The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-04
GREAT IMPETUS ID
 RIFLE SHOOTING Sea Girt is Finest Range in the
 United States RECORDS ARE REMARKABLE The National Board Has Set as Its Standard a National Reserve
 of "A Million Marks
 men,"

Sea Girt, N. J., September 3.-(Special.)- The nation has every reason to be proud Of its marksmen, and the national board for the promotion of rifle practice, to- gether with the National Rifle Associa- uon of America, which works in har- mony with the national board, to be highly gratifed at the magnificent suc- cess of the rifle tournament now in pro- gress on the New Jersey state range here. The national board for the promotion of rifle practice was the outcome of a con- certed movement by handful of enthu- slasts who recognized the decadence of the art of shooting in America, due to the disappearance of game and the fact that an incentive must be provided in order to stimulate popular interest in sport on which so much of the nations welfare indirectly depends. Easing their plea on the proposition that a soldier on the firing line is valuable only in pro- portion to his ability to hit that at which he aims, the friends of rifle practice that is to say. practice with the official military rife of the United States-secured from Congress legislation creating the national board, which, in connection with and under the direction of the war de- partment was to have charge of rife matches to be held under the auspices of the United States government and which were to be open to teams and in- dtviduals from the regular military and naval establishments, the marine corps and the national guard.
 Provide Rifle Ranges.
 In connection with this work the nat ional board was charged with the duty of devising plans for a national marks mems reserve, and for providing rifle ranges throughout the United States conveniently situateu so as to afford prac- tice for all those directly or indirectly connected with the military and the naval service and in addition such private in dividuals as wished to attain a familiar ity with the use of the national weapon without mourning additional obligations which would be entailed by their joining the national guard. Created in March 1903, within slightly more than two years the national board, ably assisted by the National Rifle association, has succeeded in reviving the waning interest in this sport, until the meeting now in progress, although but the third held under its direction, Is universally conceded to be the greatest ever held in this country. and one which compares very favorably with the great English meet held annu- ally at Bisley. Some idea of the magni-
 
 from the fact that every stich of canvas belonging to the state of New Jersey is stretched to accommodate the visiting rifiemen, the regulars detailed here as scorers and markers and the regular army officers on duty in connection with the tournament having brought their own tentage The total number of marksmen Ill attendance Is estimated at approxf- mately one thousand, which, it should be remembered, are the pick of the mili- tary rifiemen of the country, chosen af- ter process of careful selection in or- Ger that each of the thirty-seven teams. representing the army, navy, marine corps and national guard, might be the very best which the organizations men, toned could produce in the contest for the national trophy
 Thus those now contesting in the team and individual matches with the military rife and the military revolver. constitute the very cream of Americas military narksmen. and it is conservatively esti- mated that at the present rate of pro- gress, this country will have within the | next two or three years at least fifty | marksmen for each of those shooting in this tournament almost, if not quite equally skilled. This does not take into account the thousands of men who are familiar with the use of the national arm but who have been unable because of the limited facilities, to obtain the prac. tice necessary to make them skilled n,arksmen.