The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1903-09-11

AMI thanked the fortune that direct
ed the course Of your parents and mine
therein over half century ago, and
oncs. more congratulated myself on
being citizen Of the country TO which
this great harbor is the doorway.
Turning from this scene / looked
for the first time on the ocean and.
was at once reminded of the story re-
lated by genial George Haskell, of q
dear old lady who, when asked what
she thought Of the ocean, said that 1t
was the first thing she ever saw that
there was enough Of. Surely there is
quite enough Of the Atlantic.
Here, too. experienced strange
feeling, but am told that 1t is not
confined to Americans, but is common
with all nationalities when first they
put to sea. Our boat landed just In
time to prevent my being put to bed,
and shall return to Michigan with
an increased feeling OF security now,
that know from personal observation
that our coast defences off New York
harbor are all right.
Sea Girt is sixty-one miles south OF
New York on the New jersey Central,
and Is link In the chain Of summer
home towns extending along the sea
coast from New YOrt to Point Pleas
ant. The grandeur OF some of those
homes to be seen from the windows OF
the suburban trains which pass every !.
thirty minutes is beyond description,
as Is also the price OF accomm dations
at the ordinary beach hotels, OF which
there are no end.
They claim much for the salt water
baths, while much may be claimed for
any sort OF a bath, and any other is
cheaper when you get it through the
agency of a beach hotel. However,
the government owns a tract of land
on the coast at this point and we will
be able to speak from experience rela-
tive to the sea bath when we return
to Michigan.
Here, too, Is located the finest rife
range In the United States IL not in
the world. In all there are 12O targets
with firing points from 200 to 1000
yards. The range is owned by the Ma.
tional Rifle Association OF America
and is the point selected by the secre-
tary OF war for the national rifle con-
test in which entries have been made
by teams from each department. Of the
regular army, the U. S. navy, the u.
S. marine corps, and the National
Guard Of each state.
The teams consist OF II men and two
alternates who must be officers, etc.,
enlisted men of the organizations they
represent. Each member must fire
ten shots at two, five, six, eight, nine
and ten hundred yards and the highest
scores will draw the following prizes:
1. To the team making the highest
aggregate total in the two days con-
test-"The National Trophy" (author-
lied by act Of Congress) to be competed
for annually, $1,000, and cash, $500.
2 The team making the second
highest aggregate total-"The Hilton
Trophy" presented by the late Hon.
Henry Hilton, Of New York, to be
competed for annually, and cash, $500.
; The team making the third high
est aggre gate total-the bronze "Sol.
der OF Marathon" presented by the
commander.in. chief on behalf of the
State OF New York, to be competed
for Annually, ard cash, 5000
4. The team making the fourth high
est aggregate total, cash, $780,
5. The team making the fifth high
est aggregate total, cash, Sl00.
6. The team making the sixth high
est aggregate total cash, $50
I. And also medal to each member
OF each Of the winning teams.
Today and Monday are given to
practice by the several teams, nearly
400 men being on the firing line today.
Tuesday the contest will open and
Wednesday evening we will know our
fate. The teams from Georgia and
New Jersey are the most talked about
but we hope 1t is only talk.
at the close OF the contest we will
visit New York and on the way home
will stop at Philadelphia and Wash
ington.
Trusting that at no far distant day,
our battalion may enjoy rifle range
second only to Sea Girt, am
Very respectfully,
GEO. b. MCJAUGuSA.