The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-02-24
SURE OF STATE SHOOT
IT'S LOCATION LEFT WITH ADVI-
sorry BOARD.
MAJORITY FAVORS SAVANNAH.
GOVERNOR TERRELL's VISIT TO
AVONDALE.


Guards shot n Match-He and His
STAFF Impressed With the Range.
Various Committees Presented
Savnnnnh's Claims for the shoot.
Its Advantages over Macon and
other Cities.
Savannah will have the next state
military shoot. AS a result of the
Governors visit to the AvOndale Rife
Range yesterday, it is assured. In con-
versation with Mai w. w. Williamson
of the Guards Battalion, Gov. Terrell
said that he would leave the matter to
his Military Advisory Board and the
| majority of the board is known to IA
vOr Savannah. The Governor was
surprised with the complete equipment
| and facilities of the range and 50 eX-
pressed himself. Adjt. Gen. J. w.
Robertson was also greatly i'm
pressed, and said in effect that it is
the best range in the state.
! The Savannah Volunteer Guards,
who were at the range holding their
annual shoot at the time of the Gov
ernOr's visit, did much to bring the
| shoot here by their demonstration of
the working facilities of the range.
Representatives of the city, the Cotton
Exchange. Board of Trade, and Retail
Merchants Association were at the
range when the Governor arrived and
strongly presented Savannah's claims.
|. Escorted to AVOndaIc.
Upon leaving the De Soto after
IF CT he iaf2
by Adjt. Gen. Robertson and Col. En-
glish, chief of staff, and escorted by
Maj. w. E. Coney and Capt. c. H.
Richardson, drove to the range, arriving
at II O'Clock, shortly after the Guards
Battalion. Shortly after his arrival
a committee composed of Mayor Myers
and Aldermen Colding and Dixon, rep
resenting the city, presented to his at
tentiOn the facilities of the range and
the ACCESSIBILITY of designating it as the
place for the next state shoot. Mayor
Myers acting as spokesman. The
Mayor said that if the assertion that
it will cost the state less to hold the
shoot in other cities because of trans
portatiOn rates, is true, Savannah will
pay the extra expense to which the
state might be put in holding the shoot
here.
Presented SaVannah's Claims.
MI II rank =. t5dLIGy, MI. w after
Coney and Mr.. F. F. Jones, represent
ing the Board of Trade, also presented
Savannah's claims. Mr.. Battey placed
before the Governor Savannahs many
advantages. Another committee was
composed of Mr.. S. E. Theus, Mr.. J. T.
West, and Mr.. l.. G.. Schwarzbaum
from the Retail Merchants Associa-
ton. Mr.. Theus made an impressive
argument in favor of Savannah, call
ing attention in particular to the in
terest the merchants of the city have
in the military. The Governor gave
close attention to the committees and
was impressed with the fact that Sa-
vannah is military to the core and that
the military organizations are backed
by its commercial organizations.
Inspected the Range.
The Governor, adjutant general and
chief of staff were taken by Capts
w. G. Austin and ]. c. Postell, range
officers, on a tour of inspection over
the ranges to the targets and butts,
the perfect details of their construction
being pointed out to them expertly and
a practical demonstration of the mod
ern appliances being given, the party
stationing themselves behind the butts
while the Guards shot one of their
matches. The Governor was Visibly
impressed during the inspection as was
Adjt. Gen. Robertson, both making
many favorable comments A few
quiet remarks between them in con-
versation revealed much of the good
impression and promises favorably for
Savannah upon the selection of the
place for the shoot.
During the latter part of the inspec-
ton Adjt. Gen. Robertson remarked:
1T is "a very fine range! Isn't it Gov
ernor?"
ut certainly is" replied the Gov
ernor.
ut beats the one at Macon" said
the adiutant general. This remark
means much, when it is remembered
that the Macon range is the only other
range available for the state shoot, and
it is that city which is putting forth
strong efforts to secure the shoot.
After the inspection Maj. w. w.
Williamson of the Guards Battalion
suggested mildly to the Governor that
the suggestion of the place for holding
the next state shoot be left to the state
Military Advisory Board.
THAT is what I have decided to do"
replied the Governor. 1t is known that
the majority of the advisory board are
in favor of Savannah, because of their
knowledge of its advantages over other
cities in range facilities and the great
assistance the military spirit of the
citizens will lend to the encampment
and the courtesies they will extend to
visiting military in consequence. The
excellent camping space, the water sup
ply and the extra good street car ac-
commodations of the range were adj
vantages of a very necessary charac-
ter to an encampment which were
called to the attention of the executive
visitors.
After nearly two hours at the range
the Governor and his party returned
to the De Soto to attend the luncheon
of the Cincinnati. While at the range
Governor Terrell met many of Sa-
Vannah's leading men. The Mayor and
party were with him some time. Col
]. H. Estill, who was at the range also
met the Governor and they spent some
time together.