Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-05-09
Adjutant General Writes Railroad
Commissioner ketchum, Who Refers
\ Letter to Mayor--Ingledue is Enthus-
iastic-untiI Within Recent Years
MarshalItown Has Already Had a
Military Company.

as there Is d NdCdHy W EtSult Aii eAS
Fifty-third infantry within the next
few weeks. the adjutant general has
appealed to Railroad Commissioner N.
8. Ketchurn, as public spirited citi-.
zen, to see what can be done TO again
install a. Marshalltown company in the
national guard.
Mr.. Ketchum, feeling. that possibly
Mayor Ingledue and some of the
younger business men could work to
better advantage on the proposition,
has referred the letter to the mayor,
and he has become enthusiastic, as lis
characteristic Of him, on anything per-
tanning to some progressive movement
for Marshalltown. The state pays ST.
zoo annually to each company Of the
guard, and $1,000 OF this amount can
be used to pay 6armoyy rent AS q
suitable armory would be necessary,
this amount would induce some one to
put up q building sufficient for the
company's requirements
Has Had Company Many Years.
3 D. : I H..
MarshalltoWn has had a military
company for twenty-five years up to
about four years ago, when Company
H, OF the Ftfty-third, was mustered
out because of a lack of interest. There
are now many young men. nice bright
fellows from good families, out Of high
school, and holding. positions in differ
emit lines. This is the class that
military company should appeal to.
and it is believed that a company cas-
be started. The worst difficulty will
be to get some one of experience who
is self-sacrifieing enough to take the
commanding position, and put the
company on Its feet, even II he does
not feel that he can spend more than
year in charge. BY that time some
Of the now inexperienced men would
be able to take charge.
Tho Adjutant Generals Letter.
81 In order that those who might be
can get a better idea OF
just what is demanded, the T.-R, prints
the letter of the adjutant general to
Mr.. Ketchum, which Is as follows:
Hon. N. S. Ketchum, Des Moines,
Iowa. My Dear Mr.. Ketchum: The
United States inspecting officer has
recommended the muster out Of one of
the companies OF the Fifty third In.
fantry, which will leave a vacancy to
be filled by the muster in of a COM
,pany to take its place from some other
town in the regimental district Of this
regiment.
.''Marshalltown is located in this dis
trict and is one of the largest towns
in the state that has not military
company Reasoning from the past
the patriotism that the good people OF
Marshalltown have shown, can but
believe that II the right parties would
interest themselves in the organization
Of a company for the Iowa national
guard in your city, that 1t would prove
a success. am quite desirous to
have company organized at Marshall-.
town, and / appeal to you as one OF,
her public spirited citizens and request
that you give this matter your personal
consideration. fii
aThe Iowa legislature has been most;
generous in it's appropriation Tor the
guard, Military companies receive now
direct from the state national guard
funds $500 for armory rent, $500 as
armory drill pay, 500 as headquarters
allowance, and 500 for maintaining a
rifle range, making a total Of $1,000
annually that goes direct to the com--5
.pany as an organize ton. Besides this
the company is furnished with uni-
forms, arms and equipment, and when
ordered into service for encampments
or state competitions in rifle practice. Is
paid liberal per diem with all ex-
penses. Under these most favorable
considerations it is an easy problem TO
keep up flrst-class military organiza-
ton in any Of our Iowa towns of SUI
fcienf size. 1t would be necessary for
the company to secure building to be
used for an armory. The drill hall
should be from sixty to eighty feet
clear floor space with additional rooms
for use as follows: Assembly room,
locker rooms, where the wardrobe for
the company would be kept storage
room for other property, lavatory, OF
ficers' rooms and non commissioned Of
fcers' room. 1t might be possible that
you have building that could be re-
modelled and converted into an armory
that would answer the purpose. If not
the amount Of funds that the COM
pany would have available to pay for
amory rent, $1,000, would be sufficient
inducement to cause some Of your cap-
italists to erect an armory as many Of
our Iowa towns, much smaller than
Marshalltown, have, done. An armory
can be constructed, that will answer all
purposes, fort from $4,000 to $1,000, and
the company can afford to pay rental
that would be fair interest on the
money invested.
1.-THE matter Of filling the vacancy
that will soon occur in the Fifty-third
regiment, / shall hold UP awaiting to
hear from you, a reasonable time, say
two weeks, before taking the matter up
with other localities that desire to or
ganize a company X
'.Trusting that you will give this
matter your early personal attention. I
have the honor to be,
yours most respectfully,
wv. H. THRIFT,
"Adjutant General"
j.