Evening star., 1901-08-07
TO REPLACE OLD GUN
High School Cadets May Receive
Krag-Jorgepsen.
CAPT. PARKHURST'S REPORT
Result of Inspection of Govern
ment Property.
DIRECTOR LANES REQUEST

DIRECTOR LANES REQUEST
1t Is possible that the High School Cadet
| Corps will receive a new issue of modern
arms and ammunition from the government
| to replace the old Springfield rifles and
| equipments that have been In use by 1t
| for so many years. A strong recommended
tion to that effect has been made to the
| War Department by Capt. Charles D. Park
hurst of the artillery, attached to the 4th
| Field Battery at the Washington barracks.
Capt. Parkhurst has just concluded an in
spection Of the government property in the
possession of the Washington high schools
(white and colored), which inspection was
| made in pursuance Of orders of May 6, 1901.
| His report was submitted to Gen. Joseph c.
| Breckenridge, inspector general Of the army
| and is now under consideration by that off,
Ger.
Capt. Parkhurst's observations.
The results Of Capt. Parkhurst's inspec-
| tion are summarized as follows:
Eastern High School.-There were found
| to be at this school 100 Springfield rifles
| with steel triangular bayonets, leather belts
and leather cartridge pouches. This school
| is organized into two companies, F. and
| C. The officers swords appear not to be
| furnished by the government, but are the
| private property of the school.
Business High School.-There were found
| to be "a Springfield rifles now in use and
| in the racks with equipments. The re-
mander not now in use were packed away
| in packing boxes. These guns were all in
| fair order. but minor repairs are needed.
- This school is organized as one
| Central High School.-There were found
| to be 1877 rifles in the racks in fair condi-
| ton, two gun barrels and ramrods sep
| arate, but with stock and parts complete
| ready to assemble.
| At this school the janitor acts as armorer,
| and takes especial care of the guns. This
| school is organized into four companies
| A, B, and D.
| Western High School.-There were found
| to be ffty-seven guns, with equipments, in
| the arm racks In fair condition. This
| school is organized as one company-H.
| Colored High School.-This school was
! found to be organized into three companies,
| A, B and c, with uniforms; dark blue
blouse and trousers light blue stripes and
! chevrons cadet caps The armory and drill
| hall were found to be in a fine room. the
| arm racks first-class in every particular,
| with sliding glass doors The guns and
were being cleaned and oiled by hired labor
| at the time of inspection preparatory to
| being stored for the summer.
| 1t was reported that five stocks had been
/
| been replaced by stocks purchased by the
| school.
| Captain Parkhurst gives the following
| summary of arms: Eastern High School,
| 100; Business, 20; Central, 1S9; Western,
| 50; Colored High School, 125; total, 543.
| The accountability appears to show a
| shortage Of twelve guns.
| Correspondence passed between Captain
| Parkhurst and DR.. F. R. Lane, director of
high schools. in regard to this alleged
| shortage, and reduced the number to five.
] Cost of Keeping Guns and AccOuter-
| ments.
| Dr. Lane, in letter to Captain Park
| hurst, says that it costs approximately
| s10O year to keep the guns and accouter-
! ments in repair.
| Until this year." said he. this money
| has been raised in the various schools by
| concerts given by the pupils. This and all
| other methods of raising money are now
| forbidden by the board Of education. An
| attempt to pay for these expenses during
| this scholastic year from the contingent
! fund of the public schools encountered the
| opposition of the District auditor, making
an appeal to Congress for this item neces-
| sary. l should be glad to nave you recon-
mend, If you see your way clear to do so.
| that legitimate repairs be made at the
! pense of the United States government,
under the provisions of the public resolu-
| tion which gives guns, accouterments,
| ammunition, etc. 1t is my impression that
l
| were issued to us, in lots Of fifty, as the
cadet companies grew in numbers. Within
! the last ten years the branch schools and
| the Colored High School have been estab-
lished, and to the best Of my belief the re-
mainder of the guns were issued within
| that period"
Capt. Parkhurst's Recomme endatfOns.
Captain Parkhurst, in his report, urgently
| recommends that the expense of furnishing
| spare parts for repairs and a supply Of
cleaning material be at the governments
| expense, on proper acquisitions from the
| schools. These spare parts and cleaning
material, he says, could be supplied by the
ordnance department from the large stock
| of spare parts doubtless now on hand for
these rifles, and the stock of cleaning ma
| terfal always kept on hand
Attention is also invited" says Captain
ParkhurSt ito the fact that these rifles
have now been on hand long time in the
| hands of the High School cadets; that
| they are In condition for such use as
armtng these cadets with a gun for man
| ual and the ordinary drills of armed men,
| but they are generally worn and defaced,
| with the finish about worn off, and do not
will until they are refnished which, Of
course, can only be done by experts at a
government arsenal.
The cadets would take more pride In a
| fine looking gun than in their present arm
| At the Western High School particularly I
| was told that the arms now in use were
the cuttings from the arms that had been
| previously issued to the other schools this
| Western High School not being armed and
| equipped until long after the other schools
| had received their guns.
| "A new issue Of arms and equipments is
! therefore recommended. In place of the
| leather belts and boxes, the woven web
| thimble belt Is recommended for issue as
of more modern form and also as being
| easier kept clean, as they require no black
| ing oil or other material for their care"
| Although Inspector General Breckenridge
has as yet taken no action on this report
| it Is confidently predicted by persons fa-
| miliar with his views on the general sub
| ject of arming the militia with modern
| guns that he will add his Endorsement to
| the recommendations made by Capt Park
| hurst