Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-08-28
STATE HOUSE.
Madrid Railroad Co. Granted
Crossing Rights at Phillips.
Important Hearing to Be Held al
RangeIey, This Forenoon.
Interest in State Shoot For Nationa
Guard Riflemen.

The railroad commissioners were
engaged yesterday forenoon in giving a
hearing on the petition of the Madrid
Railroad Co. for seven highway cross
ings in the town of Phillips along the
line of the proposed narrow gauge
railroad which the company is to
build. Hon. H. M. Heath of Augusta
appeared for the railroad company
and described the location of the cross
ings desired. Hon. James Morrison of
Phillips appeared for the town, but
entered no objections to the prayers
of the petitioners, and they We're
granted.
The commissioners left in the after
noon, by way of the electrics to Win
throp and rail through Lewiston. for
Rangeley, where they will have a hear
ing today on the petition of the Rum
ford Falls & Rangeley Lakes Railroad
for permission to take certain lands in
the town of Rangeley for railroad pur-
poses. 1t is understood that there will
be some opposition to the petition on
the part of the Union Water Power Co.
and other interests in that section.
That there is a decided sentiment in
the National Guard for an independent
State shoot, as noted in the Kennebec
Journal the other day, is evidenced by
the following in the Portland Argus of
yesterday:
There is movement started by Col.
E. c. Dill. inspector general of rifle
practice, and Lieut.. j. J. DOoley,
regimental inspector of LIST Regiment to
have the shooting matches now held
during the encampments of the Ma
tional Guard at Augusta set apart from
those encampments and held on speci-
fed dates for that particular purpose.
This movement has the sanction and
support of all officers of the Guard for
the reason that the matches, as they
are now held, conflict with the pro-
scribed routine duty of camp. AS all
the companies of the State are neces-
sarily small in numbers, under the eX-
listing laws a few men from the num-
Der show more cOnspicuously than if
the companies were larger, conse-
quently when the teams and others in
terested in shooting are on the range.
in addition TO special duty men, dur
ing drills or ceremonies the companies
do not show up to advantage and
sometimes invite unfavorable COM
ment. With two days set apart FOR
the particular purpose of those match
es all attention could be given to drill
and other duties while the companies
are in camp. Another thing that
would be beneficial is that the shoot
ing should not then be made the princi-
pie feature of camp duty as is some
times done by officers as well as men,
to the detriment of other camp routine.
1T has been said that men We're en-
listed and taken to camp for no other
purpose than to shoot as members of
the company teams. This may not be
true but it has been said of some COM
panieS however. *
"A small appropriation by the State
is all that would be required to bring
the matter to a successful point. The
arrangement if made will also serve as
an incentive to increase the interest
in rifle practice as it would bring to-
gether all the good marksmen of the
State upon the range for few days
once a year. This method was tried
with great success a few years ago.
1T is great disappointment to
many that no team from this State will
be sent to compete in the match to be
held at Sea Girt. The team sent last
year made such a good showing that
their absence is commented upon with
much satisfaction by teams entered
from other states for the Maine boys
gave all a close run last year and were
to be rather dreaded if they were en-
tered again this year.
A notable list of names comprises