Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-05-18
PHILA n READING K. R.
DANVILLE'S PROSPECT
FOR AN ARMORY


Governor Pennypacker in full was one
appropriating $3.50, 600 for the erection
of Armories for the National Guard.
This is of especial interest to Danville,
as the building used for an Armory
here has been repeatedly condemne ed
by the inspectors.
The project for the erection of Arm
cries by the State is not new one.
Never until the present year, however,
had it so many ardent supporters in the
General Assembly and among the oiti-
zens throughout the State, who have
come to realizing appreciation of the
real and Jealous service the Guard of
this State has given the Common
wealth
Unfortunately bat half the appropris-
tioA has been granted that the trainers
of the bill had in mind, and on the
proposed basis it means twenty ght
years before all the organizations can
be provided with Armories instead of
in fourteen years as originally design
ed.
The proposed basis for the expend-
iture of the available funds was ar
ranged TO give a sum equal to $50, 00O
to each company and $50. 900 to each
troop and battery organization and it
was further provided that where a
Iegimental Armory was erected the
money appropriated would be on the
basis of that amount multiplied by the
number of companies TO be quartered
therein.
Perhaps the most vital question of
interest to local guardsmen and inoid-
entally to our citizens is the query as
TO where these first Armories are to be
placed. AS to these facts very little
can be adduced that is beyond the
realm of conjecture. 1t is not unlike
ly that the reports of the Brigade in
spectors may develop some very alarm
ing conditions with reference to the
advissbility of still continuing certain
organi cations in the service and of
course this is a matter which the head
quarters must finally decide before any
action could possibly be taken up by
the Armory Commission.
The companies selected should have
in the fullest measure all or as many
as possible OF the following merits:
A company should be located in a
community sufficiently large to be at
all times capable of maintaining a
company in a maximum embership.
Has the locality pride and interest
to donate either from the municipality
or from the individual citizens suffici-
ent property of a suitable nature upon
which an Armory may be erected?
Is the present standing and that of
the past three years sufficiently high
to show that the organization is steadi-
ly improving rather than retrograd-
ing.
Is the locality such as to guarantee
prompt mobilization of the command
and assurance that rapid trsDsports-
tion facilities may be afforded for any
rendezvous within the State?
Whether Danville in its relation to
the Guard or whether Company + Of
the Twelfth Regiment possesses all or
any OF the above merits are questions
that should not admit of much doub bt
A company of the Guard has been
maintained in Danville for many years
IL has done excellent service when
called ont and what deficiencies it has
shown could always be accounted for
on the ground of defective quarters
and poor facilities for drilling
The ArmOry here was strongly CON
demned by Brigade Inspector Major
Millsr in 1904. 1t Is too small for drill
ing,a central pillar making two of the
movements utterly impossible. With
every break up during the winter the
water accumulates in the cellar OK
tinguishing the fires and making it
impossible TO warm the Armory for
weeks. The water even rises into he
Armory, causing the floor boards to
warp making the floor unfit for drills,
which last year had to be suspended
for weeks. The building is damp, rem
dering it necessary to go over the
rifles every week with thorough
cleaning to prevent them from rust
ing.
Under the circumstances IL would
seem that If Justice enters into it at
all and our citizens act literally as is
required Danville's chances ought to
be pretty good for receiving an Arm.
ory among the first.