The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-06-05
CANADA LEADS
UNITED STATES

OUJJSO Ouuu6O
Washington, June 5.-Canada Ear
leads the United States in rifle work
among civilians. 1t has 1872 military
rifle associations and 459 civilian rifle
associations. The military associa-
ttons have membership of 1S,0SS and
the civilian 1880. AS Canada has
less than One-tenth the population OF
the United States, If the proportion
were maintained, there would be 500,-
600 riflemen in this country. In Can
ada each member of a civilian club
draws 100 rounds of ammunition year.
ly and the government allots a small
cash allowance Is made toward; the
expenses of the club.
1T has been my experience t!.at in
no. field of skill or athletic COMPETE
tion can one so quickly lose his SUI
perior quality or grip as in rifle fir
Ing" says Maj z. w. Torrey, who ca D.
tanned the army infantry team for the
last three years in the national COM
petitions. "and it has been my obser-
walton that team in training for the
national competition can hardly afford
to pass a day without training along
the lines of the work. To practice a
number Of days at one kind of fire to
the entire exclusion of the others,
leaves the team in an unbalanced
state"
Rifle shooting as a means of relax
alton does not receive the attention
it should" says DR.. William C. Wood,
assistant surgeon of the Second reg
iment. N. Y. N. G. 1T trains the eye to
see accurately. the mind to Judge cor
lectly and exercises the powers of CO.
ordination. while the strict attention
1t requires takes the mind clear of
business cares and all other worries
and irritations of modern life. It is
the sport par excellence for the neur-
asthenic, for he is obliged to forget
himself and introspection for the time
being becomes impossible when every
faculty Is concentrated on a target
500 yards away. Long range shooting
especial cultivates the powers of OBJ
servation, mathematical reasoning and
logical deduction to degree unknown
to any other sport, while at the same
time it is free from any envy, spite
and the httleness of many other forms
of personal competition. Many doc
tors believe this and very large pro-
portion of expert shots of this coun-
try are doctors, notably DR.. w. G.
Hudson, to whose work of perfecting
the modern high-power bullet the
United States owes a large debt of
gratitude"
The forty best rifle shots in the
Iowa National Guard will be called
together June II to 20 inclusive, for
the selection of the team to repre-
sent the state in the national matches.
Each member of the team will he sup
piled with ammunition for home prac-
tice and the team will reassemble for
team practice a few days before leav-
ing for Camp Perry. The new Iowa
camp and range will be located ten
miles north of Des Moines and on the
river of that name. 1t contains about
$50 acres. of which 200 acres are bot
tom land. 1t is proposed to erect a
thirty-six target range and about
$4,000 will be spent in fitting up the
camp site and range.
Indiana is working hard at rifle
practice. A recent order from Adju-
tant General Perry directs that COM
pany ranges shall be established at or
near each station, of such capacity
as will practically permit about the
same exercises as on a state or ma
tional range. Company commanders
are directed to make an effort to Sc
cure by yearly lease ranges of not
less than 900, and, if possible, of 1000
yards in length and 200 yards in
width. Reports are to be made, ac-
companied by maps of the proposed
range, contiguous country distance
from the armory etc. After approy-
al all expense for construction of tar
gets and lease of the land will be paid
by the state quartermaster general.
The terms "sharpshooter," expert
marksman," etc., which distinguish
the classes of military riflemen, are
often puzzling to those not familiar
with rifle practice. To become a
marksman enc must make SO out of
possible $50 at 200, 300 and 500
yards The sharpshooter must get 100
out of 200 at 200. 300, 500 and 600
yards, besides doing we'll enough in
skirmish to bring his total to 225. or
two-thirds of the possible score. An
expert must do all thi and also score
40 out of so at 800 yards and IS out
of SO at 1000 yards The latter dis
lance is more than half mile and the
bulls-eye looks mighty small.
Michigan expects to whoop it uD in
the next national matches. In no
state is more interest displayed in rifle
practice Or is there more intelligent
supervision or more enthusiastic CO.
operation than in Michigan. At the
first national match, in 1903, the Mich
igan team finished last out of fifteen
teams. At Fort Riley they were twen-
ty-seven out of thirty-five. The next
year they finished twenty-third out of
thirty-eight and last year, with forty
two contestants, the team was fif-
teenth. Only ten state teams dis
tanced Michigan, the others being the
service teams. This state expects to
climb another notch this year.
1t Is not generally known that the
name of the famous New York rifle
range. Creedmoor, was selected BY
newspaper man, the late Col. Henry G.
Shaw, of the New York Sun. The
property was formerly known as Greed
Farm and. being fiat, was given the adj
dition OF moor" making it Creed
moor. The range was established in