The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-26
WANT NEW RANGE
OFFICERS SAY AVONOALE IS NOT
ADAPTED TO
USE OF THE KRAG RIFLE.
COMPANY ASKS EAORBITANT
PRICE FOR THE LAND, THEY SAY.

Unless the AvOndaIe Tract Upon
which Range Is Now Situated Can
BE Bought Mt Reasonable Price
other Quarters VIII Be Sought.
Committee VIII BE Appointed to
Select a New Site--Omcers Have
Two or Three in View-seR Girt
Trip Brought Matters to "a Head.
1t is probable that the rilemen of
Savannah viii erect a new rifle range,
snd the one on the present site at
Avondale will be abandoned. A COM
rnittee will be appointed in a few days
to look for a suitable site. The trou-
BILE lies in the fact that the present
range is not adapted 70 the use of the
Krag-Jorgensen rifle, and the COM
pany which owns the land asks such
a high price for il that the rihemen
say they Will be unable to consider
buying it.
The matter has been discussed by
those interested in rife practice in
Savannah for some time past. The
recent trip of the Georgia team to Sea
Grit and conferences had with United
States army officers brought matters
TO a head. 1t is not believed that the
government would purchase the range
at the price which is asked for it, and
the officers say they would not ask
them to. If enough money were ex-
pended to make it adaptable to the
Krag, the riiemen say they would
not then have sufficient funds left to
buy the land.
Changes Are Necessary.
The range we now have is suffi-
ciently accessible" said Capt. Austin.
executive officer of the range. in speak
ing of the matter. and il is adapted
to the use Of the Springfield as is no
other range. But we have known for
some time, and were more impressed
by the fact on our visit to Sea Girt
that extensive changes would have to
be made to make it suitable to the use
OF the Krag -Jorgensen rife.
We cannot buy the land and make
the Improvements. The company which
owns it is standing in the way by hold
ing it at an exorbitant price. II il
could be gotten at a reasonable figure,
the military. assisted by the county Of
flcials, could put things in a condition
for its use by the general government;
but in its present condition, and owing
70 the extreme range of the Krag-
Jorgensen, 4 would cost more than the
government is willing to expend in inn
proyements and changes.
Can Get Cheaper Land.
The matter has been talker over
earnestly for several months. Since
the return Of the team from Sea Girt.
II has been agitated more than ever
We have simply decided that we will
have TO select a new range. 1t Will
he expensive, Of course, but we feel
that we can get a piece of ground
suitable for the purpose and equally
as accessible at a much lower figure
than the company holding the land the
range is now on"
The officers have no site in view, or
If they have, they will not divulge it.
Those most interested in the matter
say that there are two or three places
which have been considered. They say
that the equipment Of the new range
would not be considerable. since the
association already owns all the neces-
sary equipment.
The War Department is anxious to
promote rifle practice in Georgia, and
the assistant adjutant general in a re-
cent discussion of the matter with
some of the members of the Georgia
team said that the department would
be willing to undertake anything rea-
sonable in promoting the interest in
Savannah.
For Government Use.
1t is expected that the National
Trophy Match, which was held for the
first time at Sea Girt this year, and
which will probably be pulled off here
in 1905. will assume larger proportions
each year. This being true, there will
be no range in the country which will
accommodate them. Then, too. there
are many of the men who do not like
TO camp on the range. The government
viii also probably send a battalion to
act as scorers and markers. This will
result in increased business for the ho-
tells. The officers think that it is in
the interest of the citizens of Savan-
nah to aid them in their endeavor to
get new range, unless the other one
may be purchased at a figure which is
not prohibitive.
1t is very probable that some def
-.-flN \.