mutual Insurance
Company, the holder of the preferred
bonds, TO foreclose in default of interest
Others talked along the same line, and
it seemed 10 be their opinion that the
Guards would be simply giving away be-
fore the stress of circumstances If they
should turn over the property to the pre-
ferred bondhOlders. 1t is contended that
there would he no population of obliga-
tions in such course but rather the most
natural solution of a business difficulty.
- 4
consider themselves bound, if they SO de-
sired, by the smaller obligations to other
bondho,ders and creditors.
One officer believes the armory Is best
suited for the purposes for which # was
built and that it would be a matter OF
a short time before it would be offered a
military organization for rent or purchase.
Then the First Regiment, the old compa-
MES and the Guards. could step in and
doubtless buy or rent.
On the other hand, there are many who
still believe the matter could be so financed
as to accomplish it successfully. Those
who proposed it adhere to that opinion
though those of a contrary mind are very
numerous.
The plan has not yet been laid before
the board of officers of the First Regi-
mtnt. Until II has been and due consider
alton accorded it, positive information as
TO what Will be done cannot be given. II
Is only from the evident preponderance
of opinion from those whose ideas are of
value hat the outlook Is given as strong
ly against the accomplishment of the de-
sired end, unless some of the Obstacles
are removed
A meeting Of officers of the regiment
was held yesterday at which Col. A r.
Lawton. Lieut.. Col Jordan F. Brooks,
Capt. p. F. Gleason. Capt. ]. T. West, Capt.
c. H. Konemann, Capt W. i. Grayson
and Capt G., A. Gordon were present The
Colonel informed mis- officers of all that
has been done, which is very little He
was seen after the meeting and discussed
matters pertaining TO the proposed join,
occupancy and to the amalgamation OF
the Guards and the regiment companies.
col. Garrard and I had very long AMI
satisfactory conference on Wednesday aft
ernoon," Col Lawton said with reference
to the situation arising from the Adiutant
Generals order assigning the Guards to
my regiment. During this conversation
he suggested that it would he wen for the
five companies in Savannah that have
heretofore been in the First Regiment 10
come into the Guards Armory. and let it
be used as an armory for the entire nine
companies of the regiment located in Sa-
Vannah. This was a very agreeable sug-
gestion TO me, because. as colonel Of the
regiment I know of few things more de-
sirable than to have all the nine compa-
MES in the city under one roof. 1t would
tend TO unity the regiment, and would
greatly simplify, facilitate and assist my
own work, and that Of The resimental
staff. l promptly expressed this opinion
TO him, and told him that I would lay ii
before the board Of officers Of the old
First Volunteer Regiment Of Georgia
in order that the two commands might
confer 10 see if any practical plan could
l.a 1e,.ical nv Nv
could be brought about.
1.-THE arrangement necessarily involves
n great many details, the most impor tant
of which are questions Of finance and the
finding of a purchaser for the present ar
morv of the First Volunteer Regiment
The board of officers of the First Volun eer
Regiment meets in quarterly meeting on
next Wednesday night, and the matter
will then be laid before them for consider
alton.
"Col. Garrard suggested to me yester-
day that the letters of the companies of
his battalion were matters of very great
importance TO them, as those companies
had never had any other designation "a
companies, except their letters, and hs
asked me if ! would not recommend 10
the adjutant general that they be allowed
to retain the letters A, B. c and D.
gave the matter very careful considera~
ton, and took a day to think over it,
l came TO the conclusion that my first i'm
preston was right, and this was that
! it was a perfectly reasonable request
and one that could very properly be grant
ed without doing any injustice 10 the COM
panies OF the regiment now bearing those
! letters, and to whom, on account of their
distinctive names, the letters were mat
ter Of much less consequence. l therefore
tod Col. Garrard that l would make such
a recommendation, and have done so, and
| earnestly hope that the permission VIII
be granted.
THE five companies in Savannah OF the
old First Volunteer Regiment of Georgia,
now in a battalion commanded by Lieut..
Col. Brooks have always formed but one
| organization, and their association has
been of the most pleasant nature They
naturally wish to continue this associa-
! ton and TO retain their identity as one
| organization, even though it may be
! sub-orgauization. They have never had
any name, outside of their company
names. except that OF First Regiment
| That name now ceases to be distinctive.
| for the term includes the whole twelve
M