Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-28

the officer in charge of pit
Scorers on taking their places at the tar
gets, will be seated close to and In the rear
of the firing point stakes. and will, as each
shot is signaled, announce, in an audible
tone, the name of the shooter and the value
of the shot, marking same on the compel
itor's card. At the conclusion of the score
of each competitor the scorer will repeat
his name and total score.
Recorded Value Of Shot.
The recorded value of any shot will not
be changed after the following shot has
been fired, unless some special message
with reference to It is received from the
target pit. Any alteration of a score card
must be witnessed by the range officer in
charge of the firing point and Endorsed with
his initials, Shots fired upon the wrong
target will be entered upon the score OF
the competitor firing as a miss, no matter
what the value OF the hit may be- upon the
wrong target.
Competitors are required to fire two sight
ing shots; which must be recorded on the
tickets as shot. Under no circumstances Is
competitor allowed to fire more shots than
provided for on the score sheet in the
hands of the scorer. All shots fired by the
competitor after he has taken his place at
the firing point-the target being ready
will be considered In his score, even II his
piece is not directed toward the target or
is accidentally discharged. The score sheets
when leaving the hands Of a scorer are not
to be handled by any one but range Of
ficer, and the scorer will refer anyone seek
ing information as to scores or score sheets
to that officer. Scorers must not converse
with the competitors and must pay strict
attention to their duties.
Interest in Rifle Practice.
The growth Of interest in the subject
of rifle practice within the past few yeas
has been so marked as to attract the IA
vorable attention Of Congress, and at its
last session the appropriation for the
support of the National Guard was In
creased from one to two million dollars
annually. Of which the Secretary Of War
has set aside 100000 to be expended in
rifle practice. This gives the states
general purposes of the militia. The Sec
rotary of War provides that, while there
Is no limi. of money state may expend
on rifle Practice, it must spend certain
amount. The amounts allotted the Dis
trict of Columbia are $28,327O9 for arms,
equipment and camp purposes, ana
50. 442.53 for promotion of rifle practice.
It is expected that large part of the
$500, 900 set aside exclusively for the pro-
motion OF rifle practice will be used by
the states in purchasing and equippi.lS
rifle ranges and shooting galleries. In
all cases it will be possible for the state
to buy a range with it's appropriation
for very few Years, especially If the
state should contribute anything for the
purpose. It. is noted, however, that the
Secretary of War calls attention to the
fact that the title to property purchased
for shooting galleries or target ranges
must be vested in the United States. All
purchases of property for shooting gal
leries or target ranges shall be made
upon the recommendation of the governor
of the state or territory and the COM
handing general of the District of Co.
tary of War, and title thereto conveyed
to the United States. Before payment
therefor the title must be approved by
the Attorney General.
Where Initiative Rests.
The initiative rests with the governor,
who will, in letter to the SECRETARY of
War; state the desire to acquire property
for shooting galleries or target ranges
describing the same, the location, extent
and probable cost and the necessity for
its acquisition. Application Tor funds to
construct, equip and maintain such shoot
ing galleries will be made in the Same
nninner giving in detail the objects of
expenditure for these several purposes.
The governor will also designate a
militia officer of his command as disburs-
ing officer. The request of the governor
must be accompanied by an approxima re
estimate to cover the cost of the property
to be acquired for shooting galleries or
target ranges and for their construction
alIG maintenance. The disbursing officer
approximately one-half of the sum to be
placed to his credit.
While the title to the shooting CALLER
les and ranges will vest In the United
States. the states and territories will
have practically entire supervision of
them. The decision Of the assistant Sec
rotary of war on this point is as follows:
The department holds that the title to
property acquired by states and terrific
ries or the District Of Columbia for shoot
ing galleries or target ranges under the
authority contained in section 1851, Re
proved prove june -, 1906. vests In the United
States, and that the relation of the states,
territories or the District of Columbia
to such properties is that of trustee
vested with the use and charge of the
administration of them for the purpose
for which they were acquired"
Weather and Jersey Mosquitoes.
The expert shots from Washington, D.
c., have been familiar with all sorts of
weather conditions this summer, but
nothing like what they have met with
here. For much as an hour, perhaps,
the sun shines brightly. Then. of a sud-
den, rain begins falling, and a down.
pour Of perhaps an hour is in order. AS
quickly the storm disappears and again
the sun shines. The permanent residents
furnish the cheering information that
existing conditions are sure to continue
until the wind shifts. They decline to
predict, however, just when that shift
will occur.
In the District of Columbia mosquito es
are often seen. heard and felt. In New
jersey and particularly here at Sea Grit
mosquitoes are always in evidence; at
least they have been since last Saturday.
At home they are busy at night. Here
they are alert and active all the time.
The District riflemen are seriously en-
sidering the ACCESSIBILITY of giving the
targets a rest and expanding their Krag-
Jorgensen ammunition on the winged
creature of Jersey that makes existence
far from pleasureable.
CHANGE I'M THE WEATHER