New-York tribune., 1903-04-12
FINE NEW ARM0RIES.
CITY GRANTS MILLIONS.
Present administration Docs Much
for n. e.. n. Y.

drill halls OF any mitiamen in the world. The
Lov administration has appropriated about
S4.5o0o0o for arrnory purposes within the last
twelve months, and by the close Of the present
year much of this amount will have been spent.
The officers of the National Guard in this
city unite in saying that the Low administration
has treated their requests with greater con-
sideraton than any other set of officials when
ever the requests have been backed up with
good reasons money has been granted in liberal
sums for new buildings and necessary repairs
The Manhattan regiments are receiving more IN
the way OF buildings than the other oor-
oughs. because there more soldiers in this
borough than all the others.
Plans have been perfected for the rebuilding
ot the list Regiment Armory. in Park-ave-'
which destroyed by the fire Of more than
q year ago. When the plans completed
Mayor Low inquired whether the city's interests
would be protected in the future from fires AS
the plans showed special arrangements 1or
fire protection. he said that the example OF the
destruction of the list Regiment Armory was a
lesson which the city should heed. Accordingly
he advocated the return Of the plans to the
architects and obtained an appropriation of
over 100000 10 make the structure as near
freproof as modern construction would admit.
The plans are now completed, and the entire
cost of rebuilding will be about s6500oo Sec
retary Bell of the Arnory Board. said yesterday
that in a week the work would be advertised
one Of the finest armories in New-York VIII
be that of the 69th Regiment. This regiment
for years has not had adequate accommodations
for twelve company regiment, and the drill moor
Of the old armory on Cooper Square has been
far too small for regirnental manouvres. The site
for the new armory is Twenty-fifth and Twenty
sixth sts and Lexington and Fourth aves- The
ground cost sS50Ooo and more than S65oooo
will be spent on the building.
The plans were first made by Horgan & Stat
terry but Mayor Low dropped the favored Tam
many architects. and. after competition among
the architects Of the city, the plans of Hunt &
Hunt we're accepted. The main building viii be
200 feet by $50 feet. and the drill floor will
measure 2oo feet by go In point Of detail the
6ath's new arrnory viii be the best equipped in
the city. The administration building will be
fitted with aborate Offices for the colonel Of the
regiment and the staff officers. There will be
twelve company rooms, and the plans cali for
the best equipped rife gallery an any armory in
this country. In addition TO the usual rooms
there will be billiard rooms and bowling alleys
10 attract young recruits to enlist for social
diversion
In BROOKLYN two novel structures have been
planned Troop c. commanded by Captain De
Bevoise, viii have a armory, specially
equipped FOR cavalry drills near Prospect Park.
The cost of the site was S43 800, and the arrnory
board expects that about 100000 Will be spent
for the armory. The building viii be designed
on such a scale that if the State officials allow
Brooklyn two troops of cavalry to be formed
into d squadron Captain De Bevoise will have
ample drilling space a tanbark ring for
squadron maneuvres
AT the present time there is not a riding ring
in this section Of the country large enough for
squadron work
Another feature Of the armory will be
ample stall accommodations. SO the members
who desire 10 own their own horses can have
them sta bled and cared for by payment of pro
rata share of the expenses. The State provides
the hostlers for the arnory and the members
pay for feed and extra care. In addition TO the
large tanbark ring the new Troop armory VIII
he fitted up with a large rife range and drill
floor for dismounted work.
An armory the waterfront of Brooklyn for
the ID Naval Battalion has also been provided
for by the city. A site has been procured on the
hay between Fifty-first and Fifty-second SITS,
and the arnory is 10 cost S3JO,0eo, which in
cludes the sum of $4,000 voted to make the
structure freproof. There will be dock built
out into the bay for boat drills and water
sports In the armory proper there will be a
large drill floor for the amateur tars. and there
will be an outdoor drill ground.
Tie lst Battery of NeR-York is having
trouble in the completion Of its new armory.
The structure to have been finished on
April l. 1901, and the armory board has written
letter after letter to the contractor. The armory
is i'm Sixtv-sixth-st. east of Columbus-ave. 4
part Of the structure has been fitted up head
quarters for the First Brigade but it is ques-
ZION whether they will he occupied for this pur-
pose The plans were made when Brgadier
General Ncfoskry Butt was active, but after he
left the National Guard the brigade command
went 10 Brigadier General George Moore Smith,
10 makes his headquarters at the list Regi-
ruent.
The ID Battery which had quarters with
the fist Regiment in the Park-ave. armory, has
obtained temporary headquarters in The Bronx,
and the officers want 10 stay in that section The
plan has received the approval OF the Armory
Board and site is about TO be chosen The
sum Of 100000 viii be spent on new arlnory
for the battery
Another command the officers of which wish
TO have an armory in The Bronx is the Sth
Regiment which, with Squadron A, occupied the
armory between Ninety-fourth and Ninety fifth
SITS on Maids The Armory Board is also
seeking site for this change, and then Squad
ron A will be allowed the OF the entire arm
ory now occupied Jointly with the sth Regiment
Major Bridgman of Squadron A has been
anxious TO have large tanbark ring, so that
he could perfect his men in squadron move
merits Only two or three platoons of a troop
can drill now at one time mounted and the
Arnory Board has agreed TO the plan to allow
the squadron larger quarters as soon site
can be obtained in The Bronx for the sth Regi-
Colonel Dyer Of the 18th Regiment also
wishes 10 make addition TO his regimental
headquarters. There are vacant lots adjoining
the srrnory which Colonel Dyer wishes the city
buy and build on. that the drill floor be
enlarged The arfnory was one of the first built
under the National Guard act Of 1885 and there
are accommodations for only ten companies
while the present standard of the National
Guard is a twelve company command Colonel
Dyer wants to have twelve company rooms and
to make other extensive improvements.