Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-09-02
BETTER SOLDIERS.
Notable Changes for Company A TO
be Iuaugurated This Fall by
Cspt. E. H. Dunavin.
TO HAVE BOARD OF CONTROL
Rifle Practice at the Armory During
Winter, and an Outside Range
Next Season.

Company A, of the 9th regiment, IL
some notable changes. Next Monday
night at the Armory hall. corner Fiji
teenth street and Third avenue, in
compliance with an order from Adjt.
Gen. Smith, Capt. Ed Dunavin will
call a meeting of the commissioned
officers of the company and from them
will be chosen nine members to form
a board of control to be empowered
with authority to take entire charge of
the armory. In addition to this com
mittse. arrangements for rifle practice
to be held every Monday night after
drill practice by every member of the
company will be made. a mandolin
club and two basketball teams will
be formed, and the matter of choosing
site for outdoor range. for some time
under consideration, will be discussed.
With these sweeping changes the local
company will rank among the first of
the state.
VIII BE Run on Business Basis.
A board of control will he a feat
ure that will do away with much trou-
BILE heretofore experienced, and be a
source of economy to the company.
The renting and charge of the hall
was alternately in the hands of the
members of the company and the
Naval Reserves. and most of the time
without any one to look after it. This
was matter of much inconvenience
and lost money for those who are
connected with the company and the
Reserves, as it was not known where
to go to get the use of the hail. and
no definite arrangements were made
for collection of rentals.
Rifle practice for the members will
he an addition to the cOmpany's work
that will improve the craftsmanship
and also save the state money.
Gold Medal for Best Shot.
At present the practice will be held
in the hall, where are installed two
gallery targets. The distance will, be.
- feet and the one who proves him
self the most accurate shot for the
first three straight rounds, 10 shots
% a round. will be awarded a gold
medal with an engraving of champion
Rif1eman. 22-calibre, Co. A, Ill. n. G."
The practice will take place each night
Of the drill practice. The gun to be
used will be a 22-calibre rifle. With
this practice in vogue the company
will be able to become accurate with
he gun without having to be sent to
Chicago at the expense of the state.
There has been practice had at in
tervals but no regular time was set for
it, as will be the case hereafter. The
gold medal will be contested for at
each match.
Outdoor practice will probably not
De taken up before next year. and
while the site for the range has not
been decided upon. Watertown has
been suggested. The establishment of
an outdoor range is always sanctioned
~ the state and the matter has rested
with the commanding officer
Diversion for the Members.
To break the monotony in their reg
Ilar work. the members have conclud-
I'd to organize a mandolin club and
-wO basketball teams. The teams and
the club will practice after drill. The
cams will first play among themselves
and after finding that they are per
'ected for good games. they will chal-
'onge teams of the tri-cities.
The mandolin club will also confine
tself to company quarters until
has become proficient, when it will
probably give public entertainments.
The prospective candidates for the
basketball teams are Capt. Dunavin.
Lieut. Koch, Jahns, Souders, Smythe.
Hoffman. Ehrhorn. McManus, Shiffer
and DuckwOrth. The mandolin club
will consist of Jahns. Rogers and
Rain. and others.